Alcohol: Metformin interacts with alcohol, so avoid binge drinking or regular alcohol intake when on the medication.
It's best to take metformin tablets with, or just after, your evening meal to reduce the chance of getting side effects. Swallow your metformin tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew them. If you're taking metformin sachets, pour the powder into a glass and add water (about 150ml).
Side Effects of Metformin and Alcohol Interaction
Alcohol and Metformin should not be combined since doing so has harmful impacts on your health. If you have diabetes, you should avoid heavy drinking because it can cause low blood sugar. Before taking Metformin, you should consult your doctor.
Red meat and dairy products—like milk, cheese, and butter—are popular sources of saturated fats. These aren't foods to avoid while taking metformin altogether but focus on lean proteins—like turkey, fish, and tofu to increase metformin's efficacy.
Be wary of taking metformin on an empty stomach
Taking all of your medications first thing in the morning may be the easiest way to remember to take them daily, but if you take metformin on an empty stomach (or only with coffee), it may cause nausea that can last all day.
It comes down to how fats behave in the body. Saturated fat found in butter, cheese, and high-fat meats like bacon and sausage—has been shown to significantly worsen insulin resistance which is one of the problems you may be trying to solve with metformin.
Key takeaways: Metformin is a medication that treats Type 2 diabetes. If you take metformin, it's probably OK to drink alcohol every once in a while if your diabetes is well-controlled.
Can I drink alcohol while taking metformin? Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking metformin, but it's best to drink no more than 2 units per day. Drinking more than this can increase the risk of low blood sugar. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
Metformin should be taken with meals to help reduce stomach or bowel side effects that may occur during the first few weeks of treatment. Swallow the tablet or extended-release tablet whole with a full glass of water.
How to check if metformin is working. A medical provider can run a few tests to see how metformin is affecting your health: Blood work can check if your glucose, insulin, and HbA1C levels are in range. If they are, the medication is working.
In general, for diabetes medications including oral hypoglycemic agents (e.g., metformin) and insulin, if you miss one dose, take the next one as soon as you remember it. However, if you remember close to the time of the next dose, then skip it and take the next dose instead. Do NOT double the dose.
Taking your doses with food may also help prevent nausea and vomiting. If you have nausea or vomiting that's severe, bothersome, or doesn't ease, talk with your doctor. They may reduce your metformin dosage or suggest switching to a different form of the drug.
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.
Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.
If you eat a lot of sugar while taking Metformin, your body will have to work harder to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range, and the Metformin will not be as effective for weight loss. However, if it happens infrequently, you should not suffer too many negative side effects. The key is moderation.
As much as possible, avoid white bread, white rice, white pasta, candy, soda, desserts, and snacks like chips or crackers. Eating foods that can spike your blood sugar will not necessarily make the metformin not work, however, it will increase the burden it has to work against.
There are some medicines that can affect the way metformin works. If you're taking any of the following medicines, your blood sugar levels may need to be checked more often and your dose changed: steroid tablets, such as prednisolone. tablets that make you pee more (diuretics), such as furosemide.
One question that often comes up for those taking metformin, a drug frequently prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes, is: Can I drink alcohol while taking it? More often than not, doctors do not recommend drinking while taking this medication (or most medications).
Painkillers. It's fine to take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin with metformin, assuming these are appropriate for you.
Bananas are a delicious, nutritious and affordable food for everyone, including those with diabetes. Eating this healthy fruit can help stabilize blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and improve heart health.
If you take metformin without food you may end up with an upset stomach, especially if you are just starting treatment.