Alcohol consumption and metformin

When treating with metformin, it is recommended to avoid alcohol in any case, as the effect of alcohol can usually increase significantly. Often the effects of the drinks are felt much earlier – people affected can tolerate much less alcohol and are alcoholized much earlier and there is a risk of alcohol poisoning because the limit is quickly exceeded or one quickly overlooks one’s limits. Nevertheless, it is in principle not prohibited to drink alcohol.

You should first talk about it with your treating doctor and be aware that you can drink much less and you have to be careful. Excessive alcohol consumption can unfortunately not only lead to patients being drunk faster, but also to lactic acidosis. It can also lead to rapid hypoglycaemia, especially if the patients still suffer from diabetes.

Lactic acidosis is a disease that is by no means harmless. The blood and tissue have a low pH value, which means that the body has become acidic because there is too much lactate in it. There are many different causes for lactic acidosis.

Firstly, kidney damage can cause the pH to drop and too much lactate to accumulate. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption and liver damage can lead to this. Taking certain drugs, including metformin, is also a risk factor.

Lactate accumulates more because pyruvate is converted to lactate under oxygen deficiency and liver function is insufficient. Lactate may also accumulate when the citrate cycle is disturbed. The therapy is individual, depending on the underlying cause.

It is not enough to treat the symptoms, but it is important to always treat the cause. The disease manifests itself through various symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, circulatory problems and loss of appetite. Hypoglycaemia is also manifested by many symptoms such as palpitations, paleness, sweating, ravenous appetite, dilated pupils and trembling all over the body.If the blood sugar drops further and further, motor disorders, speech disorders, concentration disorders, cramps, headaches and also consciousness disorders slowly become noticeable. Blood sugar is important for the body so that every cell can work sufficiently and the energy supply is ensured.