Is 3000mg of metformin too much?

Metformin is effective when used with other glucose-lowering drugs. A standard-release (3000 mg/day maximum dose) and an extended-release preparation of metformin (2000 mg/day maximum dose) are available. The extended-release preparation can be taken once daily.
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What is the maximum amount of metformin A person can take a day?

Metformin alone (Fortamet®): At first, 1000 milligrams (mg) once a day taken with the evening meal. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed until your blood sugar is controlled. However, the dose is usually not more than 2500 mg per day.
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What happens if you take too many metformin?

Metformin overdose associated with lactic acidosis presents with nonspecific symptoms and includes severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, epigastric pain, thirstiness, lost appetite, lethargy and hyperpnoea. Hypotension, hypothermia, acute renal failure, coma and cardiac arrest also represent significant clinical features.
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How much metformin is considered an overdose?

As metformin is excreted by the kidneys, care must be taken in renal insufficiency or liver disease because of risk of lactic acidosis. Large overdoses of metformin can lead to lactic acidosis as well. Suicide with metformin is rare. Intake of 35 g of metformin has been shown to be lethal (Teale et al.
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What is the highest mg of metformin?

Typical starting dosage: 500 mg taken twice per day. Dosage changes: Your doctor will increase your dosage by 500 mg every week in divided doses. Maximum dosage: 2,000 mg per day.
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Metformin Side Effects (



What should your blood sugar be when on metformin?

People who don't have diabetes keep their blood sugars between 60 – 100 mg/dl overnight and before meals, and less than 140 mg/dl after meals.
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How many 500 mg metformin can you take in a day?

Your doctor may increase your dose if needed until your blood sugar is controlled. Later, your doctor may want you to take 500 or 850 mg two to three times a day with meals. However, the dose is usually not more than 2550 mg per day.
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Can metformin cause sudden death?

Metformin can cause a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. People who have lactic acidosis have a buildup of a substance called lactic acid in their blood and shouldn't take metformin. This condition is very dangerous and often fatal.
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Can you overdose on metformin 1000mg?

Case reports and series of severe toxicity from metformin are typically associated with severe lactic acidosis, and many of these are due to intentional overdose. The prognosis in cases of undifferentiated lactic acidosis is poor, with an expected case-fatality rate of 30-50%.
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Can overdose of metformin cause hypoglycemia?

Discussion: Metformin overdose can cause severe hypoglycemia in the absence of other antidiabetic drugs. Potential mechanisms of metformin-induced hypoglycemia include decreased hepatic glucose production, decreased glucose absorption, and poor oral intake.
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Can metformin damage liver and kidneys?

Metformin does not cause kidney damage. The kidneys process and clear the drug out of your system via urine. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, metformin can build up in your system and cause a condition called lactic acidosis.
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What does metformin do to your legs?

A lack of this B vitamin can happen to anyone, but the risk is higher on metformin, especially over time. When you don't get enough, it can cause peripheral neuropathy, the numbness or tingling in your feet and legs that's already a risk with diabetes.
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What are the long term side effects of metformin?

Long-term side effects

Taking metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency if you take it for a long time. This can make you feel very tired, breathless and faint, so your doctor may check the vitamin B12 level in your blood. If your vitamin B12 levels become too low, vitamin B12 supplements will help.
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Can I take metformin 3 times a day?

Standard metformin is taken two or three times per day. Be sure to take it with meals to reduce the stomach and bowel side effects that can occur – most people take metformin with breakfast and dinner. Extended-release metformin is taken once a day and should be taken at night, with dinner.
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What happens when metformin isn't enough for type 2 diabetes?

If metformin does not work well enough on its own, you cannot take it or you have other health problems, you may need to take other medicines alongside or instead of metformin. These include: other tablets that help lower your blood sugar, such as gliclazide, glimepiride, alogliptin, linagliptin or pioglitazone.
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How do you lower your blood sugar immediately?

When your blood sugar level gets too high — known as hyperglycemia or high blood glucose — the quickest way to reduce it is to take fast-acting insulin. Exercising is another fast, effective way to lower blood sugar.
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What are the signs of lactic acidosis with metformin?

Symptoms of lactic acidosis are nonspecific and may include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, hyperventilation, and hypotension [11]. Five of our patients (71%) complained of diarrhea, which can be an adverse effect of metformin and can aggravate hypovolemia.
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What is the benefit of taking metformin at night?

The administration of metformin, as glucophage retard, at bedtime instead of supper time may improve diabetes control by reducing morning hyperglycemia.
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Does metformin mess with your heart?

Many antihyperglycemic drugs can increase the risk of heart failure. However, it is commonly believed that metformin - the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes - reduces the risk of and improves the clinical course of heart failure. It is estimated that 20-25% of patients taking metformin have heart failure.
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Can metformin cause body odor?

Although drug directories list metformin as "odorless," and no previous studies have linked the smell of immediate-release metformin with discontinuation, the authors wrote that it's well known among pharmacists that metformin either smells like fish or "old locker room sweat socks."
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What is the black box warning on metformin?

Metformin has a black box warning for lactic acidosis — a condition where too much lactic acid builds up in the blood. It's a serious problem and can lead to death. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
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Can I take 2 500mg metformin at once?

DO NOT take 2 doses at the same time. Common Side Effects: Loose stools/diarrhea, upset stomach, and gas. These USUALLY GET BETTER if you keep taking your metformin.
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What should I avoid while taking metformin?

Other things to avoid while on metformin

diuretics, such as acetazolamide. corticosteroids, such as prednisone. blood pressure medication, such as amlodipine (Norvasc) anticonvulsants, such as topiramate (Topamax) and zonisamide (Zonegran)
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How much metformin should I take for weight loss?

What is the correct dosage to experience weight loss? According to the Mayo Clinic, patients taking the oral extended-release tablets usually start between 500-1000 mg taken per day, and work their way up to 2,500 mg per day (not to exceed that amount).
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What is a good blood sugar level for type 2 diabetes?

A normal fasting blood sugar level is less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L). Hemoglobin A1C test – The "A1C" blood test measures your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. Normal values for A1C are 4 to 5.6 percent.
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