How many metformin a day

Metformin is usually prescribed when diet and exercise alone has not been enough to control your blood sugar levels. Page last reviewed: 8 February Next review due: 8 February Metformin On this page About metformin Key facts Who can and cannot take metformin How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About metformin Metformin is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes , and to help prevent type 2 diabetes if you're at high risk of developing it. PCOS is a condition that affects how the ovaries work. Metformin lowers your blood sugar levels by improving the way your body handles insulin. Metformin is available on prescription as tablets and as a liquid that you drink. Metformin works by reducing the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood. It also makes your body respond better to insulin.

Insulin is the hormone that controls the level of sugar in your blood. It's best to take metformin with a meal to reduce the side effects. The most common side effects are feeling and being sick, diarrhoea, stomach ache and going off your food. Metformin does not cause weight gain, unlike some other diabetes medicines. Liquid metformin is called by the brand name Riomet.

Metformin is prescribed for adults, and children aged 10 years and older. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you : have had an allergic reaction to metformin or other medicines in the past have uncontrolled diabetes have liver or kidney problems have a severe infection are being treated for heart failure or have recently had a heart attack have severe problems with your circulation or breathing difficulties drink a lot of alcohol You may need to stop taking metformin before having surgery and certain medical tests.

Tell your doctor if you need to have: a test such as an X-ray or scan involving the injection of a dye that contains iodine into your blood surgery where you'll be put to sleep. Dosage The maximum daily dose is 2,mg a day for example, 4 x mg tablets. Different types of metformin Metformin comes as 2 different types of tablet: standard-release tablets and slow-release tablets. Will my dose go up or down? For example: one mg tablet with or after breakfast for at least 1 week, then one mg tablet with or after breakfast and your evening meal for at least 1 week, then one mg tablet with or after breakfast, lunch and your evening meal If you find you cannot tolerate the side effects of standard-release metformin, your doctor may suggest switching to slow-release tablets.

What if I forget to take it? If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? They include: stomach pain diarrhoea fast or shallow breathing feeling cold unusual sleepiness tiredness or weakness.

Like all medicines, metformin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Common side effects Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away after 1 week: feeling sick nausea being sick vomiting or diarrhoea stomach ache loss of appetite a metallic taste in the mouth Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10, people.

Call your doctor straight away if you get warning signs of: a general feeling of discomfort with severe tiredness, fast or shallow breathing, being cold and a slow heartbeat yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow - these can be signs of liver problems extreme tiredness, lack of energy, pins and needles, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness and disturbed vision - these could be signs of vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia a skin rash, redness or itching - this could be a sign of a skin disorder Low blood sugar Metformin does not usually cause low blood sugar known as hypoglycaemia, or "hypos" when taken on its own.

Early warning signs of low blood sugar include: feeling hungry trembling or shaking sweating confusion difficulty concentrating It's also possible for your blood sugar to go too low while you're asleep. If this happens, it can make you feel sweaty, tired and confused when you wake up.

Low blood sugar may happen if you: take too much of some types of diabetes medicines eat meals irregularly or skip meals are fasting do not eat a healthy diet and are not getting enough nutrients change what you eat increase your physical activity without eating more to compensate drink alcohol, especially after skipping a meal take some other medicines or herbal medicines at the same time have a hormone disorder, such as hypothyroidism have kidney or liver problems To prevent hypoglycaemia, it's important to have regular meals, including breakfast.

Serious allergic reaction It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to metformin. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling sick — take metformin with food to reduce the chances of feeling sick. It may also help to slowly increase your dose over several weeks. Ask a pharmacist or your doctor for advice. Take small, frequent sips if you're being sick.

Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea or vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help.

If you're in a lot of pain, speak to your pharmacist or doctor. If it helps, eat smaller meals more often than usual. Metformin is usually safe to take during pregnancy, either alone or in combination with insulin. Metformin and breastfeeding You can take metformin while you're breastfeeding. Metformin passes into breast milk, but the amount is too small to affect your baby. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:.

