Physicians prescribe Metformin HC (metformin hydrochloride) as a treatment for sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus) classified as Type 2 diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, pancreatic insulin fails to deliver sugar into cells where it's needed. Mayo Clinic staff say that when Metformin HC is prescribed, the medication can be balanced with diet and exercise for the right therapeutic plan of treatment. Metformin HC may lose its effectiveness in time and is not effective with Type 1 diabetes, in which the patient is insulin dependent because the pancreas cannot produce insulin.
Decreased Renal Function
Metformin HC tends to lessen renal function (kidneys), especially in elderly people. The RxList website warns that dosages of Metformin HC should be lowered for the geriatric population and the prescribing physician should monitor how well kidney function is working while taking the medication. One difficulty from the lack of renal function is lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid and lowering of oxygen levels in the blood). Besides geriatric patients, otherwise debilitated or malnourished patients shouldn't be given the full dose of Metformin HC.
Increased Likelihood of Infection
Patients treated with Metformin HC tend to suffer from infections more easily. The RxList website states that about 20 percent more patients taking Metformin HC experienced infections as opposed to a placebo group.
Gastrointestinal Maladies
Those who take Metformin HC experience a number of stomach problems as side effects. Mayo Clinic staff say nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain are all possible side effects. The RxList website says that during clinical trials, 8 percent of Metformin HC patients experienced nausea, 4 percent had dyspepsia and 16 percent had diarrhea as side effects.
Headaches, Rhinitis
Both headaches and rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) have been experienced as side effects of taking Metformin HC. The RxList website says that about 5 percent of those who take the medication have headaches, with about the same percentage having suffered rhinitis as a result of the medication.
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