How to Take Metformin

Diabetes is a very common disease that affects millions of people. Depending on the severity and type, you may need daily injections to help counteracts the symptoms. Metformin is a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes in people that do not require daily insulin injections. Metformin is used to control blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. Follow these steps to take Metformin for type 2 diabetes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Prescription
• Metformin

1. Take Metformin exactly as prescribed. Read the information that comes with the medication and contact the pharmacist or your doctor if you have any questions.
2. Take Metformin once daily. Set a schedule to ensure you take the medication daily to achieve the best results.
3. Take Metformin with food. Ask your doctor about the best time to take Metformin. Most of the time Metformin is taken with the evening meal.
4. Have your blood tested regularly while taking Metformin. Be sure to make it to every appointment to have your blood and kidney functions analyzed.
5. Swallow Metformin whole. Do not crush, chew or break the extended-release tablet. Metformin extended-release tablets are made to release the medication slowly and breaking the pill could cause too much of the medication to be released into your system at once.
6. Keep a source of sugar near you in case you notice the symptoms of low blood sugar. Use sugar sources such as fruit, candy, orange juice and milk. You can also ask your doctor to prescribe you a glucagon emergency injection kit.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand the symptoms of low blood sugar. Signs of hypoglycemia include hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, tremor, sweating, irregular heartbeat, seizure, fainting and coma.
• If you become sick or injured, your prescription may need to be changed or you may need to stop taking Metformin for a short time.
• Less serious side effects from taking Metformin include headache, muscle pain, weakness, mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas and stomach pain. If the side effects persist or increase in severity, contact your doctor.
• Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Metformin is not known to cause any birth defects or problems with newborn babies, but you should tell your doctor anyway.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the symptoms for lactic acidosis, including weakness, sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, light-headedness and fainting.
• Serious side effects of Metformin include shortness of breath, swelling, rapid weight gain, fever, chills, body aches and flu-like symptoms.
• To avoid hyperglycemia, do not take drugs that increase blood sugar while taking Metformin. Drugs that increase blood sugar include diuretics, isoniazid, steroids, phenothiazines, thyroid medications, birth control pills, seizure medications, diet pills or medications that treat asthma, colds and flu.
• Combining Metformin with certain drugs may cause adverse reactions. Inform your doctor if you have been taking or currently take furosemide, nifedipine, cimetidine, ranitidine, amiloride, triamterene, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, trimethoprim or vancomycin.