Metformin Side Effects: Symptoms, Causes & What to Expect

Meformin is a prescription medication used to control blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Some patients have a sensitivity to the ingredients of Metformin, causing symptoms of various side effects.

Types of Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Metformin include loss of appetite, heartburn, a metallic taste in your mouth, flatulence, stomachaches, vomiting and weight loss.

Time Frame

• Symptoms of Metformin side effects usually begin with a few days of taking the drug, and often diminish as your body becomes acclimated to its effects, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Features

• If the dosage of Metformin is too high for you or if you do not eat on a regular basis, you may develop symptoms of hypoglycemia related to use of the drug. These include confusion, blurred or double vision, heart palpitations, tremors, anxiety, sweating and hunger.

Warning

• If you develop drowsiness, malaise, muscle pain and difficulty breathing while taking Metformin, seek emergency medical attention as these are symptoms of lactic acidosis, a rare but life-threatening side effect of the drug.

Considerations

• Some drugs increase the absorption of Metformin in your body and may increase the severity of your side effect symptoms. These include the diuretic amiloride, the heart drug digoxin, the narcotic pain reliever morphine, the malaria drug quinine and the antibiotic trimethoprim.