Metformin (Generic Glucophage®) helps to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. This also increases your body’s response to insulin, a natural substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. This is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Usage, Directions, Indication and Instructions. This is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them, including hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal). Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. You will need to monitor your blood sugar carefully so your doctor will be able to tell how well this is working. Adverse Reactions, Precautions and Warning. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: extreme tiredness, weakness, or discomfort; upset stomach; vomiting; stomach pain; decreased appetite; deep and rapid breathing or shortness of breath; dizziness; light-headedness; fast or slow heartbeat; flushing of the skin; muscle pain; or feeling cold. Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. You may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are taking this medication. This may rarely cause a serious, life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. Do not use this if you have kidney disease, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. This may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing lactic acidosis or may cause a decrease in blood sugar. Ask your doctor how much alcohol is safe to drink while you are taking metformin. Dosage and Administration. The regular tablet is usually taken with meals two or three times a day. The extended-release tablet is usually taken once daily with the evening meal. Take this exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you on a low dose and gradually increase your dose not more often than once every 1-2 weeks. Important. This controls diabetes but does not cure it. Continue to take this even if you feel well and do not stop taking this without talking to your doctor. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
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