Metformin

Metformin is a medicine intended for patients who need to control their blood sugar levels (patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only). Make sure you take this medicine exactly as prescribed and never exceed the dose recommended, as it can cause overdose symptoms. The following symptoms are possible if you take too much of metformin (you may develop lactic acidosis): stomach pain, slow heart rate, muscle pain, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, weakness, cold feeling, and fainting. It’s important that you let your health care provider know about any of these reactions, as they tend to get worse with time affecting your health and wellbeing. Take metformin with a meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Some forms of metformin are taken only once daily with the evening meal. Follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not consult a doctor before using this medicine, make sure you read the label of metformin very carefully to learn about possible drug interactions and avoid using too much of it. Every person taking Metformin for blood sugar control is supposed to know the signs of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. The following symptoms are possible when you get this reaction: irritability, dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, hunger, weakness, sweating, headache, confusion, and seizure. It’s recommended to always carry a source of sugar with you – that way you will be able to deal with hypoglycemia quickly. Your doctor may need to measure your blood sugar regularly to check the progress. It’s very important to keep taking metformin regularly for best control over your condition. You may experience certain mild and more serious side effects. Mild side effects may include some of the following: gas, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pain, stomach pain, headache, mild nausea, and weakness. Talk to your health care provider as soon as possible if you experience any of the following serous side effects of taking metformin: chills, swelling, fever, rapid weight gain, body aches, and flu symptoms. Side effects other that those mentioned above are also possible, but you will need to make sure they are serious enough to report, as some mild side effects are short-lived and disappear on their own. Try to avoid missing doses, as this may affect the quality of your treatment. Never share this medicine with people to whom it was not prescribed.