When your body is unable to use insulin and control the sugar quantity in your blood, you most likely have Type II diabetes and you need Metformin, medication that belongs to a group known as biguanides. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that Metformin remains the best drug to treat Type II diabetes with; it has also been shown to have less side effects, albeit the Metformin price has conformed to inflation.

How Metformin Works

Metformin helps control the glucose in the blood, decreasing its amount when the liver produces it. Metformin also promotes the body’s response to insulin, a naturally-occurring substance which has control over the blood’s glucose amount. Metformin, however, cannot be used for Type I diabetes; with this condition, the body is unable to produce the insulin or control glucose amount in blood.

The significance of Metformin’s medication of choice for (Type II) diabetes cannot be underestimated. Diabetes is often the cause of developing medical conditions such as stroke, nerve damage, kidney and eye problems, and heart disease. Metformin decreases the risk of diabetes-related medical complications like kidney failure, gum disease, loss of vision, decrease in sexual ability, and numbness of feet and legs.

Liquid Metformin is taken once or twice daily with meals. In tablet form, Metformin is taken with meals thrice a day. Metformin’s tablet with extended-release is taken once a day with dinner. Patients are advised to take it at the same time every day and strictly in the prescribed dosage. The extended-release Metformin tablets are to be swallowed and not chewed, split or crushed for ingestion.

Short-Term Side Effects

These symptoms are possible side effects of taking Metformin:

• Diarrhea.
• Stomach pain.
• Constipation.
• Bloating.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Metallic taste lingering in the mouth.
• Heartburn.
• Intestinal gas.
• Headache.
• Changes in the nails.
• Muscle pain.
• Flushing of skin.
• Cramps.
• Flatulence.

Notwithstanding the above mentioned side effects, Metformin’s most serious side effect seems to do with gastrointestinal-related conditions, which most users do not seem to mind too much. Even the Metformin price tag is considered budget-friendly for something so effective.

Long-Term Side Effects

The prolonged use of Metformin over a considerable period of time has been linked to increased homocysteine levels and vitamin B12 malabsorption. The higher the dosage of Metformin, the more vitamin B12 deficiency develops.  As mentioned earlier, Metformin doesn’t really have adverse side effects on record but there is lactic acidosis which affects 9 out of 100,000 individuals who take medication from the biguanide group.

Biguanide, in fact, along with phenformin, was recalled by the manufacturer because of the alarming rate of lactic acidosis in the 40 to 64 age bracket per hundred thousand patient years. Lactic acidosis occurs when lactic acid – produced in red blood cells and muscle cells – is formed when the levels of oxygen — such as during intense or rigorous exercises or when the body has an infection – drop and the lactic acid builds up faster than it can be removed from the bloodstream.

Drug Interaction

Metformin’s interaction with iodinated contrast agents could result in fatalities; these agents are used prior to conducting radiography to enhance visibility of cancerous tumors, organs, and blood vessels, among other parts of the body. Metformin may also be reactive with:

·         Alcohol.
·         Drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors and alpha blockers like prazosin.
·         Anti-arrhythmics which help control problems of the heartbeat rhythm.
·         Diuretics such as water pills.
·         Drugs for healing ulcers such as cimetidine.
·         Contraceptives such as estrogens.
·         Steroids for treatment of allergies and inflammation.
·         Anti-psychotic medication to treat schizophrenia.

Generic Alternatives

Manufactured by Bristol Myers-Squibb Company, Metformin is sold both as a generic and brand name medication. Metformin price costs 18 times less than brand name anti-diabetic medication, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. Some of these brand names include Glucophage, Fortamet, Dianben, Obimet, and Glumetza.