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Glucophage (metformin), like all blood-sugar lowering medications, can cause side effects in some patients. Most of these side effects are minor and will go away after you've taken Glucophage for a while. However, there are also serious, but rare side effects related to Glucophage.
The main side effect is high/low blood sugar level that may lead to liver, kidney, heart, eye problems. The symptoms of these side effects are vision problems, giddiness, irritability, tremor, unusual fatigue, irregular heartbeat, sweating, unusual hunger, confusion dry mouth, vomiting, pain in the stomach.
In very rare cases, Glucophage can cause a possibly life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. The condition is more common in the elderly, those with kidney or liver disease, people who have low blood oxygen levels or circulation problems, and those who are dehydrated or use alcohol heavily. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include unusual tiredness or drowsiness, muscle pain, cold or blue skin, chills, difficulty breathing or an irregular or unusually slow heartbeat.
Of patients who take this drug, 10%-30% show evidence of reduced vitamin B12 absorption. A substance formed in the stomach called "intrinsic factor" combines with B12 so that it can be transferred into the blood. Metformin interferes with the ability of your cells to absorb this intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 complex.
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