Gliclazide and pregnancy
Gliclazide is not recommended in pregnancy as there is little information about its safety during pregnancy.
Other medicines used to treat diabetes, such as insulin and metformin, are safe to take during pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking gliclazide. They will need to review your treatment and may be able to suggest a different medicine for you.
Gliclazide and breastfeeding
Gliclazide is not usually recommended while breastfeeding. We do not know how much of it passes into breast milk. It's only likely to be a small amount but it could lower your baby's blood sugar level.
If you are breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor about what's best for you and your baby. They will need to review your treatment and may be able to suggest a different medicine for you.
If your doctor says it's OK to keep breastfeeding, contact your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if your baby:
- is not feeding as well as usual
- seems unusually sleepy or drowsy
- seems unusually restless or irritable
- is paler, or more sweaty, than usual
- seems hungrier than usual
- is peeing more
- is causing you any other concerns
If you do need to take gliclazide while breastfeeding, your baby's blood sugar level may need to be checked occasionally.
Gliclazide and fertility
There's no clear evidence that taking gliclazide reduces fertility in either men or women.
Speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
- trying to get pregnant
- pregnant
- breastfeeding
For more information about how diabetes medicines can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.