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Common
Metformin Side Effects You Should Be Aware of Metformin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps diabetics control blood sugar levels. Being a safe diabetic drug ,it is well tolerated by most people but there are some potential side effects of such a medication. A few examples of common metformin side effects include nausea,diarrhea, and gas. There are a few more serious metformin side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider, such as symptoms of high blood sugar, chest pain, or signs of an allergic reaction. The following metformin side effects are also a matter of great concern: Liver or kidney problems are among the major metformin side effects . Metformin could pose a problem if you have liver problems or even kidney problems of any kind .The main reason is that it alters liver function and is excreted through the kidneys. A healthy liver as well as a healthy kidneys will improve your outcome with metformin. Before starting metformin, your Liver and kidney function should be assessed and rechecked at least once a year . A blood test will tell your physician how well your system is doing with this drug. Hair loss. Metformin tablets may contribute to male pattern hair loss at the temples and top of head. The hair usually thins out first in the front of the scalp and move progressively to the back and top of the head. Although there is no medical proof to support this linkage, a few women have reported that hair loss was made worse by metformin. The use of several medications together with metformin may put you at risk for health problems or symptoms . When more drugs in higher dosage are taken, the probability that there will be some kind of interaction between the drugs or some unexpected effect from the combined drugs is very high. The effect of such a combination of drugs also depends on your genetic uniqueness, the state of your health and your diet and lifestyle. You must always seek your doctor advice if you add or change any medication, or if you develop any symptoms. Bile abnormalities and metformin side effects . Bile is produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and secreted into the intestines in order to absorb fats into the bloodstream. One of the possible reason for the GI problems is that metformin reduces normal reabsorption of bile from the intestines back into the bloodstream, which causes elevated bile salt concentrations in the colon.(25) Most studies suggest that colonic bile salts cause free radical damage to DNA and may contribute to colon cancer. One among the serious but rare metformin side effects is lactic acidosis . Lactic acidosis is not common as it occurs in one out of every 30,000 patients but is fatal in 50% of cases. The lactic acidosis symptoms are trouble breathing, weakness,abnormal heartbeats, unusual muscle pain , stomach discomfort, light-headedness and feeling cold. Those who are at risks for lactic acidosis include those with congestive heart failure, those with reduced function of the kidneys or liver, severe acute illnesses, and dehydration . Vitamin B12 and Folate depletion Metformin may deplete vitamin B12 and folate and increase homocysteine,a blood chemical associated with increased heart attack risk. As B Vitamin is recommended for people who are on a very low carbohydrate diet who are on metformin .If you have been on metformin for quite a long time,you should ask your doctor to test your blood vitsmin B12 level. Lowvitamin B12 is associated with increased neuropathy and exhaustion. Although anemia is rare among people taking metformin, it remains a risk for those whose B12 and folic acid levels were already low when metformin therapy was started. Seek The Advice of Your Health Care Provider. Before putting you on metformin,Your doctor should always do a complete medical history and metabolic assessment . Each year You should be re-checked as long as you take this drug. Do not forget to ask your physician what the unique benefits and risks of metformin will be for you . Look for another doctor if ever your present doctor prescribes Glucophage without a careful review of your health status and without involving you in the decision. You may experience hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking metformin with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar Metformin must always be taken under the medical supervision of a qualified doctor and according to recommended dosages and the instructions available on the label of the drug. You must regularly pay visits to your doctor in order to adjust the dosages as per the requirement. Metformin drug is usually taken during a meal and as prescribed by your doctor. Call your doctor at once in case you have any of these serious metformin side effects: -shortness of breath, even with mild exertion; -Gaining weight or swelling; -chills, fever, body aches, flu symptoms. Less serious side effects may include: -Muscle pain or headache; weakness; or mild nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, stomach pain. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Fortunately your doctor can prescribe other alternatives as substitutes as following if ever you experienced serious metformin side effects: -Changing your lifestyle by being more physically active and changing your diet -Taking other oral diabetes medication ( sulfonylureas, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors, ergot alkaloids, or combination drugs), -Be on Insulin or other injectable diabetes medications, such as incretin mimetics, or amylin analogues are some other preferred choices. . |
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