Metformin is a diabetes drug that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have an issue with the hormone insulin. Insulin is typically used to regulate blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, your insulin does not function correctly.
When insulin doesn’t function properly, blood sugar rises too much. This may happen because your body isn’t producing enough insulin to support the glucose usage in your cells or does not respond as expected to the insulin it can make.
Metformin treats both of these problems, lowering blood sugar levels. It helps your liver produce less glucose in your circulation. It also helps your body respond to insulin better to utilize more glucose in your circulation.
Mixing alcohol with diabetes can have very serious consequences. When you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels can drop dangerously low. This can cause people with diabetes to experience hypoglycemia, which can lead to seizures, coma, and even death.
Side Effects of Metformin
Some of the metformin’s most common and significant side effects are digestive problems, such as nausea, bloating, or diarrhea. Other possible signs of intolerance include:
- Loss of appetite
- Metallic taste in your mouth
- Tingling in your hands and feet (paresthesia)
- Vomiting
Other side effects of metformin include headache, upper respiratory tract infection, back pain, fatigue, dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia), constipation, itching, muscle cramps, or pain. These are the most common side you should know about. However, there are many other side effects, so I recommend visiting a doctor if you have any questions.
How to Manage Metformin Side Effects
If you are experiencing any of the side effects of metformin, there are a few things that you can do to help manage them.
First, try taking your metformin with food. This may help reduce some of the digestive problems that you are experiencing. If you are still having problems, speak to your doctor about switching to a different form of metformin, such as a tablet that can be dissolved in water.
Second, make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids. This will help reduce the chances of developing diarrhea or other digestive problems.
Third, if you are experiencing any tingling, numbness, or pain in your hands and feet, speak to your doctor. These may be signs of a condition called paresthesia, which is a common side effect of metformin.
Finally, if you are experiencing any other side effects, don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor. They can help you manage them and suggest ways to reduce the chances of them happening in the future.
Can I drink alcohol while taking metformin?
Alcohol can interact with metformin, so it is essential to speak to your doctor before drinking any alcohol while taking this medication.
Generally, it is recommended that people with diabetes avoid drinking alcohol. This is because alcohol can interfere with the way insulin works in the body, leading to blood sugar levels becoming too high or too low.
However, if you are taking metformin and are otherwise healthy, your doctor may allow you to drink a limited amount of alcohol. This will depend on your circumstances. So, it is essential to speak to your doctor if you are unsure whether it is safe for you to drink alcohol while taking metformin.
Must Read: Drinking Alcohol Impacts Diabetes
Is It Safe to Mix Metformin and Alcohol?
In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged certain metformin extended-release producers to remove some tablets from the market in the United States. Because some extended-release metformin tablets were found to have an unacceptably high amount of a possible carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), call your doctor if you use this medication now. They will advise you on whether or not you should continue to take your medicine and, if necessary, provide you with a new prescription.
You might be concerned about how metformin affects your ability to drink safely if you use it to treat type 2 diabetes. If you consume ethanol while on metformin, you may be at an increased risk of complications.
Alcohol Interaction Risks
You should be aware of any drug interactions with any medication you take. Metformin and alcohol can cause negative consequences when brought together, but this does not happen very often. If you binge drink regularly or frequently consume a lot of alcohol, you are at risk.
There are several adverse effects of overcaffeinated. One is the development of severe hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar syndrome, and another is lactic acidosis.
Hypoglycemia
Metformin does not always result in low blood sugar. However, if you take metformin and other drugs that cause hypoglycemia (such as certain antidepressants), you may develop hypoglycemia.
- A poor diet
- Strenuous exercise
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Other diabetes medications
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Abnormally fast or slow heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Tiredness
- Vomiting
- Weakness
How to Treat Hypoglycemia
Your drinking buddies must know your diabetes and what to do if you have hypoglycemia. If you or the people around you detect any of these warning signs, stop consuming alcohol immediately and eat or drink something that will rapidly raise your blood sugar levels.
Some diabetic individuals carry glucose tablets of their own, which they can consume fast when their blood sugar levels need to be raised. Hard sweets, fruit juice, or ordinary soda are additional possibilities, and nonfat and 1 percent milk. Recheck your blood sugar 15 minutes later and repeat if necessary.
Suppose you have hypoglycemia and severe symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, and you do not have a glucagon hypoglycemia rescue kit on hand. In that case, you should call 911 or local emergency services. It is better to wear some form of diabetes identification in an emergency.
A glucagon hypoglycemia rescue kit consists of human glucagon (a naturally occurring substance that helps to balance blood sugar levels), a syringe for injections, and instructions. You may use this kit if eating food is ineffective or impossible in cases of extreme hypoglycemia.
