Metformin for weight loss: how to take and effectiveness

Metformin hydrochloride is also called glucocarbon. This medicine is part of the biguanide group and is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. But it is also used as a means to reduce weight, because it prevents the deposition of fat stores. Metformin for weight loss is often used by athletes.

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Indications of the metformin for weight loss

Metformin is a hypoglycemic oral medication that is used in the treatment of insulin-independent diabetes in people who are addicted to obesity.

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Release form

The medicine is available in the form of tablets with a volume of 500, 850, and 1000 mg. One package can contain 30 or 60 or 120 tablets.

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Pharmacodynamics

The main property of metformin is suppression / elimination of gluconeogenesis, which occurs in a patient in the liver. In addition, it reduces the absorption of glucose in the digestive tract and reduces the amount of accumulating cholesterol. But if there is no insulin in the blood, this drug will be completely useless.

When losing weight, the medicine works as follows:

• increases the rate of oxidation of fatty acids;
• suppresses the processes of digestion of carbohydrates occurring in the digestive tract;
• improves the process of glucose penetration into muscle tissues;
• reduces the production of insulin, so that the feeling of hunger disappears;
• reduces weight, bringing it to a normal level for a given person.

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Pharmacokinetics

After eating, metformin is almost completely absorbed through the digestive tract, and about 20-30% of it is excreted along with the feces. To achieve peak concentrations, it takes about 2.5 hours. The bioavailability index is approximately 50-60%. In the case of taking the medicine with food, metformin absorption is noticeably slowed down.

With plasma proteins, the drug binds in small amounts. Metformin passes inside the erythrocytes. In the blood, the maximum concentration is lower than in the blood plasma, but both of these indicators peak at the same time. The average index of the distribution volume is in the range of approximately 63-276 liters.

Removal of the medicine occurs together with the urine, it is displayed unchanged. He does not have any decay products.

The coefficient of cleansing metformin in the kidneys is equal to less than 400 ml / minute, which indicates - the elimination occurs by glomerular filtration, as well as tubular secretion. The half-life after taking the drug is approximately 6.5 hours. If the patient has disorders in the work of the kidneys, the clearance decreases according to the coefficient of cleansing of the creatinine, thereby increasing the half-life. As a result, the concentration of metformin in the blood plasma increases.

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Dosing and administration

The tablet should be swallowed whole or, for a simpler reception, it can be divided into 2 halves. The medicine needs to be washed down with water.

Basically, you need to drink the drug at a dosage of 500 mg twice a day before meals (dinner with dinner), but if that's not enough, you can add one more reception in the morning - before breakfast in the same dosage. Duration of use Metformin for weight loss should not be more than 18-22 days. The repeated course is allowed to be held at least 1 month later. When losing weight while taking drugs, you should regularly exercise to accelerate the effect of the drug, because the load accelerates the processing of extra pounds.

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Use of the metformin for weight loss during pregnancy

During pregnancy, Metformin is contraindicated.

Contraindications

The medicine is considered completely harmless, but at the same time it still has some contraindications that must be taken into account before the reception:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus;
• absence of insulin in type 2 diabetes;
• presence of renal, cardiac or pulmonary insufficiency (as well as other severe pulmonary diseases);
• acute myocardial infarction;
• the complications arising from diabetes in acute form;
• disorders of renal or hepatic function;
• severe injuries or infectious pathologies, as well as postoperative period;
• presence of anemia;
• alcoholism in chronic form;
• low-calorie diet.

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Side effects of the metformin for weight loss

Among the most common adverse reactions to the use of Metformin:

• development of lactic acidosis;
• deterioration of absorption processes of vitamin B12;
• nausea with vomiting;
• frequent diarrhea;
• B12-deficiency anemia;
• rash on the skin;
• lowering of blood glucose level.

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Overdose

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose occur when you take the drug at a dose of 85+ g. It appears as a rapid intoxication with lactic acid. In this case, you urgently need to call a doctor - for blood purification. For this, hemodialysis is used. Further, the therapy becomes symptomatic.

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Interactions with other drugs

When combined with iodine-containing radiocontrast preparations in patients with diabetes mellitus accompanied by renal insufficiency, lactacidosis may develop. You can not use metformin before radiological procedures (in which PKCs are used), and you can resume it after at least 48 hours after them.

It is not recommended to combine metformin with danazol, since simultaneous use increases the hyperglycemic effect of the latter. If you need to use danazol, as well as immediately after the abolition of its use, you need to adjust the dosage of metformin (while you need to monitor the glycemic index).

SCS with local or systemic effects, and in addition β2-sympathomimetics and diuretics in combination with metformin can provoke hyperglycemia. You should closely monitor blood sugar, especially at the initial stage of therapy. When treating with these drugs or immediately after their withdrawal, you need to adjust the dosage of metformin in accordance with the glycemic index.

In the case of a compound with ACEI, hypoglycemic effects may increase.

As a result of taking large doses of chlorpromazine (100 mg per day), the level of sugar increases, which results in weakening the process of insulin release.

When therapy with neuroleptics, as well as immediately after its withdrawal, you need to adjust the dosage of metformin, paying attention to the level of glycemia.

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Storage conditions

To keep the medicine is required in a place closed from the sun, moisture and children. Temperature conditions - no more than 25ºС.

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Shelf life

Metformin is allowed for 3 years from the date of manufacture of the drug.

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Diet when taking Metformin for weight loss

Before you start taking metformin, you should immediately tune in to the fact that this medication is not a fat burner. It only helps to correctly distribute the fat reserves stored by the body, thus supplementing the dietary healthy diet. That's why when using this medication you need to refuse the following foods:

• any product that contains sugar, because it's fast carbohydrates;
• pasta, various quick-cooking porridges, potatoes, and in addition white rice;
• if you do not perform any physical exercises in parallel, the daily diet should be less than 1200 Kcal.

Instead, you should eat lentils, buckwheat porridge, brown rice, various vegetables (but not beets and carrots), as well as meat. It is also recommended to eat the following foods:

• white cabbage, oatmeal;
• radish, celery and turnips;
• meat of turkey, rabbit or chicken;
• cottage cheese with yogurt.

It should be noted that this diet is different from the so-called "drying" - it does not prohibit the addition of salt to the dishes. In addition, it does not control the exact size of portions.

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Reviews of those who lose weight and the results

In general, the feedback on metformin when losing weight is not too positive - weight reduction occurs rarely, and for the most part in small amounts. At the same time, patients note that taking the medication provokes the appearance of many uncomfortable symptoms.

People who decide to use Metformin to reduce body weight, it is necessary to carefully study the list of contraindications, as well as side effects, and in addition to observe the recommended dosage, avoiding excess of the norm.

Doctor's comments

Metformin for weight loss has a fairly ambiguous response of doctors - their opinions on the benefits and harms of this drug with weight loss are divided. There are those who believe that he can normalize weight, and therefore appoint him to healthy people as a means of losing weight. But there are those who are sure that the pills will be more harmful. Testing on this issue continues to be carried out, but they also prove that the decision to take the drug in order to lose weight should be taken for each case individually, and under the supervision of a doctor.

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