What Are The Side Effects of Metformin?

TheIndonesia.id - Metformin is a typical medicine used if you have Type 2 diabetes for many reasons. It helps bring down your blood sugar. However, Metformin also gives side effects. What are the side effects of Metformin? 

It is very important to always pay attention to the daily food consumed to keep the body healthy. One intake that needs to be limited is sugar. Many health problems are caused by sugar, such as diabetes.

A person with diabetes needs to constantly take medication so that the sugar content in the body remains low. One drug that can trigger the body to produce insulin naturally is metformin. Even so, some side effects can occur if consumed for a long time. Here are some of the side effects of Metmorfin quoted from Halodoc!

Side Effects of Metformin as a Diabetes Drug

The fact is that diabetes cannot be cured. The important thing to do is to detect the disease early so that blood sugar in the body can be controlled. By always keeping the sugar in the blood balanced, you can reduce the risk of dangerous attacks.

One that is common for someone with diabetes is to take a lot of drugs. One drug that is often consumed is metformin. This drug is usually taken by someone with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar levels. In addition, this drug can also reduce the side effects of antipsychotic drugs.

In addition, metformin is useful for reducing sugar production so that glucose absorption decreases and increases insulin sensitivity in the body. Indeed, this medicine cannot cure, but it can make the body better. The bad news is that metformin must be consumed in the long term and can cause side effects.

Short-term Side Effects of Metformin

In general, someone who takes metformin can tolerate the drug well. Even so, about 30% of people can experience gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, doctors prescribe lower doses for people who are taking it for the first time. The dose will be added gradually to prevent side effects.

Some other side effects that can occur are:

• A runny nose.
• Low blood sugar.
• Excessive sweating.
• Feeling discomfort in the chest.
• Pain in the head.
• A body that feels weak and tired.
• Metformin can also cause serious side effects in the form of lactic acidosis, although this is rare. The disorder is a dangerous accumulation of lactic acid in the blood. This disorder can cause low blood pressure, a faster heart rate, and even death.

Long-term Side Effects

Metformin is generally taken for a long time, so the risk of experiencing side effects can increase. This drug can affect the absorption of vitamin B12 in the body, therefore tests are carried out on people who have taken it for more than 4 months. Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells and other functions in the body.

A deficiency of this vitamin can cause megaloblastic anemia, in which the bone marrow cannot produce enough red blood cells. In addition, a deficiency of these substances can also cause interference with small blood vessels and peripheral nerve disorders in the body. To prevent this, it is important to consume foods that are rich in vitamin B12.

Hypoglycemia is also one of the effects that can occur when consuming metformin in the long term. This causes blood sugar levels to be lower than normal. When blood sugar drops drastically, danger can occur. To prevent this, make sure to take the drug according to the recommended dosage. Consumption of nutritious and healthy food is also a must.