Diabetic Medication
Side Effects

Biguanides

Brand Name:  Glucophage
Generic Name:  Metformin

• A new, extended-release form of metformin is now available.

Brand Name:  Glucophage XR
Generic Name: metformin hydrochloride extended release

You may notice a metallic taste in your mouth.

• If you already have a kidney problem, taking metformin may make it worse. Make sure that, before you start taking metformin, your doctor knows your kidneys work well.
• If you are vomiting, have diarrhea, and can't drink enough fluids, you may need to stop taking metformin for a few days.

• Once in a while people on metformin can become weak, tired, or dizzy and have trouble breathing. If you ever have these problems, call your doctor or get medical help right away.

Sulfonylureas

Brand Name:  Amaryl, DiaBeta, Diabinese, Dymelor, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Glynase PresTab, Micronase, Orinase, Tolinase

Generic Name:  glimepiride, glyburide, chlorpropamide, acetohexamide, glipizide, glipizide, glyburide, glyburide, tolbutamide, tolazamide

Some of the side effects of this diabetic medicine:

• hypoglycemia
• an upset stomach
• a skin rash or itching
• weight gain

Brand Name:  Actos (ACT-ose), Avandia (uh-VAN-dee-uh)

Generic Name:  pioglitazone (py-oh-GLIT-uh-zone), rosiglitazone (rose-ee-GLIT-uh-zone).

Some of the side effects of this diabetic medicine:

• If you take pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, it is important for your health care provider to check your liver enzyme levels regularly.
• Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of liver disease: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite, tiredness, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or dark-colored urine.
• (Some people who took troglitazone, another thiazolidinedione, have had serious liver problems. Troglitazone is no longer available.)
• You may gain weight while taking these medicines.
• You may be at risk for developing anemia (uh-NEE-mee-ah), which will make you feel tired. Anemia causes your blood to carry less oxygen (OX-ih-jen) than normal.
• You may have swelling in your legs or your ankles, also called edema (eh-DEE-mah).

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Much is on this website. If you have any questions that have been unanswered feel free to contact us and we will personally reply with your answers.

You can also feel free to call us directly at 509-786-4551 and we'll be happy to try to help answer any questions that you may have.

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