Metformin: Oral Tablet Explained

Metformin, Oral Tablet

Highlights for Metformin Tablet

1.Metformin oral tablets are accessible as generic medications and as brand-name medicines. Brand names: Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza and Glucophage XR.
2.Two types of metformin are available: tablet and solution. Both shapes are adopted by mouth.
3.Metformin oral tablet is used to treat elevated concentrations of blood sugar from type 2 diabetes.

What is metformin?

Metformin is a medicine prescribed. It is available as an oral tablet and an oral solution.

The oral tablet of Metformin comes in two types: immediate release and extended release. The immediate release tablet is accessible as the Glucophage brand name medicine. The extended release tablet is accessible as the Glucophage XR, Fortamet, and Glumetza brand-name medicines.

Both tablets are also accessible as generic medicines. Generics typically cost less than brand names. In some cases, they may not be available as brand-name drugs in all strengths or forms.

Why it is used

It is used to treat elevated blood sugar concentrations induced by type 2 diabetes with Metformin oral tablets. They are used with diet and exercise.

This medicine can be used in combination treatment. This implies that you may have to take it with other medicines.

How Metformin works

It is part of a class of drugs known as biguanides. A drug class is a group of medicines that operate similarly. Often these medicines are used to treat comparable circumstances.

The impact of metformin is:

lowering the glucose (sugar) produced by your liver,
decreases the quantity of glucose your body absorbs,
increases the impact of insulin in your blood. This reduces your blood sugar.

Metformin adverse effects

Metformin oral tablet may cause mild or severe adverse events. The list below includes some of the main side impacts that may happen during metformin. Not all possible side impacts are included in this list.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for further data on possible side effects of metformin or advice on how to cope with a troubling side effect.

More prevalent side effects.

Metformin’s most prevalent side impacts include:

stomach issues
diarrhoea
Nausea
Pain in the abdomen
Heartburn
gas.

They may disappear within a few days or a few weeks if these impacts are mild. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if they’re more severe or they don’t go away.

Serious adverse effects.

If you have severe side effects, call your doctor immediately. Call 911 if you feel threatened by life or if you believe that you have a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and symptoms may include: lactic acidosis.

Symptoms may include:

Fatigue.
Weakness
Extraordinary muscle pain
Breathing difficulty
Extraordinary sleepiness.
Painful stomach,
Nausea, or vomiting.
Dizziness or sunlight.
Heart rate slow or irregular.

Hypoglycemia (low sugar in the blood). Symptoms may be:

Headache.
Weakness.
onfusion. Shaking or jittering.
Drowsiness
Dizziness.
Irritability
Sweating.
Hunger
Fast heart rate.

How can low blood sugar be treated?

Metformin can trigger a low response of blood sugar. You need to treat it if you have a low blood sugar response.

Treatment is 15–20 grams (a type of sugar) of glucose in mild hypoglycemia (55–70 mg / dL). One of the following is to eat or drink:

3–4 glucose tablets
glucose gel tube.
1/2 cup of juice, nondiet soda, or regular.
1 cup of nonfat or 1% cow’s milk.
1 tablespoon of sugar, honey or maize syrup.
8-10 pieces of hard candy,such as lifesavers

Test your blood sugar 15 minutes after you treat low sugar response and use 1 tablet of sugar, honey or maize syrup. Repeat the above therapy if your blood sugar is still small. Once your blood sugar has returned to normal, eat a tiny snack if the next meal or snack is over 1 hour later.

If you don’t treat low blood sugar, seizures may occur, and brain damage may grow. Even low blood sugar can be deadly. If you go out or can’t swallow due to a low sugar response, someone will have to inject glucagon to treat the low sugar response. You might have to go to the emergency room.

Metformin may communicate with other drugs.

The oral tablet of Metformin may interact with a few other medicines. Various interactions can have various impacts. For example, some may interfere with how well a medicine works, while others may cause more side effects.

