Metformin Side Effects

Metformin, the world’s most prescribed drug, is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. While there are little to no side effects of the drug, many women have raised concerns about using the drug during pregnancy. Pregnancy does change a woman’s body tremendously, so their body may not respond to the same way it would under normal circumstances. The question that is normally asked is, “Is metformin safe to use during pregnancy?”

The short answer is yes. Most doctors and physicians will tell you that you can continue to use metformin during pregnancy if in the first trimester (one to three months). There is no evidence to support any theory that birth complications or malformations will occur if a woman takes metformin during her first trimester of pregnancy.

A recent study conducted by the Motherisk Program confirmed this. In a retrospective study, 72 patients exposed to Metformin and 48 patients not exposed to metformin were studied. The rate of malformations was very similar in both groups. However, the metformin group did have a slightly higher rate of multiple births and prematurity. However, researchers believe this was due to the use of fertility drugs and not metformin itself. In total, birth complications and malformations were below 3% in both groups.

In another study among 200 women, the results were very promising. 80 women stopped using metformin during pregnancy and 120 women kept taking the drug. The control group actually had a higher instance of miscarriages (36%) then the group still taking metformin (11%). The study further found that metformin has no significant effect on the healthiness of a baby or influence on malformations.

After the first trimester, it is still debated whether or not metformin should still be taken.  While the studies seem to indicate metformin is safe, some doctors and researchers feel more studies need to be conducted to fully prove that metformin is safe to take all the way through a pregnancy.  If you are feeling uncomfortable about taking metformin because of the potential risks or uncertainty in complications, talk to your doctor and look for an alternate medicine. The last thing you want to do is to be stressing about whether something horrible will happen when your hormones are already uncontrollable.

Hopefully over the next few years, more studies can be conducted to clear up the confusion about the use of metformin. So far researchers have determined that metformin does not increase the risk for a miscarriage, spontaneous abortion or malformations. However, as stated above the research has only been in small clinically trials that don’t really provide the large samples needed to prove metformin is safe.  If you are currently pregnant or are looking to conceive a child, do what is most comfortable for you. Do not let a spouse or doctor convince you to keep taking metformin if you are not comfortable. It is your body, do what you think is best for you and your baby.