Gliclada 30 mg prolonged-release tablets – gliclazide for type 2 diabetes

Gliclada is a blood sugar lowering medicine containing gliclazide, an oral antidiabetic from the sulfonylurea group. Each prolonged-release tablet contains 30 mg gliclazide, released gradually over the day, so the medicine is taken once a day with breakfast. It is manufactured by Krka d.d. Novo mesto (Slovenia).

According to the leaflet, Gliclada is used in adults with type 2 diabetes when normal blood sugar levels cannot be achieved by diet, physical activity or weight loss. Gliclada SR 60 mg and 90 mg are separate medicines with their own leaflets and are not described on this page.

What is Gliclada used for and how should it be taken?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Gliclada used for?

Gliclada contains gliclazide, a sulfonylurea medicine that lowers blood sugar (oral antidiabetic). According to the leaflet, it is used in adults with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) when normal blood sugar levels cannot be achieved by diet, physical activity and weight loss alone.

It can be combined with metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists or insulin – the doctor then decides the dose of each medicine.

How is it taken and dosed?

• Swallow the tablet(s) whole with a glass of water at breakfast, preferably at the same time every day. Do not chew or crush.
• Always eat a meal after taking the tablet.
• Switching from gliclazide 80 mg (immediate-release tablets): 1 tablet of 80 mg corresponds to 1 Gliclada 30 mg tablet – switch only with careful blood sugar monitoring.
• When switching from another sulfonylurea with a long half-life, a break of several days may be needed; start with 30 mg.

Special patient groups

• Children and adolescents: Gliclada is not intended for children and adolescents under 18 years due to lack of data on safety and efficacy.
• Elderly (65+): the same dosage as in younger patients is used; in older people symptoms of hypoglycaemia may be weaker or absent, especially with beta-blockers and medicines acting on the nervous system.
• Kidney impairment: in mild to moderate impairment the same dosage can be used with careful monitoring; in severe kidney or liver impairment the medicine must not be used (insulin is recommended).
• Increased risk of hypoglycaemia (malnutrition, severe or poorly controlled endocrine disorders, withdrawal of long-term corticosteroid therapy, severe vascular disease): the lowest starting dose is recommended (30 mg a day).

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

Do not take Gliclada:

• if you are allergic to gliclazide, other sulfonylureas, sulfonamides or any of the excipients;
• if you have type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes;
• if you have ketone bodies and sugar in your urine (diabetic ketoacidosis), diabetic pre-coma or coma;
• if you have severe kidney or liver disease;
• if you take miconazole (a medicine for fungal infections);
• if you are breast-feeding.

Warnings and precautions

Hypoglycaemia may occur if you eat irregularly or skip meals, fast, are malnourished, change your diet, increase physical activity without extra carbohydrate intake, drink alcohol (especially when skipping meals), take other medicines or herbal products, take too much of the medicine, have thyroid, pituitary or adrenal disorders, or severe kidney or liver impairment. The risk is higher in the first weeks of treatment, so medical supervision is needed.

Signs of low blood sugar: headache, intense hunger, nausea, weakness, sleep disturbances, restlessness, aggressiveness, poor concentration, confusion, visual or speech disturbances, trembling, dizziness, cold sweat, clammy skin, fast heartbeat. If it worsens, seizures, loss of consciousness and coma may occur. Symptoms usually disappear after taking sugar.

• High blood sugar (thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, dry itchy skin) may occur if the medicine is not effective enough, if you do not follow treatment, with St John’s wort products or in stressful situations – contact your doctor.
• With fluoroquinolone antibiotics, especially in the elderly, blood sugar may both fall and rise – more frequent measurements are needed.
• If you or a family member has hereditary G6PD deficiency, haemolytic anaemia may occur – tell your doctor before starting treatment.
• In stressful situations (accident, surgery, fever) the doctor may temporarily switch you to insulin.
• The medicine contains lactose – if you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

The effect of gliclazide may be increased (risk of hypoglycaemia) with:

• other diabetes medicines (oral antidiabetics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, insulin);
• antibiotics (e.g. sulfonamides, clarithromycin, fluoroquinolones);
• beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors (e.g. captopril, enalapril);
• antifungals (miconazole – contraindicated, fluconazole);
• H2-receptor antagonists (medicines for stomach ulcers);
• MAO inhibitors (antidepressants);
• ibuprofen and phenylbutazone;
• medicines and drinks containing alcohol.

