What is metformin?
Metformin is a prescription drug - used alongside diet and exercise - to treat type 2 diabetes. Metformin decreases your body’s blood glucose level and increases its response to the hormone insulin to get your type 2 diabetes under control.
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, a condition characterized by high levels of glucose - or sugar - in the blood. If left untreated, elevated glucose levels can wreak havoc on your body, causing kidney damage, eye problems, sexual dysfunction, and more. Doctors prescribe drugs like metformin to help keep patients’ blood glucose - and their diabetes symptoms - in check.
What are the most common side effects of metformin?
While adverse reactions to metformin are rare, some patients who take the drug experience mild side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and headaches.
This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are concerned that metformin is causing you to experience any of these side effects, or if you have concerns about additional side effects, please contact your doctor directly.
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Yes, it's possible to get a metformin prescription online! Sesame providers can write a prescription for metformin to be picked up near you – often within the same day. Don’t wait to get your prescription filled. Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your prescription ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your doctor.
Metformin is a prescription drug used with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Metformin decreases your body’s blood glucose level and increases its response to the hormone insulin to get your type 2 diabetes under control.
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes, a condition characterized by high levels of glucose - or sugar - in the blood. If left untreated, elevated glucose levels can wreak havoc on your body, causing kidney damage, eye problems, sexual dysfunction, and more. Doctors prescribe drugs like metformin to help keep patients’ blood glucose - and their diabetes symptoms - in check.
Metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes - the form of diabetes in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or builds a resistance to it.
Insulin is a hormone that plays a role in the way your body takes up and uses sugar for energy. When your body does not produce enough insulin, sugar builds up in the blood, leading to serious problems like kidney problems, eye problems, heart disease, nerve damage, loss of limbs, and even death.
Metformin cannot be used to treat type 1 diabetes, a condition in which the body produces little to no insulin at all.
It is important to note that metformin is meant to work alongside diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to lower your blood glucose levels and bring your diabetes under control. Metformin alone is not sufficient to treat your blood glucose imbalance.
Metformin belongs to a series of medications known as biguanides. This family of drugs decreases the amount of glucose your body absorbs from food and limits the amount of glucose your body naturally produces. Metformin also enhances your body’s response to insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating your blood glucose levels. The combined effect of these actions helps keep your blood glucose level under control.
While there are some common side effects associated with metformin, it is important to remember that your doctor prescribed it because they believe its ability to manage symptoms outweighs any adverse effects it may cause. The most common side effect of metformin ER include:
Rare but potentially serious side effects may include:
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breast feeding, have other medical conditions, or are taking any other medications.
This is not a complete list of side effects associated with metformin. For a complete list of metformin side effects, visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed for more information.
The typical starting dose of metformin is 500 mg taken orally twice a day or 850 mg once a day, given with meals. Based on regular check-ups to monitor your progress, the doctor may increase this dose in intervals to a maximum of 2,000 mg a day.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
Metformin is currently only available via prescription. This means the use of this drug must be authorized by a licensed health care provider.
Looking for a prescription? Good news! Providers on Sesame can write a prescription – or refill an existing one – during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you or order the medication to be delivered to your door for just $5. Book an online consultation with a real, licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not metformin is right for you.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.
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