Treating Metformin Overdose

Metformin Overdose is a common problem and the possibility of overdose is more amongst people as this prescription medicine is consumed for treating Type II diabetes. And Diabetes these days is a common health issue.

Effects of a metformin overdose varies and depends on a variety of factors, like the amount of metformin consumed or whether it was consumed with any other medicines, it was taken while one had already had alcohol, drugs etc.

If you or someone you know happens to overdose on metformin, it is advised that medical attention is given to the patient immediately. The possible symptoms of Metformin overdose may be two; Lactic acidosis and Low Blood Pressure. Symptoms of each of them are given below.

Symptoms of Lactic acidosis are: Muscle pain, feeling tired, week and exhausted, trouble breathing, abnormal stomach pain, dizziness, and in some cases when medical attention is not given on time or given very late Metformin Overdose may lead to loss of life also.
Symptoms of low blood pressure due to Metaformin overdose are Extreme hunger, Dizziness, Sweating, Cold sweats and Shakiness, and Blurred vision. Sometimes the symptoms can be extreme like Changes in behavior, such as irritability, Loss of coordination, Difficulty speaking, Confusion, Loss of consciousness, Coma, Seizure and in the cases when the patient is not given medical attention on time it can result in death of the person who has overdosed on Metformin.

On Metformin overdose patient the doctor may use certain medicines or put a tube into the stomach to “pump the stomach.” As a result of this certain other complications may occur and to deal with it the doctors may have to opt for supportive treatments. Supportive treatment of Metformin Overdose may include Dialysis, Fluids through an intravenous line (IV), A sugar (glucose) solution to increase blood sugar, and other treatments depending on complications that occur in individual patient.

The best advice is that when you suspect Metaformin overdose take the patient to the hospital without wasting any time. There are home remedies; self help plans to deal with Metformin overdose.