Description
Glucophage, whose generic name is metformin, is an oral diabetes medication that helps the human body maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It is useful to sufferers of diabetes mellitus type 2 (type 2 diabetes), whose disease makes their body unable to respond properly to their naturally produced insulin. Insulin is a vital component of the body’s blood sugar regulation system. By helping in this process, this medication will help prevent blindness, kidney damage, nerve problems, sexual function problems, and the potential loss of limbs.
Purchasing Glucophage
Sufferers of Type 2 diabetes have numerous options with regard to acquiring Glucophage medication. With the advent of online shopping and the smoothening out of shipping logistics, patients all over the world have access to quality, effective, and fairly priced medication from online pharmacies such as My Canadian Pharmacy Rx to reliably cater to their pharmaceutical needs.
Contraindications and Side-Effects
Many of the medications available to us will have some side effects. Side effects are unwanted reactions that come about as a result of taking certain medication properly, and in the right dosages. Not everyone will experience negative side effects, and most side effects are relatively mild, manageable, and will pass on their own with time.
Some of the mild side effects associated with taking Glucophage medication include nausea, diarrhea, passing gas, stomach ache, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, and having a metallic taste in one’s mouth.
The above effects do not pose much risk on their own, but medical attention should be sought if they persist and/or are particularly severe to avoid complications. However, should you experience any of the following symptoms as a result of taking Glucophage, you should consult with a physician to establish the cause:
- Anxiety
- Unnatural behavior changes, similar to being drunk
- Confusion
- Cold sweats
- Difficulty concentrating, increased heart rate, restless sleep, shakiness, slurred speech, nightmares, nausea, and excessive hunger.
Immediate medical attention should be sought should any of the following take place, as it may indicate a case of lactic acidosis, whose symptoms gradually worsen and may eventually be life threatening if left unchecked:
- Muscle pains and cramping
- Unusual sleepiness
- Slowed, irregular heart rate
- Unusual weakness and lack of energy
- Quickened, shallow breathing
- Unusual and persistent stomach ache
There are certain factors that increase the chances of a person developing lactic acidosis while taking Glucophage medication such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, severe infection, dehydration, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Before You Take Glucophage
Before undertaking a course of this medication, special considerations must be noted in order to ensure your safety and the effectiveness of the medication itself. For one, you should not use Glucophage if you happen to be allergic to metformin, suffer from severe kidney disease, or are currently in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (insulin treatment would be recommended in this case).
Care should be taken in cases where the patient falls under the following categories:
- Kidney disease patients
- Liver disease patients
- Recent heart attack victims or people with a history of heart disease
- People who have recently taken chlorpropamide
- People over 80 years of age who have not had their kidney function recently checked