Metformin Side Effects

Overview Of Metformin Side Effects

Metformin side effects have generally been reported by patients who have been prescribed this medication from their healthcare provider. Clinical trials conducted on groups of people taking doses of Metformin and Metformin ER has been evaluated, documented as well as the side effects compared with groups of people who are not on this drug. Metformin side effects such as diarrhea have been recorded in about 53.2% patients taking the medicine. Nearly 25.5% reported symptoms of nausea, or vomiting while 12.1% suffered from bloated sensations of gas formation. Studies also indicated 5.7% persons complained of headaches, 7.1% of acute indigestion while 6.4 % of the people reported discomfort in the abdomen.

Interestingly, those patients who took the drug Metformin ER, which acts longer in the system, reported far less side effects. About 9.6% of them complained of diarrhea while 6.5% people reported bouts of nausea or vomiting.

Patients taking Metformin are immediately advised to report to their healthcare provider symptoms such as tiredness and weakness, muscle pain, trouble with breathing, irregular or slow heartbeat, dizzy spells, feeling of light-headedness or cold. Signs of lactic acidosis are also a possibility of Metformin side effects.

Some of the symptoms connected with high blood pressure can manifest with increased urination or thirst, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting or breathing difficulties. There could be Metformin side effects resulting in low blood pressure when people found themselves suddenly sweating or broke out in cold sweats, felt dizzy, shaky, complained of blurred vision, loss of proper coordination, had difficulty in speaking, appeared disoriented, displayed signs of irritability and change in behaviour, lost coherence or developed seizures. Many people in the group complained of chest pain. Others in the group had allergic reactions such as sudden development of unusual rash, hives, itching wheezing or swelling or even trouble with their breathing.

Apart from all these above symptoms, there were some reactions that occurred in about 1 to 5% of the people which may or may not be attributed to the Metformin doses. Clinical studies on the subject prove that while these symptoms such as change in taste, muscle pain, abnormal stools, dizziness, light headedness, problems with breathing, nails, sweating profusely, hot red flushes noticed in the face, heart palpitations and symptoms of flu (fever, weakness, chills and muscle pain) were evident in some people, there was no way to put it down as side effects from taking Metformin.

The drug Metformin may or may not be responsible for all the side effects mentioned above. However, it is advisable to keep your health care provider informed should you experience any of the symptoms when you are under certain medication. The healthcare provider should be in a position to judge whether the side effects you experience are the result of the drug and how best to treat the problem with proper diagnosis. Therefore, be sure to inform your healthcare provider about symptoms that are unusual and probably the result of Metformin side effects to help him handle the treatment expertly.