Get one if you think you may need it. If you are taking metformin with other diabetes medications like insulin, they might advise a rescue kit for you. You could require one if you’ve had recurrent episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the past.
Lactic acidosis
Lactic acidosis is a rare condition, but it is a potentially fatal side effect. It is caused by an accumulation of lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acid is a natural chemical produced by your body that burns calories. When you take metformin, your body produces more lactic acid than usual.
When you drink alcohol, your body cannot rid itself as quickly of lactic acid. Drinking too much alcohol, particularly while taking metformin, might result in a build-up of lactic acid. If not addressed soon, this accumulation can cause serious harm to your kidneys, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
Lactic acidosis is a serious condition that can cause brain damage and death if it isn’t treated quickly. Lactic acidosis symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Fast heart rate
- Feeling cold
- Lightheadedness
- Stomach discomforts, such as a fluttering feeling, nausea, cramping, or sharp pains
- Tiredness
- Trouble breathing
- Unusual muscle pain, such as sudden and severe pain in muscles that don’t usually cramp
- Weakness
Is it possible that you are suffering from lactic acidosis? Lactic acidosis is a critical medical condition that requires urgent treatment in a hospital. If you take metformin and begin to experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away or go to the nearest emergency department.
How to Treat Lactic Acidosis
If you are diagnosed with lactic acidosis, your doctor will likely prescribe an aggressive treatment plan that includes:
- Frequent blood tests to measure the level of lactic acid in your blood and to see how well you are responding to treatment
- Intensive insulin therapy to help get your blood sugar levels under control
- Dialysis (treatment using a machine to clean your blood) or kidney transplant if your kidneys have been damaged
- It is essential to seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the symptoms of lactic acidosis. As with all medical emergencies, early diagnosis and treatment are critical for the best possible outcome.
Anemia
Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the small intestine, impeded by metformin. In very rare circumstances, low vitamin B12 levels or anemia might develop due to this. You are more likely to have deficient vitamin B12 levels if you don’t get enough of either vitamin B12 or calcium from your diet.
If your vitamin B12 levels fall because you quit taking metformin or start taking vitamin B12 supplements, they can improve. Before stopping metformin, make sure to discuss it with your doctor.
The most frequent symptoms of anemia include:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Tiredness
How to Treat Anemia:
Your doctor might recommend taking vitamin B12 supplements to improve the symptoms of anemia and prevent its recurrence. You should take these supplements even if your blood tests show normal or high levels of vitamin B12. After starting vitamin B12, your symptoms should start improving within a few weeks, but it can take several months for complete recovery.
If you have severe anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements. These supplements can help your body make more red blood cells and improve your energy level.
Alcohol and metformin
If you take metformin and drink alcohol, it is essential to know that the combination might not be safe for you. Drinking alcohol while taking metformin can increase the risk of lactic acidosis. This condition is a severe medical condition that requires urgent treatment in a hospital.
In very rare circumstances, low vitamin B12 levels or anemia might also develop. Symptoms of anemia include tiredness, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
If you have severe anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements. These supplements can help your body make more red blood cells and improve your energy level.
What to do if you miss a dose?
If you take only one dose of metformin each day, you probably don’t need to take a pill if you miss it. Just take your next dose at the usual time.
However, if you take metformin two or three times a day and forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
If you have any questions, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I drink whiskey with metformin?
Whiskey is a kind of alcoholic beverage. If you drink metformin with whiskey, you should know that the combination may not be safe for you. Drinking alcohol while taking metformin puts you at risk of developing lactic acidosis, a potentially deadly condition that requires immediate hospitalization.
What foods should you avoid when taking metformin?
You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking metformin.
You should also avoid eating high-fiber foods while taking metformin. Fiber can make it harder for your body to absorb the medication. Instead, take metformin after meals.
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, helps keep red blood cells, nerves, and DNA healthy. It is found in foods such as fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk products, or other fortified foods that are available at your local grocery store.
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause anemia, a lack of red blood cells. This can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. A lack of vitamin B12 can also lead to nerve damage in rare cases. Severe deficiency can even result in death.
If you are taking metformin, your doctor may recommend that you take a vitamin B12 supplement. This is because metformin can make it harder for your body to absorb the vitamin.
If you have anemia caused by low vitamin B12 levels, taking a vitamin B12 supplement may help improve your energy level and overall well-being.
What is the trade name of metformin by another manufacturer?
Glucophage is the trade name of metformin by another manufacturer. Bristol-Myers Squibb makes it.
Is there a less expensive metformin brand?
Yes, there are lower-cost options that your insurance company may cover. If not, you can ask a pharmacist to recommend a less expensive version of the drug for you. Keep in mind that generics aren’t always interchangeable–check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine which one is right for you.
