Glucophage
Glucophage is a medicine containing metformin, used to treat type 2 diabetes by helping to lower blood sugar levels.
How to Use
Dosage
For adults, the usual starting dose is 500 mg or 850 mg, taken 2 or 3 times a day; for children over 10, it's 500 mg or 850 mg once a day.
Method
Take Glucophage with or after meals to avoid stomach upset. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water; do not crush or chew them. Take once a day with breakfast; twice a day with breakfast and dinner; three times a day with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The maximum daily dose for adults is 3000 mg, divided into three doses.
Possible Side Effects
- •Stomach problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and loss of appetite.
- •Taste disturbance.
- •Low vitamin B12 levels in the blood, which can cause extreme tiredness, a sore red tongue, tingling sensations, or pale/yellowish skin.
- •Lactic acidosis (very rare but serious, especially if kidneys don't work well).
- •Abnormal liver tests or hepatitis (liver inflammation that can cause tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, or yellowing of skin or eyes).
- •Skin reactions such as redness, itching, or hives.
Important Warnings
- Do not take Glucophage if you are allergic to metformin or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not take Glucophage if you have severe kidney or liver problems.
- Do not take if your diabetes is poorly controlled, with very high blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid weight loss, or conditions like ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis.
- Do not take if you are severely dehydrated (e.g., from severe vomiting or diarrhea), have a serious infection (e.g., lungs, kidneys), or have severe heart or circulation problems.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption as it increases the risk of lactic acidosis.
Show 2 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you are having surgery or X-rays with a special dye; you may need to stop Glucophage for a while.
- Stop taking Glucophage and seek immediate medical help if you experience symptoms of lactic acidosis such as vomiting, stomach pain, muscle cramps, feeling very unwell and tired, trouble breathing, low body temperature, or a slow heartbeat.
Use in Elderly Patients
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Reduce the dose already in mild renal impairment. Do not use in severe renal impairment or tissue hypoxia. May reduce the absorption of vitamin B12. Consider risk of lactic acidosis. The drug should be paused during fever, gastroenteritis or dehydration, and before surgery or imaging with a contrast agent. (updated 20.5.2024)