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Under certain conditions, too much metformin can cause lactic acidosis. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are severe and quick to appear, and usually occur when other health problems not related to the medicine are present and are very severe, such as a heart attack or kidney failure. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include abdominal or stomach discomfort, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fast or shallow breathing, a general feeling of discomfort, severe muscle pain or cramping, and unusual sleepiness, tiredness, or weakness. If symptoms of lactic acidosis occur, patient should get immediate emergency medical help.
This may cause some premenopausal women who do not have regular monthly periods to ovulate. This can increase the chance of pregnancy. If the patient is a woman of childbearing potential, patient should discuss birth control options with the doctor.
This may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This is more common when this medicine is taken together with certain medicines. Low blood sugar must be treated before it causes the patient to pass out (unconsciousness). People feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important to learn which symptoms the patient usually has so it can be treated quickly. Talk to the doctor about the best way to treat low blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if the patient does not take enough or skips a dose of the medicine, overeats or does not follow the meal plan, has a fever or infection, or does not exercise as much as usual. High blood sugar can be very serious and must be treated right away. It is important to learn which symptoms the patient has in order to treat it quickly. Talk to the doctor about the best way to treat high blood sugar.
High blood sugar may occur if the patient does not exercise as much as usual, has a fever or infection, does not take enough or skips a dose of the diabetes medicine, or overeats or does not follow the meal plan.
