Swallow each tablet with a glass of water. If, after some time, you think that the effect of Metformin is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If you take more Metformin than you should If you have taken more Metformin than you should have, you may experience lactic acidosis. Symptoms of lactic acidosis are vomiting, bellyache abdominal pain with muscle cramps, a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness, and difficulty in breathing.
If this happens to you, you may need immediate hospital treatment, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma. Contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straight away. If you forget to take Metformin Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Take the next dose at the usual time. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Metformin tablets cannot replace the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Continue to follow any advice about diet that your doctor has given you and get some regular exercise. Unless prescribed differently by your doctor, the recommended dose is: Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital.
Metformin tablets are a medicine used to lower high blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 diabetes ; particularly in overweight patients when dietary management and exercise alone does not result in control of blood sugar.
How to take Metformin tablets Risk of lactic acidosis Metformin tablets may cause a very rare, but very serious side effect called lactic acidosis, particularly if your kidneys are not working properly.
The risk of developing lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, serious infections, prolonged fasting or alcohol intake, dehydration see further information below , liver problems and any medical conditions in which a part of the body has a reduced supply of oxygen such as acute severe heart disease. If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor for further instructions.
Symptoms of lactic acidosis include: You should take this medication with food. Why does metformin make my muscles ache as if I've exercised too hard? Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: Is the combination of metformin and Topamax preventing me from losing weight?
In general, both metformin and Topamax topiramate are associated with weight loss, not weight gain. Patients should contact their health care provider for any changes in their medical condition, including unusual weight gain. Any rapid weight gain or swelling of the hands, feet or ankles should be reported right away to your health care provider, as this may be a sign of a serious side effect.
What is the long-term effect of taking mg of metformin and 2 mg Amaryl daily? I am very concern about the long-term effect on my body.
I have been taking both for about one year. Before taking both, I was just taking amaryl alone. I am very concerned about my kidney, liver, and heart. These are the areas of the body I heard are affected by long-term use of these drugs. As long as you do not see any abnormal weight gain, retention of fluid or swelling, muscle cramping or severe diarrhea, then you should continue this course of treatment.
If you have any other concerns, you should discuss this with your health care provider. I take metformin for PCOS. Can I also take chromium picolinate? Metformin has been around for quite a while and has a good record in helping control blood sugar levels.
As long as you are under good control and have not seen any major side effects, then I would not switch without first discussing it with your health care provider. Remember to take the metformin at around the same time each day with food. Can I use 4 mg metformin tablets rather than 2 mg tablets a day? Four mg metformin tablets can be taken at a time to give a mg dose. Remember to take metformin the same time each day with food. Does Glucophage help in making weight loss a little bit easier?
I have lost lbs. I was on mg. My A1C is now 5. My doctor said she wants me to stop taking Glucophage, but I'm afraid I'll start to gain weight. According to the package insert for Glucophage metformin , the body weight of patients on metformin remained stable or decreased compared to patients on placebo sugar pill or sulfonylureas another type of diabetes medication.
Metformin can lead to modest weight reduction or weight stabilization. Significant weight loss was not listed as a result of metformin use. Most patients need to also incorporate healthy living, including exercise and diet.
If you have done that, it may be that the weight loss was not just from the metformin. Why should you avoid alcohol while taking metformin? Taking metformin with alcohol increases your chance of developing a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis.
Drinking large amounts of alcohol, whether daily or binge drinking, is not recommended while taking metformin. Small amounts of alcohol should not be a problem for most people taking metformin, but if you have any decrease in kidney or liver function you should not drink alcohol at all.
I am supposed to take four metformin tablets daily, but ever since I started I have between 7 and 12 bowel movements a day. What can I do? Metformin can cause stomach upset and diarrhea in patients, but this usually goes away after the first few weeks of treatment.
You can try taking Imodium over the counter to handle the situation; a low-carb diet may also help. What is the best time of day to take metformin? This depends on what form of and how often you take this medication. If you are taking the long-acting XR form, then with an evening meal. The short-acting form should be taken twice daily, with breakfast and supper around the same time each day. Remember to take this medication with food.
I am type 2 diabetic, I take metformin mg daily. I also take seven other prescriptions and am wondering about how they are all working with each other. I want off all or as many of these meds as possible. Without knowing what the other seven medications are, I cannot answer how they are working together and if they cause any adverse effects. Metformin has the most common side effects of nausea, diarrhea, gas, indigestion, stomach discomfort, and headache listed in the prescribing information.
