Metformin and Alcohol Consumption   by Metforminalcohol1

in Health / Weight Loss    (submitted 2011-06-26)

Metformin Hydrochloride is a drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, sold under a variety of brand names such a Glucophage and GlucophageXR Riomet and Fortamet. Its primary use is to reduce the glucose content in blood sugar levels. Being one of the least expensive to produce it is has now become possibly the widest used treatment of type 2 diabetes that is available in the market.

Metformin has to be used in conjunction with a balanced diet and increased exercise to work effectively in controlling type 2-diabetes. Exercise will help in burning of calories and a balanced diet of low carbohydrates and high vegetable and fruit intake helps the tablet to control the insulin production. When taking Metformin, patients should refrain from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, because this lowers blood sugar levels and increases the risk of Hypoglycaemia.

Although Metformin treatment does not cause Hypoglycaemia, if certain other conditions exist then it could become a possibility. If not enough food is eaten, or strenuous exercise is taken then blood sugar levels will already be lowered, taking Metformin will lower the levels even more making the risk of hypoglycaemia higher. Symptoms to look for are headache, irritability, dizziness, hunger and the feeling of weakness. In extreme cases fainting and coma may occur, a source of rapid sugar or glucose intake will help a patient who is suffering from hypoglycaemia.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of a potentially life threatening condition called lactic acidosis. This is where the body produces a build up of lactic acid that cannot be neutralised quickly enough and could become toxic. When this happens the patient will feel nauseous and may have vomiting, a low blood pressure and a rapid pulse if lactic acidosis is suspected then medical advice should be sought immediately.

When you are first prescribed Metformin by your health practitioner you should if in doubt ask whether it is safe to drink alcohol while taking the medication. It is generally thought that small quantities of alcohol do not harm the treatment the occasional glass of red wine is supposed to be beneficial to health. It must be remembered though that the aim of taking Metformin as a diabetes treatment is to lower the blood sugar levels.

Whilst it may be felt that Metformin could seriously curtail your social life this need not be necessarily so. Any patient who is taking the tablets can take one of two courses of action with regard to alcohol consumption when in a social environment, one is to abstain completely, maybe nominating themselves as the designated driver for the evening, and telling their companions the reason for their abstinence, or they can have one or two drinks and then change to a non alcoholic drink.

Consumption of alcohol is also associated with weight increase and if you are using Metformin as a dietary measure to lose weight there will be a nullifying effect if alcohol is drunk too often.

About the Author

The author of this article writes a blog on the use of Metformin for Weight Loss and other information on Metformin. It can be found at Metformin and Alcohol Blog