There are some medicines that interfere with the way metformin works. If you're taking any of the following medicines, your blood sugar levels may need to be checked more often and your dose adjusted: steroid tablets, such as prednisolone tablets that make you pee more diuretics , such as furosemide medicines to treat heart problems and high blood pressure male and female hormones, such as testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone other diabetes medicines Some women might need a small adjustment in their metformin dose after starting contraceptive pills.

Mixing metformin with herbal remedies and supplements There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with metformin. Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does metformin work in diabetes? Metformin reduces the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood. How does metformin work in PCOS?

PCOS cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. It'll normally be prescribed when other treatments, such as clomifene, have not worked. A study published in the Lancet following type 1 participants for three years found that compared to placebo, participants taking metformin lost weight.

If you are a person with type 2 diabetes, there are plenty of benefits to taking metformin for its original, intended purpose. Its side effects are minimal for most people. It helps me process insulin and go on with my life. Marcia Kadanoff is an advisor to The diaTribe Foundation. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in June at the age of something, and both her parents and grandparents died of diabetes-related complications.

Over the next 7 months, Marcia worked to reverse her diabetes through a LCHF low-carb, healthy fat way of eating and regular exercise. Along the way, she lost 45 lbs! Marcia has maintained her weight loss for a year and had a 4. She wants other people with type 2 to know that they too can put their diabetes into remission. Want more information like this? Sign Up Now! What We Know About Metformin Metformin, which is also sold under the trade names Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza, and Riomet , is of the class of drugs called biguanides, which inhibit the production of glucose in the liver.

How does metformin work? What is metformin used for? Is metformin safe? What are the most common side effects of metformin? What is the best time to take metformin? What are less common side effects of metformin? For most people who take metformin, side effects are mild and relatively short in duration. Metformin interactions: what should I avoid while taking metformin? Does metformin cause cancer? But metformin could have additional uses and benefits outside of treating type 2 diabetes.

Can metformin cause weight loss? The Bottom Line? Do you recommend this article? Get articles sent to your inbox Join diaTribe. Read more about. Type 2. Blood Sugar. Most Popular. The hyperglycemia that results can cause damage to your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and blood vessels and is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association ADA , if you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe metformin along with instructions on getting regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet ADA, The goal is to help you regulate and gain control over your blood glucose levels and prevent harm to vital organs, like your kidneys, eyes, and heart.

Like type 2 diabetes, metformin can help pregnant women treat their gestational diabetes, typically during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Metformin is used as gestational diabetes treatment when a healthy diet and lifestyle changes are not enough. While gestational diabetes usually goes away after giving birth, it does increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life Balsells, With PCOS, there is a hormonal imbalance in male and female hormones in women, leading to irregular periods, weight gain, facial hair growth, and insulin resistance.

Metformin may help address the insulin resistance, which research suggests may be at the heart of this disorder. By increasing insulin sensitivity , metformin can not only lower blood sugar levels but may also help women with PCOS lose weight and improve overall symptoms Banaszewska, Metformin can also prevent people with prediabetes from getting worse and developing into full-blown type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where you have elevated blood sugar levels but not high enough to meet the criteria for type 2 diabetes.

The ADA recommends using metformin, along with increased physical activity and a healthy diet, to treat prediabetes in people at a high-risk for developing diabetes. Researchers have pointed to a large amount of evidence showing that metformin is safe and even cost-effective at various dosages for preventing and delaying the development of type 2 diabetes Moin, Lastly, people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are often started on antipsychotic medications , like clozapine and olanzapine, in addition to other therapies.

These medications generally cause weight gain, which can be prevented by giving people metformin. By avoiding weight gain, you can also prevent obesity and an increased risk of heart disease de Silva, Most people do well with this medicine, which is considered safe and effective for type 2 diabetes DPP Research Group, The most common problem people experience is diarrhea up to half of people taking metformin have this , especially when starting or increasing metformin DailyMed, Nausea, vomiting, and pain around the abdominal area can happen, too.

Experts recommend taking the medicine with food to lessen these side effects. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for instructions. Roman Daily—Multivitamin for Men.

Our team of in-house doctors created Roman Daily to target common nutrition gaps in men with scientifically backed ingredients and dosages. While metformin is considered safe, there are some severe side effects to consider.

Some people may find that they develop low blood sugars, a condition called hypoglycemia.