For many individuals with prediabetes or kind 2 diabetes, taking metformin is a vital first step for enhancing blood sugar ranges and well being.
Nevertheless, when you are taking metformin will be virtually as vital as whether or not you are taking metformin in any respect.
This text will clarify every thing you want to learn about the perfect time to take metformin.
How is metformin taken?
Metformin is available in pill type and is taken orally. There are two various kinds of tablets: normal and slow-release metformin (also referred to as extended-release, or ER or XR).
There are execs and cons to the various kinds of metformin. Your physician will suggest which model they assume is finest for you and advise you on the right way to take it and the way typically to take it.
Normal metformin drugs launch the treatment into your physique extra shortly and should require a number of doses per day.
Prolonged-release metformin is launched slowly into your physique and doesn’t have to be taken as typically. The potential unwanted side effects could also be much less extreme in consequence — particularly gastrointestinal unwanted side effects similar to bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.
Study extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Diarrhea?
Metformin tablets are swallowed complete and often taken with water. Don’t crush or chew metformin tablets.
Liquid metformin is obtainable for kids and individuals who have hassle swallowing.
What’s the normal dose of metformin?
Metformin is available in completely different doses, together with 500 milligrams (mg), 850 mg, and 1,000 mg for speedy launch and 500 mg, 750 mg, and 1,000 mg for prolonged launch. The utmost day by day dose of metformin is 2,550 mg.
Liquid metformin is taken in 5-milliliter (ml) doses of 500 mg, 850 mg, or 1,000 mg.
Your physician will almost definitely begin you on a smaller dose of metformin to start with, after which ratchet up your dose over time for those who’re seeing good leads to blood sugar ranges with out too critical unwanted side effects.
Don’t improve your metformin dose with out the steering of your physician. For those who begin to expertise unfavorable unwanted side effects after your dose has been elevated, let your physician know. They might lower your dose or change you to extended-release tablets to assist mitigate these unwanted side effects.
By no means take extra metformin than your physician has prescribed to you. For those who do, you possibly can expertise extreme unwanted side effects, similar to uncontrollable vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomachache, or dangerously low blood sugar ranges (hypoglycemia).
Contact your physician instantly or name 911 for those who’ve taken extra metformin than prescribed or for those who’ve by chance overdosed.
See extra in: Metformin Dosage Information (Min and Max Doses).
When is the perfect time to take metformin?
Some occasions of day are higher for taking metformin than others. These hints might show you how to choose a superb schedule for the right way to take metformin (however make sure you work together with your physician to determine when is the perfect time so that you can take your drugs).
Lean into consistency
At the start, essentially the most perfect time to take metformin is at a time every day that you’re almost definitely to recollect to take it.
The important thing to taking metformin — or any prescription drug — is consistency as a result of for those who can not routinely bear in mind to take your drugs, they won’t be useful. So, it’s finest to take your metformin on the similar time day by day.
And bear in mind, what works for it’s possible you’ll not work for another person, so guarantee that when and the way you are taking your metformin relies on what works finest for you and your private wants.
Know that taking metformin with or after a meal can curb unwanted side effects
Metformin will be taken with or with out meals. Nevertheless, for those who’re susceptible to its unwanted side effects, similar to nausea, upset abdomen, diarrhea, or vomiting, it’s best to take metformin with or after a meal.
It will make it much less doubtless that you simply’ll expertise unwanted side effects and it’ll make metformin simpler to digest.
Many individuals take their day by day metformin with or after their night meal, letting the treatment work all evening lengthy to decrease blood sugar ranges with out the unwanted side effects.
Learn extra in: Indicators Metformin Is Working (Or Isn’t Working).
Don’t take metformin earlier than train in case you are on insulin
For those who’re on insulin, taking metformin proper earlier than you train can improve the probability of experiencing low blood sugar, which will be notably harmful. Signs of low blood sugar throughout train embody dizziness, confusion, and fatigue, which can impair your skill to soundly full your exercise.
Moreover, low blood sugar can gradual wound therapeutic and improve the danger of accidents. To assist stop these points, it’s really helpful to take metformin a number of hours earlier than or after you’ve completed exercising.
Be cautious of taking metformin on an empty abdomen
Taking your whole drugs very first thing within the morning will be the best method to bear in mind to take them day by day. Nevertheless, for those who take metformin on an empty abdomen (or solely with espresso), it might trigger nausea that may persist all through the day.
To keep away from this, think about taking metformin after a lightweight morning snack, similar to a chunk of toast or a small bowl of oatmeal. This may help mitigate nausea with out requiring a full, sturdy breakfast.
Nevertheless, for those who’re fasting for blood work, a process, or doing intermittent fasting (IF), metformin is secure to tackle an empty abdomen.
Regularly requested questions
What if I overlook to take a dose of metformin?
For those who overlook to take your day by day dose of metformin, skip your missed dose and easily take your subsequent one at your often scheduled time.
By no means take two doses as a method to make up for a misplaced dose. Lacking one dose won’t hurt you or improve your blood sugar ranges.
I’ve taken an excessive amount of metformin; what do I do?
Metformin is usually secure, however taking an excessive amount of metformin may cause unfavorable unwanted side effects like excessive nausea, vomiting, stomachache, dangerously low blood sugar ranges, feeling chilly, shallow respiration, sleepiness, weak spot, and fatigue.
Name your physician or 911 for those who’ve taken an excessive amount of metformin and are experiencing any of those signs.
Study extra in: Is Metformin Secure?
How lengthy do I’ve to take metformin?
There may be presently no treatment for diabetes, and remedy is often for all times. Nevertheless, for those who’re not seeing outcomes or are experiencing unfavorable unwanted side effects, it might be time to speak together with your physician.
Learn extra in: Metformin Facet Results (Frequent and Critical).
They might suggest that you simply both lower your dose or discover an alternative choice to metformin, or they could take you off the treatment fully.
Know that it could actually take a number of weeks to months to start out seeing outcomes from metformin, relying on what your well being objectives are. By no means cease taking any diabetes drugs with out correct steering out of your physician first.
See extra in: Stopping Metformin: When and How You Can Cease Taking Metformin.
Is it higher to take metformin within the morning or at evening?
Metformin is finest taken with a meal, so whether or not that’s a morning or night meal is as much as you. Nevertheless, many individuals with diabetes expertise the daybreak phenomenon, or an early-morning rise in blood sugar.
So, what’s the advantage of taking metformin at evening? Taking your metformin with a night meal may help alleviate the subsequent day’s morning excessive blood sugar ranges, whereas for those who take it within the morning, it’s possible you’ll be coping with larger blood sugar if you get up.
Latest research, together with analysis from 2023, present that the time you are taking metformin can have an effect on how effectively it really works and the way it makes you are feeling. These research counsel that taking metformin on the proper time, primarily based in your physique’s pure rhythms, may help it work higher and scale back unwanted side effects.
What do I do if I take metformin twice per day?
You’ll be able to take your first dose within the morning with breakfast, and your second dose within the night with dinner.
How do I retailer metformin?
It’s best to maintain metformin locked away from youngsters, in a sealed container at room temperature.
Don’t put metformin within the freezer, and hold it away from warmth, mild, and moisture.
All the time examine expiration dates, and don’t take expired drugs. Speak together with your physician about disposing of any previous or expired drugs that you may not use.
Urged subsequent article: Every thing You Have to Know About Metformin.