The best thing to do is to have a discussion with your physician to see if all of the medications you are taking are essential to keeping your health conditions under control. What are the food and drink precautions for metformin HCL? You can take metformin with food, but you should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while on this medication. I have heard you should not break metformin tablets, but recently I was given ActoPLUSMet and was told that I can break it into smaller pieces with no problem.
There is no reason you cannot break a metformin tablet in half. There is one rule with regard to splitting tablets: Most medications come with an enteric coating that protects your stomach, and when you break a tablet the enteric coating will no longer work, but taking the medication with food alleviates that issue.
I have just started taking metformin twice a day. Should I be experiencing an upset stomach? How or when do you suggest that I take this medication?
Metformin can cause stomach upset, but this usually goes away within a week or two of starting the medication. It's best to take metformin with a meal, spaced out as close to 12 hours as you can get, so breakfast and dinner would be the ideal times to take the medication. Taking it with food helps the medication get absorbed more quickly and will also help to alleviate any stomach upset.
Can different blood pressure medicines have an effect on a person taking metformin or any other diabetes drugs? Diuretics, such as furosemide or triamterene, may interact with metformin. Blood pressure medications in the calcium channel blocker category also have the possibility of interacting with metformin.
Since you didn't list specific medications, I cannot give you a more precise answer. The combination of metformin and blood pressure medications can lower blood pressure more than it is supposed to.
If your physician prescribed both medications, then the risk of complications is low. The physician has given you the doses of each medication that will work together. My blood sugar count before meals range from to , and I'm taking 1, mg of metformin once a day.
My doctor wants to increase my metformin to 1, mg once a day. The maximum daily dose of Metformin is 2, mg, so your new dose of 1, mg is not uncommon or excessive. What are the long-term effects of taking metformin?
I am tired and live in a fog. Long-term use of metformin may cause problems with vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include numbness, tingling, tiredness, weakness, difficulty concentrating, problems with memory, and irritability. Other side effects of metformin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, headache, and muscle pain. Patients should contact their health care provider any suspected side effects or changes in their medical condition.
For more specific information, consult your physician or health care provider. Does the medication metformin for diabetes cause dry eyes?
I have been experiencing severe dry eyes now that I have been taking this medication. Dry eyes is not a typical side effect of metformin. However, dry eyes can be associated with diabetes itself. Patients should contact their healthcare provider for any changes in their medical condition or suspected side effects for proper evaluation.
How long after starting metformin will the stomach pain go away? Metformin should be started at a low dose and slowly increased to minimize the stomach side effects. Metfomin should be taken with food. Small frequent meals, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help to reduce stomach upset. Upset stomach can last for the first weeks of therapy; contact your health care provider if the problem does not stop.
Also contact your health care provider immediately if you experience severe belly pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. Metformin has an odor. I notice if I leave the top off, the odor dissipates. I feel better on it, but why does it smell so bad? Yes, metformin does smell pretty bad. The manufacturer of the medication states that the smell is an inherent characteristic of the medication and will go away after being opened for a bit. It has no effect on the way the medication works -- it is just an unpleasant quality of the medication.
I take metformin each day. My numbers are always higher when I get up in the morning, than later in the day. I thought it should be lower after fasting through the night. High blood sugar can be lowered by diet and exercise, by a number of medicines taken by mouth, and by insulin shots. While you take your diabetes medicine, continue to exercise and follow the diet advised for your diabetes. No matter what your recommended diabetes management plan is, studies have shown that maintaining good blood sugar control can prevent or delay complications of diabetes, such as blindness.
Glucophage metformin helps control blood sugar in a number of ways. These include helping the body respond better to the insulin it makes naturally, decreasing the amount of sugar the liver makes, and decreasing the amount of sugar the intestines absorb. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take and when to take it and will probably start out with a low dose of the medicine.
Your doctor may slowly increase your dose until blood sugar is better controlled. Glucophage should be taken with meals. Your doctor may have you take other medicines along with Glucophage to control blood sugar. These medicines may include insulin shots. Taking Glucophage with insulin may help to better control blood sugar while reducing the insulin dose.
Continue your exercise and diet program and test blood sugar regularly while taking Glucophage. For more specific information and recommendations, consult with your doctor. Does metformin affect the liver? If your liver panels are high, should you stop taking it? Since impaired hepatic function has been associated with some cases of lactic acidosis, metformin should generally be avoided in patients with clinical or laboratory evidence of liver disease.
