Read the Patient Information that comes with metformin hydrochloride tablets before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Serious side effects can happen in people taking metformin hydrochloride tablets, including:
Lactic Acidosis. Metformin hydrochloride, the medicine in metformin hydrochloride tablets, can cause a rare, but serious, side effect called lactic acidosis (a build-up of lactic acid in the blood) that can cause death. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital.
Stop taking metformin hydrochloride tablets and call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of lactic acidosis:
You have a higher chance of getting lactic acidosis if you:
What are metformin hydrochloride tablets?
This medicine helps control your blood sugar in a number of ways. These include helping your body respond better to the insulin it makes naturally, decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes, and decreasing the amount of sugar your intestines absorb. Metformin hydrochloride tablets do not cause your body to make more insulin.
Who should not take metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Some conditions increase your chance of getting lactic acidosis, or cause other problems if you take either of these medicines. Most of the conditions listed below can increase your chance of getting lactic acidosis.
Do not take metformin hydrochloride tablets if you:
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Before taking metformin hydrochloride tablets, tell your healthcare provider if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
Can metformin hydrochloride tablets be used in children?
Metformin hydrochloride tablets have been shown to effectively lower glucose levels in children (ages 10 to 16 years) with type 2 diabetes. Metformin hydrochloride tablets have not been studied in children younger than 10 years old. Metformin hydrochloride tablets have not been studied in combination with other oral glucose-control medicines or insulin in children. If you have any questions about the use of metformin hydrochloride tablets in children, talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider.
How should I take metformin hydrochloride tablets?
What should I avoid while taking metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Do not drink a lot of alcoholic drinks while taking metformin hydrochloride tablets. This means you should not binge drink for short periods, and you should not drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis. Alcohol can increase the chance of getting lactic acidosis.
What are the side effects of metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms, which could be signs of lactic acidosis:
Most people who have had lactic acidosis with metformin have other things that, combined with the metformin, led to the lactic acidosis. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following, because you have a higher chance for getting lactic acidosis with metformin hydrochloride tablets if you:
Common side effects of metformin hydrochloride tablets include diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach. These side effects generally go away after you take the medicine for a while. Taking your medicine with meals can help reduce these side effects. Tell your doctor if the side effects bother you a lot, last for more than a few weeks, come back after they've gone away, or start later in therapy. You may need a lower dose or need to stop taking the medicine for a short period or for good.
About 3 out of every 100 people who take metformin hydrochloride tablets have an unpleasant metallic taste when they start taking the medicine. It lasts for a short time.
Metformin hydrochloride tablets rarely cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by themselves. However, hypoglycemia can happen if you do not eat enough, if you drink alcohol, or if you take other medicines to lower blood sugar.
How should I store metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Store metformin hydrochloride tablets at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
Keep metformin hydrochloride tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the use of metformin hydrochloride tablets
If you have questions or problems, talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for the information about metformin hydrochloride tablets that is written for healthcare professionals. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a patient information leaflet. Do not use metformin hydrochloride tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not share your medicine with other people.
What are the ingredients of metformin hydrochloride tablets?
Active ingredients of metformin hydrochloride tablets: metformin hydrochloride.
Inactive ingredients in each metformin hydrochloride tablet: povidone and magnesium stearate.
In addition, the coating for the 500 mg, 850 mg and 1,000 mg tablets contains hypromellose and polyethylene glycol.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which your body does not make enough insulin, and the insulin that your body produces does not work as well as it should. Your body can also make too much sugar. When this happens, sugar (glucose) builds up in the blood. This can lead to serious medical problems.
The main goal of treating diabetes is to lower your blood sugar to a normal level.
High blood sugar can be lowered by diet and exercise, and by certain medicines when necessary.
Talk to your healthcare provider about how to prevent, recognize, and take care of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and problems you have because of your diabetes.