Metformin

The medication I’ve just started for my insulin resistance is called Metformin.  I just started it about three weeks ago and didn’t know a lot of the side effects.  It was interesting, when I finally looked it up, to see that there were many more side effects than I’d realized.  Check it out:

Metformin helps to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. Metformin also increases your body's response to insulin, a natural substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Metformin is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood).

This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms.
You may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are taking this medication. Your doctor will tell you what you should do if you develop hypoglycemia. He or she may tell you to check your blood sugar, eat or drink a food or beverage that contains sugar, such as hard candy or fruit juice, or get medical care. Follow these directions carefully if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia:

·         shakiness

·         dizziness or lightheadedness

·         sweating

·         nervousness or irritability

·         sudden changes in behavior or mood

·         headache

·         numbness or tingling around the mouth

·         weakness

·         pale skin

·         hunger

·         clumsy or jerky movements

If hypoglycemia is not treated, severe symptoms may develop. Be sure that your family, friends, and other people who spend time with you know that if you have any of the following symptoms, they should get medical treatment for you immediately:

·         confusion

·         seizures

·         loss of consciousness

Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):

·         extreme thirst

·         frequent urination

·         extreme hunger

·         weakness

·         blurred vision

If high blood sugar is not treated, a serious, life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could develop. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

·         dry mouth

·         nausea and vomiting

·         shortness of breath

·         breath that smells fruity

·         decreased consciousness

Metformin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe, do not go away, go away and come back, or do not begin for some time after you begin taking metformin:

·         diarrhea

·         bloating

·         stomach pain

·         gas

·         constipation

·         unpleasant metallic taste in mouth

·         heartburn

·         headache

·         sneezing

·         cough

·         runny nose

·         flushing of the skin

·         nail changes

·         muscle pain

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

·         chest pain

·         rash

Some female laboratory animals given high doses of metformin developed non-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths of tissue) in the uterus (womb). It is not known if metformin increases the risk of polyps in humans. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.
Metformin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
(this information was taken from PubMedHealth.com, revised April 15, 2011 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000974/)