This information is found in the package insert. You should discuss this with your health care provider and see what is causing the high liver panels and if you should continue with metformin. Do not stop taking any medication without first talking to your health care provider. My doctor prescribed metformin for me because I am prediabetic. I took it for a week and a half. I started having stomach aches and felt sick. What should I do? I stopped taking it and feel better. Is there something else I can take?
This is a possible side effect of the medication. You should have informed your health care provider that you have stopped this medication and see what course of therapy your provider may want to do. You can follow a good diet and exercise to help delay the possible onset of diabetes. I have included some sites for your information. Be sure to talk to you heath care provider about your concerns.
Does drinking alcohol affect how metformin works? According to the prescribing information for metformin, one of the rare but serious side effects is a metabolic complication known as lactic acidosis. Alcohol lowers blood glucose sugar levels and can potentially increase the risk for lactic acidosis, so it is important to avoid drinking alcohol while being treated with metformin.
Lactic acidosis is uncommon but it is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness, increasing somnolence sleepiness , decreased heart rate, decreased body temperature, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, stomach pain, lightheadedness and fainting. You may want to contact your health care provider for more information regarding metformin and alcohol.
For additional information regarding metformin you may want to visit our website. What should your sugar count be? I am 57 years old, take metformin twice daily, and am tired all the time. There are two different ways to measure blood sugar: A1C is a measure of blood glucose over the last 3 months. SMBG measures the level of sugar in the blood at the time the test is performed. Patients should work with their physician or healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate blood sugar goal.
But again, the blood sugar goal from SMBG may vary depending on patient-specific factors. This information is solely informational. It's important for patients to consult with their physician or healthcare provider about any specific question regarding their medical conditions or medications; particularly before taking any action.
To visit Everyday Health's Diabetes Center, follow this link: Is it normal to have bowel issues while taking metformin for diabetes? This information is solely educational. Does metformin cause weight gain? Weight gain is not listed as an adverse effect in the package insert for metformin.
According to the U. There are various factors that can contribute to weight gain. It's important for patients to consult their physician or healthcare provider about any specific question regarding their medical conditions or medications; particularly before taking any action. Derek Dore, PharmD Q: What are the long term effects of taking metformin mg twice daily? It is always a good idea to check with one's health care provider in matters like this. Please consult your health care provider for guidance in your specific case.
What are the long term effects of taking four tablets of metformin a day. I worry about liver damage. Should I be worried about this or other organ damage? The maximum recommended dose of metformin is mg per day. Liver damage caused by metformin is very rare. There have been only a few reported cases. There have been reports of peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency, caused by metformin. You may want to speak to your healthcare provider about vitamin B12 supplementation.
The main concern with metformin, over long term therapy, is accumulation of metformin leading to lactic acidosis too much lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acidosis usually results in patients who have poor renal function, because metformin can't be excreted. Lactic acidosis can also be caused by poor liver function because the liver can't metabolize lactic acid. Liver and kidney failure can be the result of other conditions such as aging, cancer, excessive alcohol consumption and not necessarily caused by metformin.
It is imperative that patients be monitored for decreasing kidney and liver function. It is also important to notify the physician if you notice symptoms of lactic acidosis. Symptoms may include feeling weak, tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, unusual stomach discomfort, feeling cold, feeling dizzy and irregular heartbeat.
What are the side effects of metformin? I have dry skin on both legs and it is getting bigger and bigger. What is the cause of this? There have been no reports of severe dry skin as you described.
Rash is very rare. There was 1 reported case of metformin associated with Lichen Planus. The main concern with metformin over long term therapy is accumulation of metformin leading to lactic acidosis too much lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acidosis can also be caused by poor liver function, because the liver can't metabolize lactic acid.
Liver and kidney failure may result from other conditions such as aging, cancer, excessive alcohol consumption and not necessarily caused by metformin. There have been concerns that metformin may cause a vitamin B12 deficiency potentially leading to peripheral neuropathy. You may want to discuss vitamin B12 supplementation with your healthcare provider. What are the side effects of metformin and glyburide?
The main concern with metformin over long-term therapy is accumulation of metformin leading to lactic acidosis too much lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acidosis is very rare but can be fatal. Lactic acidosis usually results in patients who have poor renal function because metformin can't be excreted. Lactic acidosis can also be caused by poor liver function because the liver can't excrete lactic acid. Liver and kidney failure can result from other conditions such as aging, cancer and excessive alcohol consumption.
It is therefore imperative that patients be monitored for decreasing kidney and liver function. According to the research on glyburide, side effects include, hypoglycemia, liver function abnormalities, gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and heartburn, rash, photosensitivity, blood cell disorders such as leukopenia and anemia and low sodium in the blood.
