1. Understand How Glucophage Works
Glucophage is a well-known brand of the generic drug, metformin. Glucophage is an anti-diabetic medication that helps your body use insulin more efficiently. Glucophage also decreases the amount of sugar your body absorbs from food and helps lower the level of blood glucose. Glucophage itself is not insulin, so it doesn't work for insulin dependent diabetics.
2. Know Who Needs Glucophage
Type 2 diabetics who still produce some insulin from their pancreas benefit from Glucophage. People who have Type 2 diabetes have either a decreased amount of insulin produced or their cells are resistant to the insulin. When a Type 2 diabetic takes Glucophage, the Glucophage helps the cells receive the insulin already in their body and helps to lower blood glucose levels.
3. Understand How Glucophage Should Be Taken
Glucophage comes in pill and capsule forms. The capsule is an extended release capsule that contains a time release mechanism in the capsule; it's very important that you do not crush or chew the extended release capsule. Your doctor determines the dosage and frequency of taking Glucophage after discussing symptoms with you. Some people use Glucophage only once a day, others use Glucophage more often, but at a decreased dosage. Doctors will sometimes combine the use of Glucophage with other anti-diabetic medications or insulin.
4. Know the Side Effects
As with all medications, there can be side effects such as nausea, gas, bloating, constipation, headache, muscle pain and an unpleasant taste of metal. Because Glucophage is an anti-diabetic medication, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia can also occur. Let your doctor know of any side effects so dosages can be adjusted. There are more serious side effects of Glucophage that are rare, but they do happen. The more serious side effects can be symptoms of lactic acidosis, which comes on quite suddenly and is usually experienced by those with other medical problems. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include breathing fast or shallow, shortness of breath, chest pain, severe muscle pain, diarrhea or unusual weakness. If you are taking Glucophage and experience these symptoms, get to a doctor immediately.
5. Other Things to Know About Glucophage
If you are scheduled for any surgery, outpatient procedures or tests where dye is injected, make sure the doctors know you are taking Glucophage. The doctor will tell you to stop taking the Glucophage for 2 days before the procedure is done; during that time the diabetes may need to be controlled with insulin. Glucophage can cause drug interactions if you take certain medications for pain, or if you're taking antihistamines, heart medications, thyroid medications and birth control pills. Make sure your doctor knows all the medications you are taking, as well as any over-the-counter pills or supplements.
