Metformin Side Effects

There may be difficult metformin side effects but very few cases have been reported to happen to patients with type 2 diabetes. Most people get very slight side effects or none at all. A serious side effect is lactic acidosis. Metformin slows down lactate uptake by the liver which is a substrate for hepatic gluconeogenesis, leading impaired renal function such as liver and kidney functions as lactic acid builds up in the blood.

This is what causes lactic acidosis with symptoms such as weakness, breathing problems, abnormal heartbeats, unusual muscle pain and light headedness. The majority of patients with this side effect are in most cases linked to comorbid conditions to a certain extent than to the Metformin itself.

Some side effects of metformin are also associated with gastrointestinal upset. This usually occurs to diabetic patients who have just started using the drug or have increased their dosage. Gastrointestinal upset can cause severe discomforts such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea and vomiting. These discomforts can be eliminated by starting to administer Metformin at a low dose and increase the dose little by little as the patient puts up with it. This side effect gradually fades away.  In some cases, glucophage side effects can cause hair loss in male patients. Glucophage (Metformin) is a major contributor to male hair loss. Some women have also reported cases of hair loss that have alleged to have been worsened by taking the drug.

Among other major potential metformin side effects, is the life-threatening complication of anemia. Metformin prevents optimal absorption of vitamins B12 and folic acid that bring in megaloblastic anemia. This usually occurs when the bone marrow of diabetic patients lacks enough B vitamins to produce red blood cells causing it to discharge red blood cells that are not fully formed into the blood circulation. The end result will be production of dysfunctional red blood cells that will not be helpful to the patient’s blood system. This condition is not common among people taking Metformin. It is most likely to pose this risk to those patients with a low B12 and folic acid having been already in existence before they started administering the drug.

Here are some common symptoms that have be found as a result of overdose of Metformin. This includes

• Abdominal pain
• Drowsiness
• Indigestion and mild weight gain
• Severe allergic reactions such as rashes, itching, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue have been reported.
• There are also persistent side effects that have been reported which include vision changes, bone pain, dark urine, difficult or painful urination, fainting, pale stools and loss of appetite.

These are the common effects that have majored in metformin law suit. It is advisable that any patient using Metformin to seek medical attention right away with the physician if any of these side effects persist to avoid any future complication as a result of its dosage.