Glucophage Metformin Hydrochloride 850mg 50 Tablets

 is the generic name of the prescription medications Glucophage, Glumetza, and Fortamet, used to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

• Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not produce or use insulin normally, which results in high blood sugar (glucose).
  
• Metformin works by decreasing the amount of sugar you absorb from food and reducing the amount of glucose your liver makes. It also increases your body's response to insulin.
  
• Metformin is in a class of medications called biguanides. It's sometimes used along with diet, exercise, and other medications to control blood glucose levels.
• It's also used to prevent the development of diabetes in people at high risk for the disease, treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and control weight gain that occurs from taking certain drugs.
  
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the medication in 1994.

Metformin and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that affects about one in 10 women of reproductive age.

Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries containing fluid, or follicles. These fluids may cause infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, and weight gain.

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but the disorder has been linked to insulin resistance and excess insulin in the body.

If you have insulin resistance, your body cannot use insulin effectively. As a result, your pancreas has to secrete more insulin to make glucose available to cells and tissues, including those that compose the ovaries.

Researchers believe excess insulin may affect the ovaries by increasing androgen production, which may interfere with the ovaries' ability to ovulate.

Because metformin can increase your body’s response to insulin, the drug has been used in the treatment of PCOS, particularly in women with gestational diabetes.

There is conflicting data surrounding the efficacy of metformin in PCOS.

Studies have reported that metformin can restore ovulation, reduce weight, reduce circulating androgen levels, reduce the risk of miscarriage, and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in women with PCOS.

It’s also been reported that metformin improves pregnancy outcome, as an adjunct to ovarian stimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

However, there are other studies indicating that metformin is not effective in improving insulin response in women with PCOS.

Oral contraceptives are the first-choice therapy in most non-diabetic patients in PCOS. Oral contraceptives are preferred over metformin for endometrial protection, hyperandrogenic symptoms, and restoration of normal menstrual cycles.

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, talk to your doctor to see if metformin is an option.

Warnings

In rare cases, metformin may cause a life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis (a build-up of lactic acid in the body). You may be more likely to develop this condition if you:

• Have liver or kidney disease
  
• Have congestive heart failure
  
• Have a severe infection
  
• Drink large amounts of alcohol
  
• Are dehydrated
  
• You should tell your doctor if you are over 80 years old and if you have ever suffered a heart attack, stroke, diabetic ketoacidosis (an extremely high blood sugar episode that requires emergency medical treatment) or coma, or kidney, heart, or liver disease.

You should also tell your doctor you are taking metformin before having any type of surgery, including dental procedures. If you are having any type of X-ray where dye is injected, you may need to stop taking metformin. Your doctor will advise you on when to stop and restart the drug.

Some laboratory animals that were given high doses of metformin developed non-cancerous abnormal growths of tissue (polyps) on the uterus. It is not known if this medicine increases the risk of polyps in humans. You can talk to your doctor about this risk.

You should keep all appointments with your doctor while taking metformin. Your physician will likely order specific tests to check your body's response to the drug.

This medicine controls diabetes but doesn't cure it. You should continue to take metformin even if you feel well. Don't stop taking the drug without talking to your physician.

Metformin shouldn't be used to treat people with type 1 diabetes. The medication should not be given to a child younger than 10 years old. The extended-release form of the drug should not be given to a child younger than 17 years old.

Metformin and Weight Loss

Some patients may experience weight loss when starting metformin. The drug can cause a loss of appetite and feelings of fullness that lead to this effect.

Metformin and PCOS

Metformin is sometimes used to lower insulin and blood sugar levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. PCOS causes irregular or no menstrual periods, irregular ovulation, and high levels of androgens (male hormones) in the body, sometimes leading to hirsutism (excessive growth of facial or body hair on women)

Lowering blood sugar and insulin may help regulate menstrual cycles, start ovulation, and lower the risk of miscarriage in women with PCOS.

Metformin and Fertility

Regulating blood sugar with metformin may help women who struggle with infertility.