The medicines that can communicate with metformin are listed below. Not all medications that can communicate with metformin are included in this list.

Tell your physician and pharmacist about all medications, over – the-counter and other medicines you take before taking metformin. Tell them also about any supplements, herbs and vitamins you are using.
You can assist prevent future interactions by sharing this data.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about drug interactions that might influence you.

Drugs for diabetes.

The use of some metformin diabetes medicines may lead to low blood sugar levels. You may decrease your dose of other diabetes medicines when you begin taking metformin. Examples are:
insulin-releasing medicines, such as glyburide

Blood pressure drugs

Diuretics are used to reduce blood pressure and may boost the level of your blood sugar. Metformin may interfere with the efficacy of these medicines. For example,

furosemide
hydrochlorothiazide

Nifedipin is a blocker in the calcium channel used to reduce blood pressure. It raises the quantity of metformin in your body, which can boost your risk of metformin side effects.

Cholesterol drug.

Taking metformin nicotinic acid may reduce the efficacy of metformin in reducing your blood sugar.

Glaucoma medicines.

Metformin may boost your risk of lactic acidosis by medicines used to treat glaucoma. Examples of these medications include:

acetazolamide
brinzolamide
dorzolamide
methazolamide

Topiramate

Metformin for treating joint pain and seizures, which may boost your risk of lactic acidosis. These medicines should not be used together.

Phenytoin.

Metformin with phenytoin, which is used to treat seizures, can make your blood sugar less efficient.

Stomach problem drugs

Taking Metformin with cimetidine, which is used for heartburn and other stomach problems, can boost your risk of acidosis in the stomach. Your physician may choose a distinct medicine instead of cimetidine if you take metformin.

Phenothiazines

By using phenothiazines, which are antipsychotic medicines, metformin may make your blood sugar less efficient. For example,

fluphenazine
chlorpromazine
prochlorperazine.

Hormone medicines.

Metformin can reduce your blood sugar by using certain hormone medicines. Examples of these medications include:

corticosteroidal agents (inhaled and oral), such as:

budesonide
fluticasone
prednisone
betamethasone
estrogens, such as
hormone birth control, including nursing pills, or estrogen
conjugate patches of estrogen
estradiol TB.

Tuberculosis medicine.

Taking isoniazid with metformin may decrease your blood sugar efficiency.

Thyroid medicine

Metformin may decrease your blood sugar by taking certain thyroid medications. Examples of these medications include:

desiccated thyroid
levothyroxine
liotrix

How to take metformin

Your doctor prescribes metformin will rely on a couple of variables. These include: the sort or severity of the disease you use metformin to treat your age as metformin you may take other medical circumstances.

Typically, your doctor will begin you on a small dose, and over time it will be adjusted to achieve the correct dose for you. Finally, you will prescribe the lowest dosage that gives the required impact.

The following describes dosages frequently used or suggested. However, make sure that you take your doctor’s dosage. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.

Forms and strengths

Generic: Metformin
Form: immediate-release oral tablet
Strengths: 500 mg, 850 mg, 1,000 mg
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 500 mg, 750 mg, 1,000 mg
Brand: Glucophage
Form: immediate-release oral tablet
Strengths: 500 mg, 850 mg, 1,000 mg

Brand: Glucophage XR
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 500 mg, 750 mg

Brand: Fortamet
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 500 mg, 1,000 mg

Brand: Glumetza
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 500 mg, 1,000 mg

Type 2 dosage.

Adult dosage (18–79 years of age).

Tablets for immediate release. T

Typical beginning dose: 500 mg, twice daily, or 850 mg, once daily. Take your meal doses.

Changes in dosage:

Your doctor can boost your dosage by 500 mg weekly or 850 mg every 2 weeks, or take up to a total of 2550 mg per day at split doses.
If your doctor provides you more than 2,000 mg daily, you may need to take the drug 3 times daily.

