What Diabetics should know about Metformin!!!!!!

Metformin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels.Metformin is prescribed for people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Following are Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health
care professional as soon as possible:

Serious Reactions
* lactic acidosis - is when lactic acid builds ups in the blood
stream faster than it can be removed.Get emergency medical help if you have
any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis:
weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling,
muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling
light-headed and fainting.

* anemia - is a condition where there is a lower than normal
number of red blood cells in the blood, usually measured by a
decrease in the amount of hemoglobin....

Common Reactions that usually do not require medical
attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if
they continue or are bothersome):
- decreased appetite
- gas
- heartburn
- metallic taste in the mouth
- mild stomach ache
- nausea/vomiting
- weight loss
- rash
- diarrhoea
- flatulence
- asthenia
- indigestion
- abdominal discomfort

In combination with other diabetic medications, (like acarbose,
glyburide, glipizide, miglitol, or insulin), metformin may cause
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).