Metformin
Biguanide antidiabetic
What it is used for
Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) when dieting and sulphonylureas have failed to control diabetes, especially in over-weight patients (it is the drug of choice in these patients). Clinical selection for Metformin should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC. Class context: Biguanide antidiabetic. Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Warnings
Discontinue 2-3 days before surgery; conditions causing dehydration; infections; trauma; low calorie diet; monitor vitamin B12 annually; patients to be stabilized in hospital when combination therapy is used. 10a, B
Possible side effects
Diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, metallic taste. Serious: lactic acidosis (rare, high mortality if occurs).
Storage
Store as labelled. Keep out of reach of children.
No reviewed patient-education article is available. The fields shown are from the currently verified medicine record and unavailable fields are not inferred.