Metformin side effects vary from person to person, and your prescriber or pharmacist can confirm the labeled list for your product. Your prescriber can review your dose, your tablet type and when you take it, and can talk with you about other diabetes medicine options if side effects are getting in the way.
What side effects does metformin cause?
Side effects vary from person to person. Glumetza is one of the brand names listed for metformin. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber to confirm the labeled list of side effects for your product, and tell them about any side effect that is severe, does not go away, or comes and goes.
When do metformin side effects start, and how long do they last?
Tell your doctor if any side effect is severe, does not go away, goes away and comes back, or does not begin for some time after you start taking metformin. Keep a short log of the date each symptom begins, how often it happens and whether it fades, and bring it to your next visit so your prescriber can judge what is expected for your prescription.
How can you reduce metformin side effects?
Three things shape how metformin is taken: the tablet type, the meal timing and the dose schedule. Each one is a question for your prescriber. The dose schedule is set by your prescriber, and the current labeling or your pharmacist can confirm how it is adjusted. The prescriber’s directions and the product label govern timing and dose.
| Form | How it is usually taken |
|---|---|
| Solution (liquid) | With meals, one or two times a day |
| Regular tablet | With meals, two or three times a day |
Check how your extended-release tablet should be taken on the label or with your pharmacist.
If you notice something that looks like a tablet in your stool, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about it.
Is metformin worth the side effects?
That is your decision to make with your prescriber. The facts below can help you weigh it. Your prescriber can explain the serious risks of metformin, and the product labeling should be checked for them. The MedlinePlus metformin drug page is a good place to read the medicine’s full warnings with your prescriber.
What are the other diabetes medicine types?
Other medicine types treat type 2 diabetes, and whether combining medicines makes sense for you is a question to raise with your prescriber. The NIDDK page on insulin and other diabetes treatments covers these medicine types.
| Option | What to know |
|---|---|
| Other oral medicines | Several work in different ways. Ask your prescriber which one fits your health. |
| Injected GLP-1 receptor agonists | Ask your prescriber whether a GLP-1 option is right for you. |
| Insulin | Several types are available, each starting and lasting for a different length of time. You can take it with a needle and syringe, an insulin pen, an insulin pump, an inhaler, a jet injector or an artificial pancreas system. Insulin decisions are made with your prescriber. |
A 2015 article in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, indexed on PubMed, covers options for people with type 2 diabetes who cannot take metformin and do not accept or require insulin. It starts by defining metformin intolerance. Read the Alternatives to metformin article on PubMed.
Low blood sugar is a possible effect of some diabetes medicines, especially if they are not balanced with food and activity. Ask your prescriber whether the medicine you are considering can cause it, and about any other side effects.
How do GLP-1 medicines compare on side effects?
For each injected medicine, ask your prescriber to compare its side effects with metformin for your health situation. Side-effect guides for GLP-1 medicines are on this site: Gala GLP-1 side effects guide and Refills GLP-1 side effects and safety.
Can supplements replace metformin or lower blood sugar?
Supplements are not a replacement for prescribed diabetes treatment. The NCCIH diabetes and dietary supplements fact sheet says “It’s very important not to replace medical treatment for diabetes with an unproven health product or practice.” It also says that for a few supplements there is weak evidence of a possible benefit, and that for most supplements there isn’t evidence of a beneficial effect on diabetes or its complications.
| Supplement | What NCCIH reports about the research | Side effects and cautions |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium | Evidence is limited. Some studies suggest chromium might help with blood sugar control. | Ask a prescriber or pharmacist about side effects, and check the label before use. |
| Cinnamon | Some studies suggest cinnamon might help with blood sugar control. Research is limited and varies. | Allergic skin reactions and digestive problems at higher doses. Ask a clinician to review any cinnamon use. |
| Berberine | Some studies suggest berberine might help with blood sugar control. Research is limited. | Nausea, diarrhea, bloating and constipation. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your prescriber before using it. |
| Alpha-lipoic acid | Evidence is limited. Some studies suggest it might help reduce pain from diabetic neuropathy. | Headache, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. |
| Magnesium | Magnesium is essential to the body’s ability to process glucose. Evidence on supplements is limited. | Large doses can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Ask a clinician to review any magnesium supplement. |
For how to read claims like these, see Ingredient Evidence vs. Marketing Claims. For the chromium studies in more depth, see Chromium Benefits, Side Effects and Doses.
Tell every prescriber and pharmacist about all supplements you take, including herbal products. If you have or are at risk for kidney disease, discuss any supplement with your clinician before using it.
How do I spot “reverse diabetes in days” claims?
Products that say they can replace your diabetes medicine, or promise a quick fix, deserve a close look before you spend money on them.
Use these checks before you buy anything marketed this way:
- Does the claim promise a fast fix or a cure? Although diabetes has no cure, people with diabetes can take steps to manage their condition and stay healthy.
- Does the ad tell you to replace a prescribed medicine? Ask your prescriber before changing any medicine.
- Does it name the ingredient and point to studies? Compare what those studies found with the NCCIH summary above.
- Does it state a price and a refund policy? Check both on the seller’s own order page before you pay.
What lifestyle steps help manage blood sugar?
Diabetes medicines work alongside lifestyle steps such as healthy eating, physical activity and enough sleep. Ask your care team what activity level, sleep and alcohol use fit your plan, and how much alcohol is appropriate with your diabetes medicines. For how blood sugar checks fit into your routine, see the CDC diabetes treatment page.
Ask your care team for your personal blood sugar targets, how often to check, and which A1C goal is right for you.
What should you know about metformin during pregnancy?
Discuss pregnancy plans and breastfeeding with your prescriber before or during treatment. If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, discuss all of your diabetes medicines with your prescriber.
A study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov metformin vs glyburide gestational diabetes study, compares the two medicines for gestational diabetes, with 180 participants planned or enrolled and status listed as unknown. A registration describes a study; it is not a result.
What does metformin cost, and how do I check?
Prices and coverage change, so check today’s price with your pharmacy and your health plan. Costs vary with the plan you join and the services you use, and your pharmacy and health plan can confirm your price. If cost is a problem, talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about assistance options before skipping any medicine.
What should I raise with my prescriber?
- Which side effects you have, when they started, and whether they are severe, going away, coming back or not going away.
- Whether your dose, tablet type or meal timing could be reviewed.
- Your kidney tests. Ask which kidney tests you should expect before and during treatment.
- Any history of low vitamin B12 levels, and whether a vitamin B12 check is relevant for you.
- Your alcohol use, including binge drinking.
- Every prescription, over-the-counter medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
- Pregnancy plans or breastfeeding.
- Whether a serious infection, severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever or drinking much less fluid than usual should change your plan.
- Your blood sugar targets, your A1C goal and how often to check at home.
- Costs and assistance options if a medicine is hard to afford.
Which warning signs need a call right away?
If you have these symptoms, call your doctor or get emergency care right away, and do not change your medicine on your own; your prescriber decides any change.
| Warning sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| Lactic acidosis symptoms | Ask your prescriber which symptoms to watch for, and get urgent care if you have serious symptoms. |
| Chest pain | Call your doctor right away or get emergency treatment. |
| Low blood sugar | Ask your prescriber how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. |
| Overdose | If someone has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened, call local emergency services right away. Check the medicine label for poison control details. |
By TotalCareMedical.com Health Team