• Management of low blood sugar levels due to specific conditions.

Balila 25mg capsule works by inhibiting the release of insulin secretion from the pancreas by activating the potassium channels in the cell membrane, thereby increasing the blood sugar level.

Inform your doctor about any prescribed medications, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional or vitamin supplements, and herbal products you take or have taken before the treatment. Certain medications may interact with balila 25mg capsule and can cause undesirable side effects. 

Inform your doctor if you are taking water pills (diuretics) such as frusemide, blood pressure lowering medicines such as propranolol, methyldopa, or captopril, or blood thinning medicines such as warfarin since this medicine can increase the effect of these medicines. Inform your doctor if you are under steroidal therapy or taking oral contraceptives since this medication can cause high sugar levels when taken with these medicines. Inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines for epilepsy (abnormal electrical signals produced by the damaged brain cells), such as phenytoin, since this medicine can reduce the effect of phenytoin.

• Keep out of sight and reach of children.
• Store at room temperature (25°C).
• Do not take balila 25mg capsule after the expiry date.
• Do not dispose of the medication in wastewater or household waste. Always return to the pharmacy when you no longer require the medication.

Take the balila 25mg capsule exactly as directed by your doctor. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose and frequency based on your medical condition and other factors. Do not crush or chew the capsules. Do not double the dose to compensate for a missing dose. If you take too many of these capsules accidentally, seek medical attention immediately because overdosage of this medicine may cause high blood sugar levels and low blood pressure. Do not discontinue the medication unless instructed to do so by your doctor.

Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all medicines cause side effects, not everyone gets them.

Serious

• Feeling faint or dizzy, especially upon standing up
• Arm/leg/hand/foot swelling
• Unexpected weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual tiredness 

Common

• High blood sugar
• Water retention
• Low blood platelets
• Increased heart rate
• Increased hair growth
• Nausea

Be sure to keep up with your regular appointments and check-ups throughout your treatment, as your doctor will need to monitor your blood sugar levels and blood pressure to assess the effectiveness of the medicine. Follow the dietary regimen recommended by your doctor during the treatment. Water retention is one of the common side effects caused by this medication; therefore, your physician may prescribe water pills known as diuretics to remove excess water from your body. In addition, your doctor may prescribe a potassium supplement to prevent your potassium level from dropping.

If you have certain types of pancreatic tumors that produce excessive insulin, or your child has 'leucine-sensitive hypoglycemia' (a condition that causes low blood sugar levels provoked by protein meals), your doctor may increase the frequency and dose of this medication. Always ask the doctor's advice if you have any concerns before taking this medication. Do not self-administer this medication without a doctor's prescription.

1. RPH Pharma, Electronics Medicines Compendium (EMC), [Revised on April 2021], [Accessed on 6th Sep 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.9136.pdf
2. Teva, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), [Revised on Sep 2015], [Accessed on 6th Sep 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/017453s020lbl.pdf
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Endocrine Pancreas and Pharmacotherapy of Diabetes Mellitus and Hypoglycemia, 12th edition, 2011, 887.
4. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Insulin, oral hypoglycemics and glucagon, 7th edition, 2013, 281.