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What Are The Side Effects Of Metformin?

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Posted on Tue, 31 Jan 2017
Question: what is a alternative drug for metformin? because metformin has bad side effects so what's another drug do you recommend for diabetes. my diabetes numbers be from 130 to 190.
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Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Alternate drugs

Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Noted your question. Metformin is an excellent drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is often the first line drug too. However, many patients cannot tolerate it due to abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. In these situations, there are several newer options these days.
However, choosing an alternative drug is based on a number of things.
1.your kidney status.
2.History of heart disease,liver disease.
3.patient's weight.

The alternative medicines are,
1.DPP4 inhibitors(example :januvia, Trajenta)
2.Pioglitazone.
3.SGLT2 inhibitor :(example: DAPAGLIFLOZIN, Empagliflozin)
4.Acarbose.
5.Sulfonylureas (Example :Gliclazide)
6.Basal insulin like Tresiba or Lantus.
7.GLP 1 analogues (example:Victoza).

I would choose any of the above except number 5 in someone like you with such blood glucose readings. If your blood glucose readings were very high, option number 5 also would have been a choice.
Meet an endocrinologist, they will decide the best option among the above listed medicines based on your physical profile and blood reports. However, a simple and straightforward option would be option 1.
Regards
Binu
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
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Answered by
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Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1438 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Metformin?

Brief Answer: Alternate drugs Detailed Answer: Good day. Noted your question. Metformin is an excellent drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is often the first line drug too. However, many patients cannot tolerate it due to abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. In these situations, there are several newer options these days. However, choosing an alternative drug is based on a number of things. 1.your kidney status. 2.History of heart disease,liver disease. 3.patient's weight. The alternative medicines are, 1.DPP4 inhibitors(example :januvia, Trajenta) 2.Pioglitazone. 3.SGLT2 inhibitor :(example: DAPAGLIFLOZIN, Empagliflozin) 4.Acarbose. 5.Sulfonylureas (Example :Gliclazide) 6.Basal insulin like Tresiba or Lantus. 7.GLP 1 analogues (example:Victoza). I would choose any of the above except number 5 in someone like you with such blood glucose readings. If your blood glucose readings were very high, option number 5 also would have been a choice. Meet an endocrinologist, they will decide the best option among the above listed medicines based on your physical profile and blood reports. However, a simple and straightforward option would be option 1. Regards Binu