Metformin Side Effects you Should Know About

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What Is Metformin?

Metformin is a prescription medicine used to help people with type II diabetes. This drug reduces the blood sugar level and increases the sugar absorption abilities of the muscles. Metformin is one of only two existing oral anti-diabetic medications, and the only one that has been proven to prevent the cardiovascular complications of diabetes.


Most consumed drugs may cause undesired side effects, yet many individuals don’t experience side effects or don’t even recognize them. So, it’s so crucial to inform your doctor if any side effect occurs when taking a drug. Concerning Metformin, the side effects aren’t really that dangerous and are in most cases minor and don’t need a special medical care or intervention.


Metformin was a subject for numerous clinical studies, and have been evaluated to determine its effectiveness and safety, these studies have shown that metformin side effects symptoms are very common and can be caused by other drugs or even without taking them, which makes it hard to tell the side effects cause. Basically these are the side effects that a patient may experience when taking metformin:
  • Headache
  • Vomiting or Nausea
  • Stomach discomfort
  • Gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Indigestion


The following are some metformin side effects considered uncomfortable, and requires guidance and advice from your physician:


lactic acidosis signs including low blood pressure, vomiting, nausea, lethargy, irregular heart rhythm, abdominal pain and abnormal breathing


Symptoms of high blood sugar: Dry mouth, thirst, blurry vision, dry and itchy skin, increased appetite, frequent urination and urination during the night.

Low blood sugar symptoms like blurry eyesight like seeing double, dizzy and sleepy, rapid heartbeat, weak and lethargic, unable to concentrate and uncoordinated, and changed personality, behavior and mood.


Chest pain


Allergies symptoms and reactions, like itchiness, watery eyes, congestion, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, swelling of the throat, and mental confusion or dizziness


In addition to that, there are some other side effects that may occur. In recent medical studies regarding metformin, up to 5% of patients who consume this drug may be exposed to unwanted side effects. That’s is why it’s different for the patient to determine whether the side effects are because of metformin or not, some of them are:


  • Unusual Tiredness
  • Changing in taste
  • Dizziness
  • Pain in the muscles
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Weakness, fatigue, muscle pain and fever (like Flu symptoms )
  • Unusual sweating
  • Slow or irregular Heartbeat


Due to it’s tolerated side effects and its effectiveness, Metformin is the #1 recommended drug for diabetes, but it shouldn’t be taken without a prescription, so it’s important to seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist, and inform them about your existing health condition and other drugs you may be taking, to avoid unwanted allergies caused by the medicines incompatibility.




03 September 2011 | | Metformin Side Effects | No Comment | Read More