Eucreas is a prescription-only type 2 diabetes combined medicine that is available in a tablet form. Based on two active ingredients, vildagliptin and metformin, this branded treatment developed and marketed by Novartis pharmaceutical company aims to help the body produce and better use insulin. As such, it is a prescription-only medicine, so if you’re looking to buy Eucreas in the UK, you will first have to obtain a prescription.

Eucreas is produced in two different doses and is considered to be a very successful and efficient diabetes treatment that will significantly lower the risk of further complications of the condition.

What’s on this page?

Diabetes: An overview of the condition

In line with the statistical studies and recent surveys, we can conclude that roughly 90% of all registered diabetes cases in the UK (around 3 million people) is classified as diabetes type 2. This condition is marked by the inability of the organism to create and utilise insulin in the body the way it is synthesised and used in otherwise healthy individuals. Insulin is a type of hormone that is produced in the pancreas. It plays a crucial role in the distribution of energy throughout the body while simultaneously controlling the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, keeping them in normal levels.

The main difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the time when it manifests. Type 1 diabetes tends to develop early in a person’s life due to the immune system mistakenly attacking the cells tasked with insulin synthesis. Due to this, type 1 diabetes is commonly thought of as an autoimmune disease.

On the other hand, type 2 diabetes usually develops at a later stage in person’s life, with the risk of developing the condition rising with age. But, in the case of type 2 diabetes, the body will continue to produce insulin, as opposed to type 1 where insulin production will stop permanently, but the produced quantity will be far lower from the quantity that would suit the body’s needs. In addition to this, the body’s cells can also lose the ability to use the available insulin properly.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms

People affected by diabetes commonly report

  • Persistent thirst
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Dry eyes
  • Dramatic and unexplained drops in weight
  • Increased frequency of urination

In addition to these very common symptoms, diabetes type 2 is marked by an array of other symptoms which can vary significantly among individuals, remaining in a way specific for each person affected.

There are numerous risk factors which might serve as additional indicators that you might be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. These include the family history of diabetes, age (people older than 40 are at significantly greater risk), or if you are of south Asian, Chinese, African or Caribbean descent. Finally, and as is familiar to most, obesity and being overweight are also seen as very prominent contributing factors when it comes to development of diabetes type 2.

Diabetes treatment and management

While diabetes cannot be completely cured, the condition can be efficiently managed with the combination of prescription medicines, informed dietary choices and certain lifestyle changes. These forms of management are highly recommended since untreated diabetes tends to lead to more severe complications. For example, people with unmanaged diabetes are at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, nerve damage or developing kidney disease.

One of the first things the doctor will usually do if you have been diagnosed with diabetes is to address your diet. He will review your dietary habits and try to suggest a healthier or at least more balance eating regimen. In addition to this, an exercise routine will also be established. Furthermore, the doctor will advise you to make certain lifestyle changes if needed, such as stopping smoking, curbing alcohol consumption, losing weight and improving your general and overall health.

In some cases, however, antidiabetic medicines will also be prescribed. These pharmaceutical products, such as metformine, will treat the condition in various ways. For example, medicines classified as biguanides will lower the amount of sugar in the blood by reducing the amount produced by the liver, while at the same time facilitating the extraction of glucose from blood via muscle cells. Metformin is also efficient in slowing down the uptake of sugars from the food in the digestive tract.

On the other hand, metformin has proven to be ineffective in a limited number of cases. In these situations, the doctor will usually recommend a combination drug that contains another ingredient aside from metformin that will help keep the sugar levels under control. Eucreas contains vildaglipin for this purpose exactly. The primary function of this pharmaceutical compound is to inhibit the enzymatic breakdown of incretin hormones, hormones that help the pancreas respond to food intake by increasing insulin production. At the same time, they play a vital role in limiting the amount of glucose that is turned out by the liver. If these hormones are prevented from being broken down, they will help control sugar levels in people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

How is Eucreas used?

In order to ensure best possible results and minimise the chances of unwanted side effects, you should adhere to the instructions provided by your prescriber. While your doctor should be there for all additional questions, you can also find detailed information about different aspects of Eucreas use in the official patient information leaflet that you will find in the box of the medicine.

Some of the most general guidelines you should keep in mind include:

  • Always take as directed
  • Usual dose is one tablet two times per day
  • Take one tablet in the morning and other in the evening
  • Take the tablet as a whole, with water
  • Take the medicine either with or after a meal
  • It is advisable to monitor your liver and kidney functions regularly over the course of the treatment
  • Never exceed the prescribed amount
  • If you miss a dose, do not make up for it by doubling the next one – instead just skip the missed dose and continue the treatment as normal

What are Eucreas side effects?

Frequency of occurrence

Side effects

Very common (1 in 10 users or more)

Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, pain in and around the stomach, loss of appetite

Common (1 in 10 users or less)

Trembling, headache, dizziness, metallic taste in the mouth, low blood glucose

Uncommon (1 in 100 users)

Joint pain, tiredness, constipation, swollen hands, ankles and feet

Very rare (1 in 10.000 users 

Sore throat, runny nose, fever, vitamin B12 deficiency

For a full list of documented side effects, please consult the official patient information leaflet.

Eucreas interactions with other medicines

It is very important to disclose to your prescriber all the relevant info regarding your medical history, including other medicines you might be taking at the moment. Eucreas has been known to interact with glucocorticoids, beta-2 agonists, other diabetes medicines, diuretics, ACE inhibitors and drugs affecting the thyroid gland or nervous system.

Eucreas contraindications

In addition to interactions with other medicines, the use of Eucreas can also be contraindicated if you have or had serious diabetes-related complications, recently had a heart attack, are due to have a contrast x-ray scan, have kidney problems or severe infection.

Other situations and conditions that might make Eucreas use contraindicated include:

  • Liver problems
  • Alcoholism
  • Breastfeeding
  • Pancreas problems
  • Pregnancy