I take mg of metformin twice a day. How many hours apart do those doses need to be? I'm considering taking them after lunch Generally, metformin is taken with meals, unless your healthcare provider instructs otherwise. When it is taken twice a day, it is usually taken with breakfast and dinner.
Your healthcare provider is best able to guide your treatment choices based on your specific circumstances. Consult your healthcare provider for more specific recommendations.
What is the difference between metformin ER and metformin? I take metformin ER and I am passing the whole capsule the next day. My doctor kind of dismisses this but when I was taking the regular metformin my diabetes was under better control. The difference between metformin and metformin ER is the formulation of the medication.
Metformin ER is an extended-release form of metformin and is formulated to release slowly in the body. It is important not to crush, chew or break metformin ER tablets and swallow the tablet whole. Breaking metformin ER tablets will cause too much medication to be released into the body at one time.
The matter that you are passing the next day is the inactive ingredients of the tablet that may be eliminated in the feces and look like the original tablet. If you are concerned that your diabetes is not being optimally controlled, you may want to contact your health care provider to determine the cause and the best treatment options to meet your needs. For additional information regarding metformin or managing diabetes, you may want to visit our website or subscribe to our newsletter.
Would metformin ER make my mouth feel very dry and cause a bad taste? Although this is not a severe side effect, if you are experiencing a metallic taste you may want to discuss it with your health care provider.
For more information regarding metformin: Is metformin mg twice a day safe taken with glipizide 5 mg twice a day? Metformin and glipizide are often given in combination for the treatment of diabetes.
Metaglip is a combination product that contains both metformin and glipizide. Common side effects of the combination include headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Consult your healthcare provider for more specific information or if you have concerns about combining these two medications. According to the literature, the most common side effects of Glucophage metformin involve the gastrointestinal system. Many of these side effects are temporary and can be minimized by taking metformin Glucophage with food.
Please see the following Everyday Health link for more information on metformin. Laura Cable, PharmD Q: Why is metformin not helping to lower my blood sugar in spite of the fact that I eat properly? Glucophage metformin is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Metformin decreases the liver's production of glucose, decreases the absorption of glucose from the intestine, and improves insulin sensitivity. Metformin does not cause the pancreas to make insulin and therefore does not produce low levels of blood sugar or hypoglycemia. In some patients, additional insulin production may be needed and metformin may need to be used in combination with another oral diabetes medicine.
Does metformin decrease users food intake or make them feel full and bloated after eating? My husband has type 2 diabetes mellitus and, lately, he doesn't really want to eat. He says he feels better if he doesn't eat. Is metformin causing this? He is also on lisinopril and Lipitor.
Although the literature does not state that metformin effects appetite, many patients have stated that metformin decreases their appetite. Your husband may be experiencing the same thing as numerous other metformin users. Feeling bloated and gassy is a common and well-known side effect of the medication. Often, people report that this effect goes away after they have been taking metformin for a couple of weeks.
If your husband recently started taking metformin, then he will hopefully see some of these symptoms resolve within a few weeks. If he has been on this medication for a while, maybe he should talk with his doctor about the unpleasant side effects that he has been experiencing. As for the lisinopril and Lipitor, they are probably not causing any of these effects. What are the long-term side effects of taking metformin tablets for diabetes?
Metformin, when used over long periods of time, may cause a deficiency in vitamin B Normally, the vitamin B levels should be monitored every two to three years. If you do have a deficiency, a vitamin B supplement can be taken. The other side effects of metformin are normally experienced sooner.
I'm taking metformin, but I've heard that it's very hard on your kidneys and liver. Patients with hepatic liver impairment should avoid metformin Glucophage.
This is because patients with liver disease have a risk factor of developing lactic acidosis while taking metformin. For patients with renal kidney impairment, the manufacturer recommends that they not take metformin in certain circumstances of renal dysfunction. The circumstances can be highly technical, so you should consult with your health care provider to determine if you fall into any of these categories. LexiComp, the drug manufacturer, also recommends that patients taking metformin perform yearly renal function tests.
Jennyfer Marisco, RPh Q: I'm a diabetic and take metformin and glipizide daily. Can either of them make me bloated? Metformin has the reputation of causing a bloated feeling in some patients. Discuss with your doctor whether you should try a fiber supplement to see if it helps with the bloating. Matt Curley, PharmD Q: I have diabetes and take metformin.
