Metformin Side Effects

If you have type 2 diabetes, then chances are you have probably already heard of a drug called metformin. Essentially metformin allows the body to slow down its insulin production as well as allows glucose to be absorbed by liver and fat cells. This lowers the blood sugar levels to a normal, healthy level. This is good; this is exactly what you need for your body to properly function. However, with any drug you need to learn about the possible metformin side effects.

While an overwhelming majority of people taking metformin experience little to no metformin side effects, there are some potentially dangerous metformin side effects that you should be aware of. Gastronomic problems are generally the most common complaint of people taking metformin. This includes an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, however there are many benefits of metformin that offset the metformin side effects and generally most of the metformin side effects do go away as your body gets used to the drug.

Most people experiencing these types of metformin side effects are in the first stages of using metformin. Their bodies have not become accustomed to the drug and the body is simply rejecting the drug in its full amount, such as if you immediately start taking  metformin 500 Mg tablets. To prevent or at least minimize these metformin side affects, many doctors recommend you take smaller doses and gradually increase dose until you receive a full dose in one shot. Most of the time, this will reduce the possible metformin side effects from happening or make them completely disappear.

Other minor metformin side effects some people complain of are dizziness, nausea and headaches. All three side effects affect less then 15% of people and are not considered to be serious metformin side effects.

The most severe side effect of metformin is the potential for lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis occurs when the body’s blood tissues and blood have a low pH as well as a buildup of lactate. While this normally occurs when cells do not receive enough oxygen, during vigorous exercise for example, lactic acidosis is a very serious metformin side effect that needs to be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage. Metformin has been proven to increase lactate production so it needs to be monitored when first taking the drug to make sure the body can respond and remove the lactate.

In very few cases, metformin overdoses have led to death. It has been determined that well over 5,000mg of metformin were taken to facilitate the death of a person. The boxes are clearly labeled and simple instructions from the doctor will prevent anything like this. For children, anything under 1,700 mg is safe for them to take.

There are possible side effects with just about every drug known to man, and the metformin side effects are generally hardly noticed. There is absolutely no reason to panic after reading these metformin side effects and thinking that metformin is too dangerous for you to take. The cases of severe health problems are very low and much lower then most drugs that are on today’s market. If you are hesitant, just discuss the possibility of using metformin to treat your diabetes with your doctor and talk about the possible metformin side effects that you are concerned about. You will probably find that he or she will tell you everything in this article and likely convince you that the potential metformin side effects greatly outweigh the benefits of taking metformin to better your life.