General information

Metformin is an oral antidiabetic medication that belongs to the biguanide class. It is the first-line medicine used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in overweight people. Metformin’s effectiveness is provided due to the ability of its active substances to inhibit the glyconeogenesis in the body. Metformin is also used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome, and other diseases when insulin resistance may be an important factor. It reduces and normalizes body weight and improves fibrinolytic blood properties.

Directions

Take this medication exactly as your doctor has prescribed it. You must carefully follow all directions. To treat type 2 diabetes, metformin is initially used in dose of 500 mg taken twice daily or 850 mg taken once daily. The maximum tolerated daily dosage is 2550 mg divided into three smaller doses. If you use extended-release tablets, begin with a dose of 500 mg or 1000 mg per day. This medication is applied concurrently with meals.

Precautions

Notify your doctor of any other medications that you might be taking besides this one. Taking this drug with a certain class of other medicines may result in increasing or decreasing the effects or alter them in either drug. Avoid drinking alcohol while being treated with this medicine. Apply metformin cautiously as it can cause a life threatening condition called lactic acidosis marked with following symptoms: weakness, severe somnolency, bradycardia, muscle pain, abdominal cramps, and difficulty breathing, a feeling that you may pass out.

Contraindications

This medicine is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity, diabetic precoma, ketoacidosis, gangrene, abscess, tinea pedis, acute infectious diseases, hepatic or renal insufficiency, acute myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, dehydration, chronic alcoholism, reduced-calorie diet (less than 1000 kcal/day), lactic acidosis, pregnancy, breastfeeding, intra-arterial or intravenous introduction of iodinated contrast agents.

Possible side effect

Potential side effect associated with metformin may involve: gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, abdominal cramps, nausea, retching, metallic taste, tympanism; hypovitaminosis; megaloblastic anemia; allergic reaction such as urticaria, swelling, itching and skin eruption. The most serious side effect of this dug is lactic acidosis. Metformin is also known to decrease the blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in people with hypothyroidism and, in men, testosterone. Metformin can cause lowering of blood sugar levels in the blood, so be attentive if you experience hunger, irritability, drowsiness, migraine, weakness, tachycardia, tremors, excessive sweating, seizures. In this case you should always have a source of sugar near by.

Drug interactions

A concomitant use of metformin with forms of sulphonyl carbamide and insulin can result in hypoglycemia. Ethanol increases a risk of lacticacidemia, therefore you should avoid consuming alcohol. Cimetidine (Tagamet) is able to reduce the elimination of metformin from the body which results in increasing of the metformin amount in the blood by 40%. This may intensify side effects of metformin such as lacticemia. Derivatives of MAO inhibitors, β2-adrenergic receptor agonists, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, cyclophosphamide, clonbratum, oxytetracycline, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can potentiate the hypoglycemic effect of metformin. Chlorpromazine neuroleptic inhibits insulin release which can lead to the increasing of the metformin dosage applied only in case of total controlling of glucose level in the blood serum.

Missed dose

In case you have missed your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you see it is near the time for the next dose, skip taking the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses of this product at once.

Overdose

If you think you overdosed the medicine, immediately contact your local poison center and notify your doctor or pharmacist. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. In most cases symptoms of overdose include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, tachycardia, drowsiness, hypoglycemia.

Storage

Store this product away from sources of sunlight, heat and moisture at room temperature between 68-77 F (or 20-25 degrees C). Do not store it in the bathroom. Keep this product out of the reach of children and pets. Do not apply any remnants of the medication after the expiry date.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.