Glucophage Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Generic Name: Metformin hydrochloride

Glucophage is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. METFORMIN (Glucophage®) is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Treatment is combined with a balanced diet and exercise. This medicine lowers blood sugar and helps your body to use insulin more efficiently. It is sometimes used with other medicines for diabetes.

Glucophage Dosage

• The usual starting dose is one 500-milligram tablet twice a day, taken with morning and evening meals. Your doctor may also increase your daily dose by 500 milligrams at weekly intervals, based on your response up to a total of 2,000 milligrams.
• For children 10 to 16 years old, the usual starting dose is one 500-milligram tablet twice a day with meals. The dosage may be increased by 500 milligrams at weekly intervals up to a maximum of 2,000 milligrams daily.

Uses of Glucophage

• Glucophage is used to treat type 2 diabetes and who do not use daily insulin injections. This medication is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
• Glucophage may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Side Effects of Glucophage

If you are taking this medication, then discuss the side effects with your doctor. If you feel any change in intensity, then you should tell your doctor. Because only your doctor can determine if it is safe to continue using Glucophage. Side effects may include:

• Abdominal discomfort
• diarrhea
• gas
• headache
• indigestion
• nausea
• vomiting
• weakness

Warnings and precautions before taking Glucophage:

• You should avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking Glucophage. Because heavy drinking increases the danger of lactic acidosis and can also trigger an attack of low blood sugar.
• If you are taking Glucophage, then you should check your blood or urine periodically for abnormal sugar levels.

Drug Interaction :-

If you are taking certain drugs with Glucophage, then it may decreased, increased or altered the effects of Glucophage medicine. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Glucophage with the following:

• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
  
• Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
  
• Oral contraceptives
  
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)
  
• Procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl)
  
• Quinidine (Quinidex)
  
• Quinine
  
• Ranitidine (Zantac)
  
• Steroids such as prednisone (Deltasone)
  
• Trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra)
  

Overdose

When you are taking Glucophage, and you feel that overdose is suspected then contact your doctor immediately. Symptoms of an Glucophage overdose may include:-

• headache
• confusion
• irritability
• drowsiness
• weakness
• dizziness
• tremors
• sweating
• fast heartbeat
• seizure (convulsions)
• fainting