|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (met
FOR
min) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Glucophage®; Glucophage®
XR |
|
|
| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Glucophage® Forte (Mexico); Novo-Metformin
(Canada) |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Antidiabetic Agent (Biguanide) |
|
|
| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- A small number of people may develop an acidity to their blood.
Metformin can cause this lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is a build up of acid
in the blood. It may occur in people whose kidneys or livers do not work
normally. If lactic acidosis does occur it can cause
death.
|
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to metformin or any other part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Kidney disease, an acidic
condition of the blood, having an x-ray with
dye.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients. It is
used in type 2 diabetes. It can be used alone or in combination with other
diabetes medicine. It may take 1 month to see the full effects.
- It can be used to treat diabetes in children 10 to 16 years of age.
The extended release form is only for patients 17 and
older.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Metformin decreases sugar production in the body and makes insulin
work better.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Swallow extended release (XR) form whole. Do not chew, break, or
crush.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Wear disease medical alert identification for diabetes.
- Avoid alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause side
effects.
- Use caution if you have heart or lung disease. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- You should not take if you have kidney or liver problems, if you have
congestive heart failure, if you drink alcohol to excess, if you have lost a
large amount of fluid (are dehydrated), if you are getting x-rays with shots of
dye in your veins or arteries, if you are going for surgery, is you develop a
condition such as a heart attack, severe infection, or stroke, or if you are 80
or older and have not had your kidney function tested.
- Do not drive if blood sugar has been low. There is a greater risk of
an accident.
- Keep hard candies, liquid glucose, or milk on hand for low blood
sugars.
- If you are 80 years of age or older, you may have more side effects.
You may need a low dose.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Belly pain and cramps, gas, not hungry, metal like taste. Dosage
decrease may help with all symptoms.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help. Decrease in dose will help.
- Diarrhea.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare provider. Call if glucose
is less than 80 mg/dL or greater than 250 mg/dL. Bring results to follow-up
visits.
- Watch for low blood sugar. This can cause anger, shaking, rapid
heartbeats, confusion, sweating.
- Watch for high blood sugar. Causes many trips to the bathroom, thirst,
and weight loss.
- Check blood work for diabetes, liver, and kidney function. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
- Have a yearly eye exam and visit to the foot doctor.
- Check weight.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Feeling very weak, tired or uncomfortable.
- Unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain or discomfort,
feeling cold, dizzy or lightheaded.
- Suddenly developing a slow or irregular heartbeat.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, fever, and/or diarrhea.
- Any signs or symptoms of infection. This may include a fever greater
than 99 degrees, chills, sore throat, cough, increased sputum or change in
color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, anal itching or
pain.
- Low blood sugar or very high blood sugar.
- Any rash.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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