The effect may be reduced (rise in blood sugar) with chlorpromazine, corticosteroids, intravenous salbutamol, ritodrine and terbutaline, danazol and St John’s wort products. Gliclazide may increase the effect of warfarin. The medicine can be taken with food and non-alcoholic drinks; alcohol is not recommended.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

• Pregnancy: taking Gliclada during pregnancy is not recommended.
• Breast-feeding: the medicine must not be taken while breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

Low or high blood sugar may impair concentration, slow reactions and cause visual disturbances. Ask your doctor about driving and using machines, especially if you have frequent hypoglycaemia or hypoglycaemia without warning symptoms.

Possible side effects

The most common side effect is hypoglycaemia. If no action is taken, symptoms may progress to drowsiness, loss of consciousness and coma; a severe or prolonged episode requires emergency medical help, even if it improves temporarily with sugar.

• Digestion: abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation – reduced by taking the medicine with a meal;
• Skin: rash, redness, itching, hives, angioedema; the rash may progress to blistering and peeling; exceptionally DRESS syndrome (flu-like symptoms, rash and high fever);
• Blood: reduced blood cell counts (pallor, prolonged bleeding, bruising, sore throat, fever) – usually resolves after stopping treatment;
• Liver: isolated cases of abnormal liver function with yellowing of the skin and eyes;
• Eyes: temporary visual disturbances, especially at the start of treatment, due to changes in blood sugar.

With other sulfonylureas, serious blood disorders, allergic inflammation of blood vessels, low blood sodium and liver damage have also been described.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: the signs are those of hypoglycaemia – take sugar immediately (4–6 cubes) or a sweet drink, then a meal, and contact a doctor or the nearest health facility. Do not give food or drink to an unconscious person – call an ambulance. The same applies if a child has swallowed the medicine.
• Missed dose: take the next dose at the usual time and do not increase the dose the next day. Never take a double dose.
• Stopping treatment: diabetes treatment is usually lifelong – do not stop without your doctor, as blood sugar may rise and increase the risk of complications.

Related information

For home blood sugar self-monitoring, see also the category Blood glucose meters – products in this category do not replace the medicine prescribed to you.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• Active substance: each prolonged-release tablet contains 30 mg gliclazide.
• Excipients: lactose monohydrate; hypromellose (E464); calcium carbonate (E170); colloidal anhydrous silica; magnesium stearate (E572).
• Appearance and pack: oval, slightly biconvex, white to almost white tablets; PVC/Al or OPA/Al/PVC//Al blister of 15 tablets, 2 blisters per carton (30 tablets).
• Marketing authorisation holder: Krka-Farma d.o.o. Belgrade, Jurija Gagarina 26/V/II, Belgrade.
• Manufacturer: Krka d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, Novo mesto, Slovenia.
• Marketing authorisation: 515-01-01854-19-001 of 12 February 2020.

Storage

• The medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use after the expiry date; return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

When is Gliclada taken?

Once a day with breakfast – the tablet is swallowed whole with a glass of water and must be followed by a meal. It is best taken at the same time every day.

Is Gliclada the same as Gliclada SR?

No. This page describes Gliclada 30 mg prolonged-release tablets. Gliclada SR 60 mg and 90 mg are separate medicines with their own leaflet – dosing must not be transferred from one to the other without the doctor.

Can a Gliclada tablet be halved or crushed?

No. The prolonged-release tablet is swallowed whole; it must not be chewed or crushed.

Can I take Gliclada with an antifungal medicine?

Not with miconazole – that combination is contraindicated. Fluconazole and some other medicines may increase the effect of gliclazide and cause hypoglycaemia, so consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicine.

Sources

• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics, Gliclada® 30 mg prolonged-release tablets (SmPC, Serbian)
• ALIMS – Patient leaflet, Gliclada® 30 mg prolonged-release tablets (PIL, Serbian)

Sources checked on: 25 October 2026.