What does it do for me? Metformin is used to control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. Some of metformin's benefits include a reduction in hemoglobin A1C levels an indicator of good glucose control in a diabetic patient , weight loss due to decreased appetite, and decreased morbidity hospitalizations and complications and death from diabetes due to improved glucose control.
Some studies also report that metformin has cardiovascular benefits, such as reduced heart attacks and strokes. When does metformin lose its effectiveness, and what is the next step in medication once this hapens? Although there is some evidence that a tolerance can build up with any medication, metformin brand name Glucophage is well tolerated for long periods of time.
Some patients do require further glucose control as their disease progresses. In this case, metformin is effective in tandem with other medications of other classes for treating diabetes type 2. You should discuss with your doctor whether or not your metformin is still sufficient. If I need to fast for blood work, should I skip taking my metformin in the morning?
I take it twice a day. Metformin should be taken with a meal. Though it doesn't usually cause hypoglycemia low blood sugar , it may if you aren't taking in enough calories with it. You should check with your doctor about skipping metformin before a blood test. Kristen Dore, PharmD Q: What medicine, over the counter or prescribed, could I take for the nausea, gagging, and vomiting that metformin causes?
I'm 56 years old and take it twice a day. Nausea and upset stomach are side effects of metformin that generally go away after people have been on the medication for some time.
These side effects can be reduced by taking metformin with food. Consult with your health care provider if these symptoms aren't going away, appear later in during your therapy, or disrupt your daily life. You may need to lower your dose, stop the medication for a short period of time, or switch to something else. According to recent medical literature, patients who switched from metformin to extended-release metformin had fewer stomach side effects. It's important to consult with your health care provider before making any changes to your medication.
I take metformin twice a day. How much food to I need to eat with this medicine? Metformin should be taken with a full meal, if possible. You should take the medication at about the same time each day, with breakfast and supper. Gerald Levy, RPh Q: Why is it suggested to take metformin with a meal? Does it help keep the sugar down for that meal, slow absorption, prevent sugar levels from getting to low, or to prevent an upset stomach? The reason I ask is because I seem to wait until an hour or two after dinner to take metformin.
If there is a good reason it will remind me to take it with the meal. Does it help keep the sugar level lower 2 hours after eating? Glucophage metformin is used to treat type II diabetes. Glucophage helps control blood sugar in a number of ways. These include helping your body respond better to the insulin that it makes naturally, decreasing the amount of sugar the liver makes, and decreasing the amount of sugar the intestines absorb.
Glucophage should be taken with meals to minimize gastrointestinal symptoms. Glucophage, as well as with other medications, should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change the dose or stop taking the medicine without consulting with your doctor. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance based on your specific condition and current medications.
Why does metformin make my stomach cramp? Metformin Glucophage is a medication used for the treatment of diabetes or high blood sugar. It works by decreasing the production of glucose by the liver. The main side effects of metformin Glucophage are gastrointestinal in nature and include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and flatulence.
These side effects can be diminished by taking metformin Glucophage with food. These side effects also tend to improve over time, so if it is a new medication, the side effects will likely get better.
Your healthcare provider will be able to provide you with more information. For more information on metformin: I take metformin for type 2 diabetes.
I find I have terrible gas and indigestion since I began the medication over a year ago. Common side effects of metformin include nausea, vomiting, gas, and stomach pain.
Your healthcare provider is best able to evaluate any side effects you may be experiencing. Consult your healthcare provider for bothersome side effects that do not go away. Does metformin cause hair thinning? I have been taking it for four years and my hair has gotten much thinner.
There are no documented reports of hair loss with the use of metformin. Here is some more information about metformin: Can you take metformin just when your blood sugar is high? I control my diabetes with diet and exercise. When I cheat by having a piece of cake, I try to work it off exercising.
According to drug information sources, metformin is dosed every day, not as needed. When your physician decides to start you on a medication for diabetes, there are several factors that go into this. The first is what your daily blood sugar levels are. Physicians often also look at your hemoglobin A1C levels. The hemoglobin A1C levels reflect the average of your sugar levels over a prolonged time period.
Another thing that must be taken into consideration is what other health conditions you have. If you have other medical conditions, your doctor may treat your blood sugar levels more aggressively. Never change your dose of your medications without talking to your healthcare provider first. Occasionally, patients are able to decrease their diabetes medications or stop their medications after improving their blood sugar levels through diet and losing excess weight.
This should only be done under the supervision of your physician. As always, talk with your healthcare provider regarding questions you have about your medications and medical conditions. For additional information regarding diabetes: Does metformin damage your kidneys? And is it good for people with diabetes? Glucophage metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
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