Maximum dose: 2.550 mg daily.

Tablets for extended-release.

Typical starting dose: 500 mg taken with your evening meal once daily. All ER tablets with the exception of Fortamet are subject to this. Fortamet’s typical starting dose is 500-1000 mg taken once a day at dinner.

Modification of the dose:

Every week your physician increases your dose by 500 mg.
If you can’t regulate glucose once a day, your doctor may split your full daily dose and bring it twice daily.

Maximum dose: 2,000 mg daily. (May Fortamet dose is 2,000 mg a day) Immediate-release tablets

Child dose (age 10-17 years)

Typical starting dose: 500 mg taken twice a day.
Modification of the dosage: Your doctor will raise your dosage by 500 mg at split doses each week.
Maximum dose: 2,000 mg daily.

Extended-release tablets

This drug was not studied in kids under the age of 18.

Child dosage (0-9 years old)

This medication has not been researched and should not be used in kids under the age of 10.

Senior dosage (age 80 years and older): Metformin should not be used in people aged 80 and older unless they have a standard kidney function. The risk of lactic acidosis is greater for people of these ages.
You should not take the maximum dose if you are aged 80 years or older and take metformin.

Metformin warnings

FDA warning: Lactic acidosis

This medicinal product has a black box warning. This is the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) most severe warning. A black box warns physicians and patients about hazardous drug consequences.
A rare but severe side impact of this medicine is lactic acidosis. Lactic acid builds up in your blood with this disorder. This is a medical emergency requiring hospital therapy. Around half of the individuals who develop lactic acidosis are deadly. You should stop taking this medication and immediately call your doctor or go to the emergency room for lactic acidosis symptoms.
Symptoms include weakness, uncommon muscle pain, breathing difficulties, abnormal sleepiness and stomach pain. Nausea or vomiting, dizziness or lightheadedness, and slow or irregular heart rate are also included.

Alcohol use warning

You should not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can boost your risk of metformin lactic acidosis. Alcohol can also increase or decrease your blood sugar concentrations.

Kidney issues warning

You have a greater risk of lactic acidosis when you have moderate to serious kidney issues. You ought not to take this medicine.

Liver disease warning issues

Liver illness is a lactic acidosis risk factor. If you have liver problems, you shouldn’t take this medicine.

Warning about allergies

This medicine can trigger a serious allergic reaction. Symptoms include breathing difficulties, swelling your throat or tongue hives .
If you have ever had an allergic reaction before, don’t take this drug again. It could be deadly again (because of death).

Warnings for individuals with certain health conditions

People with renal issues may have a greater risk of lactic acidosis if you have mild to serious renal issues. You ought not to take this medicine.

For individuals with hepatic issues: liver illness is a lactic acidosis risk factor. You should not take this medicine if you have issues with your liver.
People who plan an imaging operation: If you plan to use a dye injection or contrast in order to use an imaging operation, you will need to stop taking this medication for a short time. This can influence the functioning of your kidneys and risk lactic acidosis.
Tell the doctor if you have a fever or infection, are injured, or plan to have surgery or a different medical procedure for people with a disease. You may need to alter your dose of this medicine.
For diabetic ketoacidosis patients: This medication should not be used for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.
For individuals with heart issues: If you have a situation in which your heart’s oxygen decreases, such as a latest heart attack or heart failure, you will become more vulnerable to lactic acidosis. You ought not to take this medicine.

