Once the body adjusts to the medication, many side effects tend to resolve. Taking metformin with food and drinking enough fluids can relieve many of its lesser side effects. stomach or abdominal pain or discomfort.Usually, the more alcohol a person consumes, and the faster they ingest it, the greater the risk of interactions become.Ĭommon metformin side effects that alcohol use worsens include the following: The extent of alcohol’s influence on the side effects of metformin depends on the amount of alcohol and individual health factors. Many side effects of metformin are the same as those of alcohol, so mixing the two can intensify symptoms. Gastrointestinal complications are the most common side effects of metformin. Share on Pinterest Mixing alcohol and metformin can make abdominal pain worse. These can contribute to conditions that influence blood sugar control, such as being overweight.Īlthough an occasional drink may not be harmful, the potential side effects are likely to outweigh the benefits. Most alcoholic drinks also contain a lot of sugars. It reduces the liver’s ability to produce and regulate glucose.Ĭonditions such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver can occur with chronic alcohol use, greatly decreasing liver health and impairing blood glucose control. Over time, alcohol consumption damages the liver, especially when a person drinks to excess. This means that they absorb less glucose from the blood, and levels in the bloodstream increase. Long-term alcohol use can also make cells less sensitive to insulin. When the liver has to process a lot of alcohol, it overworks, becoming tired, and so releasing less glucose. The liver removes poisons from the body and undergoes stress when it has to digest alcohol.
When a person drinks alcohol, it also has significant effects on blood sugar.
The drug works by improving insulin sensitivity, promoting the uptake of glucose into tissues and reducing sugar levels in the bloodstream.īy increasing the effectiveness of the glucose already circulating in the body, metformin reduces the amount of glucose the liver produces and that the intestines absorb. The use of the drug in people with type 1 diabetes who are also overweight may r educe insulin need and increase metabolic control. In 2014, around 14.4 million people in the United States received a prescription for metformin.ĭoctors are prescribing metformin more and more frequently to people with prediabetes. Metformin is a popular, effective, and inexpensive management medication that doctors prescribe for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is important for anyone taking metformin to talk to their doctor about using alcohol while taking the medication. Share on Pinterest Regularly mixing metformin with excessive alcohol can be dangerous.
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