METFORMIN

(met FOR min) Brand: Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Riomet

What is the most significant information I must know about metformin?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to metformin, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

• If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a paint that is injected into your veins, you will need to temporarily stop taking metformin.

• Till taking metformin, speak your doctor if you have liver malady or a history of heart disease.

• Some people develop lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Get abnormal medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cool feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, slow or uneven heart course, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.

What is metformin?

• Metformin is an oral diabetes medication that helps control blood sugar levels.

• Metformin is for people with type 2 diabetes. Metformin is sometimes used in combination with insulin or another medications, but it is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

• Metformin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking metformin?

• Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking metformin. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have liver or kidney malady, congestive heart failure, a severe infection, if you are dehydrated, or if you drink big amounts of alcohol. Conversation with your doctor about your individual risk.

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to metformin, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

• If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a paint that is injected into your veins, you will need to temporarily stop taking metformin.

• To create certain you can safely take metformin, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· liver malady; or

· a history of heart disease.

• FDA pregnancy category B. This medicine is not expected to be deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• It is not known whether metformin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using metformin.

• Metformin must not be given to a baby younger than 10 years old. Extended-release metformin (Glucophage XR) must not be given to a baby younger than 17 years old.

How must I take metformin?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• 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.

• Metformin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercice, and weight control. It is significant to use this medication regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled till you run out of medication completely.

• Do not crush, chew, or interrupt an extended-release tablet (Glucophage XR). Swallow the pill intact. Breaking the pill may reason too many of the drug to be released at one time.

• Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need another blood trials at your doctor's office. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or diseases, if you travel, exercice more than normal, drink alcohol, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your doze needs may also change.

• Your doctor may want you to stop taking metformin for a short time if you become ill, have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency.

• Ask your doctor how to adjust your metformin doze if needed. Do not change your medicine doze or schedule without your doctor's advice.

• Your doctor may have you take extra vitamin B12 while you are taking metformin. Take only the amount of vitamin B12 that your doctor has prescribed.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember (be certain to take the medication with food). Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• An overdose of metformin may reason lactic acidosis. Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart course, cool feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling light-headed, and fainting.

What must I avoid while taking metformin?

• Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may magnify your risk of lactic acidosis while taking metformin.

What are the possible side effects of metformin?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• This medicine may reason lactic acidosis (a build-up of lactic acid in the body, which can be fatal). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and get worse over time. Get abnormal medical help if you have even mild symptoms of lactic acidosis, such as:

· muscle pain or weakness;

· numb or cool feeling in your arms and legs;

· trouble breathing;

· feeling dizzy, light-headed, weary, or very weak;

· stomach pain, nausea with vomiting; or

· slow or uneven heart rate.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any another serious side effect such as:

· feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· swelling or rapid weight gain; or

· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· headache or muscle pain;

· weakness; or

· mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect metformin?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· furosemide (Lasix);

· nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia);

· cimetidine (Tagamet) or ranitidine (Zantac);

· amiloride (Midamor) or triamterene (Dyrenium);

· digoxin (Lanoxin);

· morphine (MS Contin, Kadian, Oramorph);

· procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl, Procanbid);

· quinidine (Quin-G) or quinine (Qualaquin);

· trimethoprim (Proloprim, Primsol, Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra); or

· vancomycin (Vancocin, Lyphocin).

• You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take metformin with another drugs that can raise blood sugar, such as:

· isoniazid;

· diuretics (water pills);

· steroids (prednisone and others);

· heart or blood pressure medicine (Cartia, Cardizem, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan, and others);

· niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others);

· phenothiazines (Compazine and others);

· thyroid medication (Synthroid and others);

· birth control pills and another hormones;

· seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); and

· diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies.

• These lists are not complete and another drugs may interact with metformin. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about metformin.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.