Warnings for certain organizations

For pregnant females, not enough studies have been conducted in pregnant people to be sure how this medicine may impact the fetus. Animal research did not show adverse impacts on the fetus if the mom took the medication. Animal studies, however, do not always predict how beings will react.
Talk to your physician if you are pregnant or if you plan to get pregnant. This medicine should only be used when it is obviously necessary in pregnancy.
Even during pregnancy, it is important for women with type 2 diabetes to treat their condition. Pregnant women typically take insulin instead of metformin to control their blood sugar levels.
For females breastfeeding: This medicine can be transmitted into breast milk and it can cause adverse impacts in a breastfeeding kid. If you breastfeed your child, talk to your physician. You may have to decide whether you should stop or stop breast-feeding.
For the elderly: people 80 years old or older should not begin taking metformin without ordinary kidney function. The risk of lactic acidosis is greater in people of this age. You should not take the highest dose when you are 80 years old or older and bring metformin.
For kids: this drug has not been created as an immediate release form secure and efficient for use in kids under 10.
The extended-release type of this drug was not created in kids under the age of 18 as secure and efficient for use.
Take Metformin oral tablet as directed is used for long term therapy. If you don’t take it as prescribed, it presents severe hazards.
If you stop taking or don’t at all: if you improve your condition during your regular use of this medication and stop taking it, your type 2 diabetes symptoms can return.
If you do not take this medicine at all, your type 2 diabetes symptoms may not enhance or get worse over time.
If you miss doses or don’t take the medication on time: your medication may not operate as well or may stop working. For this medicine to function well, a certain quantity must always be in your body.
You may have hazardous medication concentrations in your body if you take too much. The symptoms are

stomach pain
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
drowsiness
headache
lactic acidosis

If you believe you have taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or seek help with the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-11222 or through the internet instrument. You may have the following symptoms. However, if your symptoms are serious, call 911 or immediately go to the closest emergency room.

What can you do if you miss a dose? Take it as quickly as you remember if you forget to bring your dose. If your next dose is only a few hours before the time, take only one dose at the time. Never attempt to catch up by taking two doses simultaneously. This could lead to harmful side impacts.

How do you say if your medication works: as your doctor decides, your blood sugar should be close your target range. Your diabetes symptoms should also improve.

Important considerations for taking this drug

Keep these factors in mind if you are prescribed by your doctor for metformin oral tablet.

General

This medicine is supposed to be taken with food.
The extended-release tablets should not be cut or crushed. Ordinary oral tablets can however be crushed or sliced.

Storage

Keep this medication between 68 ° F and 77 ° F (20 ° C and 25 ° C) at temperature. It can be stored briefly at 59 ° F to 86 ° F (15 ° C and 30 ° C).
Keep this medicine away from elevated temperatures and light.
Do not store this medication, such as toilets, in humid or humid regions.

Traveling with your medicine:

Always bring your medicine with you. Never placed it in a checked bag when flying. Keep in your bag. Keep it in your bag.
Don’t worry about X-ray machines at Airport. You can’t harm your drug.
You may need to demonstrate your medication pharmaceutical label to airport employees. Always bring with you the initial prescription labeled container.
Don’t bring this drug into the glove compartment of your vehicle or leave it in your vehicle. Be sure not when the weather is very hot or cold.

Self management

Your doctor may have you check your blood sugar concentrations at home frequently. When your doctor says you need to do this, you will need the

Sterile alcohol wipes
blood sugar test strips
blood glucose monitoring machine
needle container for secure disposal of the lancets (needles used to get a drop of blood from your finger to test your blood sugar).

If your doctor chooses to use the following, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to use your bloody glucose monitoring mechanism

Clinical monitoring

Your doctor can check your blood sugar concentrations glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) before and during your therapy with this medicine. In the last two to three months, this experiment measures your blood sugar control.

Cholesterol
VitaminB-12
Renal level Function

Your diet

This medicine can help reduce blood sugar levels if it is used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications such as enhanced diet, enhanced exercise, and not smoking. Follow your doctor’s, licensed nutritionist’s or diabetes educator’s nutrition plan.

Hidden Costs
If your doctor determines you have to check blood sugar at home, you have to buy sterile alcohol wipes and lancets (needle blood drops used by your finger to check blood sugar) blood sugar test strips, blood glucose monitoring machine ,needles container for secure disposal of lancets. Check the information of your individual plan.