Pregnancy and Metformin

Metformin is an FDA Pregnancy Category B drug, which means it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. However, you should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It's not known whether metformin passes into breast milk and could harm a nursing infant. You should also talk to your doctor before starting to breastfeed if you are taking metformin.

Side Effects

Common Side Effects of Metformin

You should tell your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe, do not go away, go away and then return, or occur after some time:

• Bloating
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Stomach pain
  
• Gas
  
• Indigestion
  
• Constipation
  
• Headache
  
• Heartburn
  
• Unpleasant metallic taste in your mouth
  
• Nail changes
  
• Muscle pain
  
• Serious Side Effects of Metformin
  

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• Extreme tiredness
  
• Weakness
  
• Nausea or vomiting
  
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
  
• Fast or slow heartbeat
  
• Flushing of the skin or a rash
  
• Muscle pain
  
• Feeling cold
  
• Stomach pain
  
• Decreased appetite
  
• Deep or rapid breathing or shortness of breath
  
• Chest pain

Metformin Interactions

You should always tell your doctor about any prescription, non-prescription, illegal, and recreational drugs; herbal remedies; and nutritional or dietary supplements you're taking, especially:

• Acetazolamide (Diamox)
  
• Amiloride (Midamor)
  
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik)
  
• Beta-blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal)
  
• Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
  
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
  
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
  
• Diuretics (often called "water pills")
  
• Furosemide (Lasix)
  
• Hormone replacement therapy
  
• Insulin or other medications for diabetes
  
• Isoniazid
  
• Medications for asthma and colds
  
• Medications for mental illness
  
• Medications for nausea
  
• Medications for thyroid disease
  
• Morphine (MS Contin and others)
  
• Niacin
  
• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
  
• Oral steroids, such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone, and others), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone)
  
• Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
  
• Procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl)
  
• Quinidine
  
• Quinine
  
• Ranitidine (Zantac)
  
• Topiramate (Topamax)
  
• Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide, and others)
  
• Trimethoprim (Primsol)
  
• Vancomycin (Vancocin)
  
• Zonisamide (Zonegran)

Metformin and Alcohol

Consuming alcohol while taking metformin may increase your risk of developing lactic acidosis or may cause a decrease in blood sugar. You should talk to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe before taking this medicine.

Metformin Dosage

Metformin comes as a liquid, tablet, and extended-release tablet to take by mouth. You should try to take the medicine around the same time each day with food.

Typical Adult Dose for Type 2 Diabetes

Immediate-release tablets: 500 milligrams (mg) twice a day, or 850 mg once a day. This dose may be gradually increased by 500 mg a week or 850 mg every two weeks. The maximum daily dose of metformin is 2,550 mg divided into three smaller doses.

Extended-release tablets: 500 mg or 1,000 mg daily with an evening meal. The dose can be increased by 500 mg a week to a maximum of 2,000 mg. If you take Fortamet or Glumetza (modified release formulations of metformin), you may be given different dosing instructions.

You should swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not split, crush, or chew it.

Typical Child Dose for Type 2 Diabetes

Children between 10-16 years old: 500 mg twice a day. The dose can be increased by 500 mg a week to a maximum of 2,000 mg in divided doses.

Children older than 17 years old: 500 mg of extended-release tablets daily up to a maximum of 2,000 mg daily.

Metformin Overdose

Symptoms of an overdose may include the following:

• Diarrhea
  
• Vomiting
  
• Abdominal pain
  
• Rapid heartbeat
  
• Drowsiness

Missed Dose of Metformin

If you miss a dose of metformin, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on your regular medication schedule. Don't take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Note : 

Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. It will effect you & your loved ones. Safety First. Please keep it in mind

Prescription Only Medicine : These medicines are only available with a valid prescription from a licensed medical practitioner. Please be kind to send us the prescription by email, fax or standard mail with your order. All orders without an accompanying prescription will be rejected (see exceptions below). These measures are enforced as both a legal requirement as well as to ensure your safety.

However if you are unable to send us your prescription because of any reason, please let us know and we will accommodate your request.  

Eg:

• You have lost or misplaced your prescription
  
• You have to present it to the local pharmacy to buy other drugs not available with us
  
• You have received an online (eScrip) prescription.