Metformin

Metformin is an oral drug used to help control blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes. This medication reduces the amount of glucose the liver produces and interferes with the absorption of glucose from food to keep diabetes under control. It is sometimes taken in conjunction with other diabetes drugs.

Side Effects/Warnings

Patients who take this medication are at risk of a serious liver disease called lactic acidosis. Patients whose kidneys are compromised or who have had liver disease, heart disease or respiratory disease are at greater risk of developing lactic acidosis, as are patients who drink large amounts of alcohol. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath or rapid, shallow breathing
• Dizziness and light-headness
• Changes in heart rate
• Flushing of the skin
• Feeling cold in a warm environment