How and when to take metformin (2024)

FAQs

How and when to take metformin? ›

It's best to take metformin tablets with, or just after, your evening meal to reduce the chance of getting side effects. Swallow your metformin tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew them. If you're taking metformin sachets, pour the powder into a glass and add water (about 150ml).

Be sure to take it with meals to reduce the stomach and bowel side effects that can occur – most people take metformin with breakfast and dinner. Extended-release metformin is taken once a day and should be taken at night, with dinner. This can help to treat high blood sugar levels overnight.

The administration of metformin, as glucophage retard, at bedtime instead of supper time may improve diabetes control by reducing morning hyperglycemia.

Common side effects of metformin include diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach, stomach pain, dizziness, muscle pain, headache and taste disturbance. However, these side effects generally go away after you take the medication for a while. “Taking metformin with meals can help reduce the side effects,” Dr.

It's OK to take the medicine on an empty stomach, but having it with a meal makes it easier to handle. Ask about the extended-release form of metformin. You'll take it once a day rather than twice. Because it doesn't release the drug in one burst, side effects are often milder.

Commonly, however, in trials with longer follow-up periods, weight loss generally starts after 4 weeks of treatment with metformin and occurs mainly during the first 6 to 12 months of continuing metformin therapy.

However, the toll it takes on the digestive system may prevent many people with diabetes from taking it for more than a week or two. “Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and flatulence,” explained a recent study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

There are many reports that metformin can result in some sleep problems, especially insomnia. On the other hand, metformin is proven to be useful for preventing sleep apnea.

Serious side effects

you get a general feeling of being unwell with severe tiredness, fast or shallow breathing, being cold and a slow heartbeat. the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin – this can be a sign of liver problems.

Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.

What is the bad news about metformin? ›

Under certain conditions, too much metformin can cause lactic acidosis. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are severe and quick to appear, and usually occur when other health problems not related to the medicine are present and are very severe, such as a heart attack or kidney failure.

It's okay to eat fruits and vegetables with a higher sugar content in moderation (i.e., bananas and sweet potatoes) because natural sugars don't affect your blood sugar levels the same way as added sugars do.

Too much sugar will surely hike up blood glucose and undo the benefits of Metformin. It's not enough to limit only plain sugars. You also need to watch out for hidden sugars in processed foods and drinks.

It's best to take metformin tablets with, or just after, your evening meal to reduce the chance of getting side effects. Swallow your metformin tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew them.

Current evidence suggests that the weight change associated with metformin is more likely to be due to decreased caloric intake versus increases in energy expenditure. Metformin appears to impact appetite regulation both directly and indirectly due to its gastrointestinal side effects.

Taking metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency if you take it for a long time. This can make you feel very tired, breathless and faint, so your doctor may check the vitamin B12 level in your blood. If your vitamin B12 levels become too low, vitamin B12 supplements will help.

Metformin does not instantly reduce blood sugar levels. The effects are usually noticeable within 48 hours of taking the medication, and the most significant effects take 4–5 days to occur. However, the timing depends on the person's dosage.