Riomet (see Metformin (By mouth))

Metformin (By mouth)

met-FOR-min hye-droe-KLOR-ide

Drug classes

Hypoglycemic (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Metformin is used to treat high blood sugar levels that are caused by a type of diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes called type 2 diabetes. With this type of diabetes, insulin produced by the pancreas is not able to get sugar into the cells of the body where it can work properly. Using metformin alone, with a type of oral antidiabetic medicine called a sulfonylurea, or with insulin, will help to lower blood sugar when it is too high and help restore the way you use food to make energy.

Many people can control type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise. Following a specially planned diet and exercise will always be important when you have diabetes, even when you are taking medicines. To work properly, the amount of metformin you take must be balanced against the amount and type of food you eat and the amount of exercise you do. If you change your diet or exercise, you will want to test your blood sugar to find out if it is too low. Your doctor will teach you what to do if this happens.

Metformin does not help patients does not help patients who have insulin-dependent or type 1 diabetes because they cannot produce insulin from their pancreas gland. Their blood glucose is best controlled by insulin injections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, metformin is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Liquid, Tablet, Long Acting Tablet

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the tablets whole.

Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.

Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some medicines can affect how metformin works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:

Acetazolamide Dichlorphenamide Diuretics (water pills) Estrogen or birth control pills Heart or blood pressure medicine Isoniazid Nicotinic acid Phenothiazine medicine Phenytoin Steroid medicine Thyroid medicine Topiramate Zonisamide

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use if you had an allergic reaction to metformin, or if you have severe kidney problems or metabolic acidosis.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart or blood vessel disease, heart failure, blood circulation problems, kidney disease, liver disease, anemia, an adrenal gland or pituitary gland disorder, or a vitamin B12 deficiency. Tell your doctor if you had a heart attack. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Too much of this medicine can cause a rare, but serious condition called lactic acidosis.

Part of the extended-release tablet may pass in your stool. This is normal.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine before you have surgery, an x-ray, CT scan, or other medical test.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Confusion, fast heartbeat, increased hunger, shakiness

Fever or chills

Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain or cramping

Trouble breathing, slow heartbeat, lightheadedness, dizziness

Unusual tiredness or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Diarrhea, gas, nausea

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Appformin, Appformin-D, Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Riomet

There may be other brand names for this medicine.