Synonyms in a broader sense
Diabetes drugs, drugs Diabetes mellitus, Biguanide, Glucophage®, Mescorit®, Diabesin®, Siofor®
How do biguanides act like metformin?
According to current medical guidelines, metformin is used first when diabetes mellitus cannot be controlled well through exercise, sport and weight loss. Metformin has been on the market for decades and has proven to be the safest and most effective of the oral antidiabetics. Metformin has two main effects that help a diabetic: On the one hand, the body cells become more sensitive to the insulin they produce themselves and are once again ready to absorb sugar.
As a result, the blood sugar level drops more rapidly again after a meal and the sugar cannot cause damage elsewhere. On the other hand, Metformin inhibits the release of glucose from the liver, so that above all the sugar levels do not reach dangerous peaks when fasting and at night. The unwanted high blood sugar levels in the morning are effectively treated with metformin.
By the generally lowered blood sugar values under a Metformin therapy in addition the appetite is lowered somewhat, which is desirable straight with over-weighty Diabetikern. In addition, metformin has a favorable effect on blood lipid levels and blood clotting. Studies have shown that metformin reduces mortality, particularly in patients at risk of heart attack (see coronary artery disease/HC and heart attack).
Dosage
Metformin is taken one to three times a day with meals. The dosage has been agreed with your doctor beforehand. You will start with a low dosage and increase your intake of metformin to a maximum of 1 gram per day. Your doctor will call you regularly to check the function of the kidney, liver and the correct dosage of the medication.
Side effects
Metformin may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. In some patients a change in taste in the sense of a metallic perception in the mouth has also been observed. Other side effects include skin reactions (redness, itching, hives), reduction in vitamin B12 intake with anemia (megaloblastic anemia), liver dysfunction and inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
There is a dreaded undesirable effect that rarely or never occurs with regular medical checks and precise intake: if too much lactic acid accumulates in the blood, it can lead to lactic acidosis, which can be fatal. Lactic acidosis can also occur in the case of acute dehydration of the body (exsiccosis) or fever. Lactic acidosis is indicated by symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, freezing, dizziness, tiredness, muscle pain, disturbances of consciousness and breathing problems.
If you experience such or similar symptoms while taking metformin, you must consult a doctor immediately. If you and your doctor are aware of all the signs and symptoms of metformin use, if your organ functions are checked regularly, and if you are taking the medicine as prescribed, you should not be afraid of this serious side effect! You should avoid alcoholic drinks and food while using metformin.
- Feeling of fullness
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomitingand
- Diarrhea
Therapy with metformin very often leads to gastrointestinal complaints. Not only do nausea, vomiting, constipation and flatulence occur, but diarrhoea is also very common. Diarrhea is not a major problem in principle, as long as it is only mild or disappears after a few days.
However, if a longer lasting impairment due to diarrhoea occurs in the course of therapy, one should urgently consult a doctor. What sounds so harmless can cause big problems. Through diarrhoea, patients not only often lose valuable kilos, but also a lot of fluid.
This can often lead very quickly to dehydration or even kidney damage. It is important that the body is supplied with sufficient fluid, electrolytes and minerals. If for some reason you are unable to do this yourself, you urgently need to get infusions from the hospital or your family doctor.
In addition, it must be discussed with the doctor in charge whether the therapy could possibly be replaced by another in order to counteract the gastrointestinal complaints and restore the quality of life.Lactic acidosis is a rather rare but no less dangerous side effect of therapy with metformin and also of excessive alcohol consumption in combination with the drug metformin. Lactic acidosis means that the blood in the body and the tissues are overacidified. This means that the pH value is low because there is an increased amount of lactate in the body.
Lactate is the anion of lactic acid, and is the end product of anaerobic glycolysis. Lactate acidosis occurs mainly in patients who have kidney and/or liver disease in addition to diabetes. It is important to control the function of these organs before starting therapy with metformin.
Lactic acidosis is a special form of metabolic acidosis, but it can be well defined, since in lactic acidosis not only the pH value is lowered, but also, as already mentioned, the lactate value is increased. The disorder is caused by a disturbed metabolism, in which lactate can no longer be sufficiently broken down. In the case of lactate acidosis, it is not enough to treat only the symptoms, but it is important to find the cause and eliminate it. Possible symptoms of this disorder are for example deeper breathing, abdominal pain, nausea and in particularly severe forms it can lead to shock or kidney failure.
