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Metformin

 

Metformin (generic Glucophage) Review

brand name: Glucophage
generic names: Metformin, Metformin hydrochloride

Why is Glucophage prescribed?

Glucophage is an oral antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Diabetes develops when the body proves unable to burn sugar and the unused sugar builds up in the bloodstream. Glucophage lowers the amount of sugar in your blood by decreasing sugar production and absorption and helping your body respond better to its own insulin, which promotes the burning of sugar. It does not, however, increase the body's production of insulin.

Glucophage is sometimes prescribed along with insulin or certain other oral antidiabetic drugs such as Micronase or Glucotrol. It is also used alone.

Standard Glucophage tablets are taken two or three times daily. An extended-release form (Glucophage XR) is available for once-daily dosing.

Always remember that Glucophage is an aid to, not a substitute for, good diet and exercise. Failure to follow a sound diet and exercise plan can lead to serious complications such as dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. Remember, too, that Glucophage is not an oral form of insulin and cannot be used in place of insulin.

Special warnings about Metformin (Glucophage) hydrochloride

Before you start therapy with Glucophage, and at least once a year thereafter, your doctor will do a complete assessment of your kidney function. If you develop kidney problems while on Glucophage, your doctor will discontinue Metformin (Glucophage) hydrochloride. If you are an older person, you will need to have your kidney function monitored more frequently, and your doctor may want to start you at a lower dosage.

The effectiveness of any oral antidiabetic, including Glucophage, may decrease with time. This may occur because of either a diminished responsiveness to the medication or a worsening of the diabetes.

You should stop taking Glucophage if you become seriously dehydrated, since this increases the likelihood of developing lactic acidosis. Tell your doctor if you lose a significant amount of fluid due to vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or some other condition.

Because poor liver function could increase the risk of lactic acidosis, your doctor may decide to check your liver function before prescribing Glucophage and periodically thereafter. If you develop liver problems, your doctor may stop treatment with Glucophage.

If you are taking Glucophage, you should check your blood or urine periodically for abnormal sugar (glucose) levels. Your doctor will do annual blood checks to see if Glucophage is causing a vitamin B 12 deficiency or any other blood problem.

Glucophage does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, weak, especially in older, it remains a possibility, and undernourished people and those with kidney, liver, adrenal, or pituitary gland problems. The risk of low blood sugar increases when Glucophage is combined with other diabetes medications. The risk is also boosted by missed meals, alcohol, and excessive exercise. To avoid low blood sugar, you should closely follow the diet and exercise plan suggested by your doctor.

If your blood sugar becomes unstable due to the stress of a fever, infection, injury, or surgery, your doctor may temporarily take you off Glucophage and ask you to take insulin instead.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking Glucophage. Heavy drinking increases the danger of lactic acidosis and can also trigger an attack of low blood sugar.

You should not take Glucophage for 2 days before and after having an X-ray procedure (such as an angiogram) that uses an injectable dye. Also, if you are going to have surgery, except minor surgery, you should stop taking Glucophage. Once you have resumed normal food and fluid intake, your doctor will tell you when you can start drug therapy again.

What side effects may I notice from taking Metformin?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
•breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
•dizziness
•muscle aches or pains
•passing out or fainting
•severe vomiting or diarrhea
•slow or irregular heartbeat
•unusual stomach pain or discomfort
•unusual weakness, or insulin), miglitol, glipizide, glyburide, (like acarbose, fatigue or discomfort

In combination with other diabetic medications, Metformin may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Contact your health care professional if you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, dry mouth, flushed dry-skin, fruit-like breath odor, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach ache, unusual thirst, and loss of consciousness

Symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include:
•dizziness, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, irritability, uncontrolled yawning, cold sensations, blurred vision, muscle weakness, tremors, tingling in the fingers, numbness of the mouth, palpitations, headache, sweating, fatigue, nausea, pale skin, hunger, difficulty concentrating, confusion, which may include:
•anxiety or nervousness, frequent passing of urine

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•decreased appetite
•gas
•heartburn
•metallic taste in the mouth
•mild stomachache
•nausea
•weight loss

How does it work?

Glucophage tablets and Glucophage SR tablets both contain the active ingredient Metformin hydrochloride. (NB. Metformin (Glucophage) is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Metformin is used to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).

People with diabetes have a deficiency or absence of a hormone produced by the pancreas called insulin. Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the control of sugar in the blood. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin and the cells of the body are resistant to the low levels of insulin circulating in the blood. Insulin would normally make the cells remove sugar from the blood, hence in type 2 diabetes blood sugar levels can rise too high.

Metformin hydrochloride is a type of antidiabetic medicine known as a biguanide. It works in a number of ways to decrease the amount of sugar in the blood of people with type 2 diabetes.

Firstly, it reduces the amount of sugar produced by cells in the liver. Secondly, it increases the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin. This enables the cells to remove sugar from the blood more effectively. Finally, it also delays absorption of sugar from the intestines into the bloodstream after eating. Overall, Metformin (Glucophage) reduces blood sugar levels both between and directly after meals.

Metformin is used as a first line treatment of type 2 diabetes in people who are overweight. It is used when diet and exercise have failed to control blood sugar levels. It can also be used in combination with other antidiabetic medicines to provide better control of blood sugar.

Glucophage tablets are standard release tablets that are taken two or three times a day either during or just after meals.

Glucophage SR tablets are prolonged release tablets that are designed to release Metformin (Glucophage) slowly and continuously over several hours. This produces a steady blood level of the medicine throughout the day. The tablets are designed to be taken once or twice a day with meals, depending on your blood sugar control. They must be swallowed with water and not broken, chewed or crushed, as this would damage the prolonged release action.

Why should Glucophage not be prescribed?

Glucophage is processed primarily by the kidneys, and can build up to excessive levels in the body if the kidneys aren't working properly. It should be avoided if you have kidney disease or your kidney function has been impaired by a condition such as blood poisoning, shock, or a heart attack.

You should not use Glucophage if you need to take medicine for congestive heart failure.

Do not take Glucophage if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Metformin (Glucophage).

Do not take Glucophage if you have metabolic or diabetic ketoacidosis (a life-threatening medical emergency caused by insufficient insulin and marked by excessive thirst, pain below the breastbone, fatigue, nausea, and fruity breath). Diabetic ketoacidosis should be treated with insulin.

Metformin (Glucophage) is used for:

Treating type 2 diabetes. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other antidiabetic medicines.

Metformin (Glucophage) is a biguanide antidiabetic. It works by decreasing the amount of sugar that the liver produces and the intestines absorb. It also helps to make your body more sensitive to the insulin that you naturally produce.