The preparation "Glucophage": instructions and warnings

The drug "Glucophage" refers to the group of oral hypoglycemic drugs. Its active ingredient is metformin hydrochloride.

In what forms is the drug Glucophage produced? The instruction says that the preparation is a biconvex white tablet. On the fault they should look like a homogeneous white mass.

Possible different packaging: tablets of 500, 800 mg, which are sold in blisters for 10, 15, 20 pieces.

Tablets "Glukofazh 1000" are enclosed in a film shell from pure otoparic.

Excipients in all types of tablets are magnesium stearate and povidone. The preparation "Glucophage 1000" as a part of the film shell can contain Hypromelose and macrogol.

Who is usually prescribed the medicine Glucophage? The instruction says that the drug is prescribed to an insulin-dependent patient with type 2 diabetes (sugar), especially with severe obesity.

The dosage of this drug is prescribed individually, most often starting with 0.5 g per day. Then the dose may be raised, but the maximum daily dose of the drug "Glucophage" (the instruction indicates this) should not be more than 3 g per day. Usually it is divided into several receptions.

This drug accelerates the absorption of glucose by muscles, increases the susceptibility of peripheral receptors to a substance such as insulin. The drug has a good effect on lipid metabolism, delays digestion in the intestines of carbohydrates, lowers cholesterol, but does not stimulate the production of insulin.

The medicine "Glucophage" (the instruction warns) can have side effects. This is nausea, taste of metal in the mouth, sometimes vomiting, diarrhea. At the beginning of treatment, there may be a complete lack of appetite, pain in the abdomen. More often these last symptoms quickly pass and do not demand a canceling of a preparation "Gljukofazh". The instruction also indicates the possible appearance of rash, itching.

Usually the drug is prescribed in the case when the expected benefit from it exceeds the unpleasant side effects. In order to relieve or reduce nausea and pain, the patient may additionally be prescribed antacids or antispasmodics.

Glukofazh has a lot of contraindications, because you can not take it without the knowledge of the doctor.

The drug can not be prescribed to people with diabetic ketoacidosis who is in a coma or who have serious liver or kidney disease. In diseases of the lungs or bronchi, kidney or other infections, fever, dehydration and hypoxia, the drug "Glucophage" can also not be drunk.

It is contraindicated in lactic acidosis, alcoholism, pregnancy.

When planning a pregnancy, the patient should warn the doctor about this, because he must cancel the drug a few weeks before the onset of pregnancy.

Prolonged use of this medication can lead to hypervitaminosis, which adversely affects the general condition of the patient.

It is often asked whether Glucophage can be used for those who are not diabetic, but who want to lose weight.

The answer is categorical: "You can not!". Glucophage does not have a hypoglycemic effect on healthy people.

However, the side effects of the drug may also appear in them. In addition, taking medication by healthy people can completely upset the body's work: cause diarrhea, dyspepsia, disrupt metabolism.

Produce medicine in France. There are other drugs of a similar action. These are baguettes (Argentina), korglikon (Ukraine), gliobin (Russia), syfor (Germnia), metformin Richter (Russia), and others. Their action is the same as the active substance.

But the auxiliary substances can be different. Therefore, replacing one drug with another, it is necessary to consult with the attending physician.

In addition, like any medicine, this remedy can be taken only after examination and on the recommendation of a doctor.