Humamet Dosage/Direction for Use

Recommended Dose: 500 mg 3 times daily or 850 mg twice daily, taken with meals.
The dosage of Humamet must be individualized based on both effectiveness and tolerance but should not exceed the maximum dose of 2,550 mg.
If in combination therapy with either a sulfonylurea or insulin, diabetic control should be checked by blood sugar readings because of the possibility of hypoglycemia.
The dose should be increased gradually. One 500-mg tablet, 3 times daily is often enough to give good diabetic control. This may be achieved within a few days, but it is not unusual for the full effect to be delayed for up to 2 weeks. If control is incomplete, a cautious increase in dosage to maximum of 3 g daily is justified. Once control has been obtained, it may be possible to reduce the dosage.
When combined with existing sulfonylurea therapy which is not giving adequate control, one 500-mg tablet should be added initially, the dosage of Humamet being gradually increased until optimal control is obtained. Often, the sulfonylurea may be reduced and in some patients, withdrawn. Humamet can then be continued as the sole therapy.