Metformin has become very popular in treating Type 2 diabetes it’s brand name is Glucophage. It is considered to be in the biguanides, it helps to lower the blood sugar levels within the body which handle insulin. Which prevents the liver from making unnecessary amounts of glucose and helps to make muscle and fat cells that are reduced to the sensitivity of insulin?
It can also lower things associated with heart problems like triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Some concerns with medications for diabetes is that they will cause Hypoglycemia. With Metformin you do not have that worry because if has been proven not to cause low blood sugar to show up. Metformin is usually just taken once a day at meal time.
There are some side effects however that come with taken Metformin for diabetes and those are nausea and diarrhea which tend to usually go away in progression of medicine. Sometimes however a more serious condition referred to as lactic acidosis. This condition cause’s lactic acid to build up in the blood stream, this condition doesn’t happen to everyone who is taking Metformine, it is more subjective to those who have kidney disease congestive heart failure or liver disease.
Some symptoms of lactic acidosis include vomiting, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties and muscle pain. If you experience any of these problems then you should go to the doctor and get checked out. Normally these symptoms could just be a stomach virus or being sick. However, anytime you have trouble breathing it is better to be safe the sorry.
Metformin was first put out into the market by the Food and Drug Administration in 1994. At that point in time there were only two other available medications out on the market to help diabetes. So it was a good thing that Metformin came along when it did since it has been proven to be one of the most effective drugs when in comes to diabetes. Some other medications that have came to pass since the production of Metformin in 1994 are called alpha-glycosidase inhibitors, this product slows down the absorption of carbohydrates in the small intestine, which will help to slow the rise in glucose levels after meals. Thiazolidinediones have also been produced, these help to enhance insulin sensitivity.
Metformin is generally used in combination with other medications in order to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, it does not treat any of the conditions that come with Type 1 diabetes. There are some warnings however that you should follow before taking this medications because if you have kidney disease it could produce more problems then help. If you have developed diabetes ketoacidosis you should talk to your doctor before taking this medication. Sometimes through having diabetes you will need to have surgery or some CT scans done or something that involves dye being injected into your veins. Your best bet would be to stop taking Metformin before you go in for any of the above.
If you have had lever disease or a history disease with you or even someone in your immediate family it is best to tell your doctor that before being prescribed that medication.
Some other normal side effects you might want to know of before taking the medications are feeling short of breath, swelling and some weight gain, chills, fever, flu symptoms and body aches. Other side effects you might get that will get away during your time of taking this medication is muscle pain, headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, gas, stomach pain and diarrhea.
Metformin can be a dangerous medicine so my suggestion is to just make sure you keep a careful watch over yourself and your body while taking it and always go to the doctor with issues even if you think you might be overreacting.