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How and Where Can I Buy Metformin Online?

What Is Metformin?

By Clare ScanlanPublished 5 years ago 7 min read
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Metformin is a prescription medication that is used to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes, for those patients who are at high risk of developing it, and to treat those who already have it. It can also be used to treat PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). Metformin hydrochloride is the active ingredient and is a medicine type called biguanide, which lowers the amount of sugar in the blood.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 or adult-onset Diabetes is where the patient is not dependent on is insulin, and it is the most common form of diabetes. The patient’s body cannot process insulin properly, and this leads to high blood sugar levels. The pancreas produces the hormone insulin. People who get Type 2 Diabetes are those who are overweight or obese, and do not exercise or take any form of physical activity. Type 2 Diabetes can often be controlled by a change of diet and taking exercise. When the body finds it difficult to use the insulin it produces this is called insulin resistance, and is a common symptom of Type 2 Diabetes. A family history of diabetes and certain genetic problems that affect insulin production are risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes.

How Metformin Works

When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work properly and this causes high blood sugar levels or hyperglycaemia, this is known as Type 2 Diabetes. Metformin will lower blood sugar levels by helping the body to handle insulin better, and by lowering the amount of sugar that is released into the blood by the liver. It increases the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin, allowing the cells to remove sugar from the blood and lowers blood sugar levels between and after eating.

When diet and exercise do not work to control blood sugar levels, especially in obese patients, doctors prescribe metformin. Metformin can be taken as either tablets or in liquid form, and is best taken with a meal as this will reduce the side effects.

There are two types of metformin tablets available, as well as an oral solution, and an oral powder.

The first type of tablet is standard release. With these the active substance is released into the patient’s body quickly. This means that they have to be taken frequently, several times a day, depending on the dosage.

The second type is slow-release tablets. They dissolve slowly in the body, and so are only taken once a day.

How to Take Metformin

Metformin is an oral medication and should be taken with a meal, as this reduces the occurrence of side effects. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water and not chewed. If the patient forgets to take their dose of Metformin it should be taken as soon as possible, unless the next does is due, as two doses should not be taken together.

The doctor will work out the patient’s required dosage based on their response to the treatment and any other medications they are taking, and they should tell their doctor about any other prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and herbal products they are taking. The doctor will probably start the patient on a low dosage, and then gradually increase it so as to reduce the risk of any side effects. The doctor’s instructions should be followed and to get the most benefit from metformin, it should be taken regularly and at the same time each day.

The doctor will request that the patient make regular checks of their blood sugar levels. These results should be noted down, and shown to the doctor when the patient sees the doctor for a check-up. The patient should inform the doctor if their blood sugar levels are too high or too low, so that the doctor can change the dosage or treatment as required.

Side Effects of Metformin

There are few side effects with metformin and patients usually tolerate it well, unless they take too much or it is prescribed inappropriately by the doctor.

Unlike other diabetes medications, metformin does not cause weight gain. The side effects of Metformin include going off food, feeling of nauseous and vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ache, or a metallic taste in the mouth. These are symptoms that usually occur during the first few days of treatment with metformin and should quickly clear up. If they return or continue after taking the same dosage or metformin for several days or weeks, the patient should inform the doctor immediately. Lactic acidosis may be the cause of any stomach problems after the first few days of treatment.

Serious side effects are very rare with Metformin and most patients do not suffer from them. They can, however, include severe tiredness, the whites of eyes and skin can turn yellow, pins and needles, sore tongue, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, disturbed vision or an itchy, red skin rash, or hives. It can also cause decreased vitamin-B12 or erythema. Medical attention should be sought urgently if any of these things occur.

Low Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia is not usually caused by metformin. If metformin is prescribed with another diabetes medication low blood sugar can occur. The doctor may then lower the dosage of the other diabetes medication.

Low blood sugar levels can cause sudden sweating, fast heartbeat, shaking, blurred vision, hunger, dizziness or tingling in the hands and feet. Patients should carry glucose tablets or gel with them at all times too, so that they can treat low blood sugar when it occurs. If the patient doesn’t have these, they can raise their blood sugar level quickly by eating some honey, sweets, or sugar, or drink a non-diet soda, or some fruit juice.

Patients are more likely to suffer from low blood sugar levels if they do heavy exercise, don’t eat enough calories, or drink a lot of alcohol. Low blood sugar levels can be prevented if the patient eats regular meals and does not miss meals.

High Blood Sugar Levels

If a patient gets high blood sugar levels or hyperglycaemia, they will suffer from thirst, confusion, increased urination, drowsiness, rapid breathing, flushing, and breath that smells fruity. The patient will need to see their doctor urgently if this occurs, and the doctor may need to adjust the dosage of medication they are taking.

People Who Shouldn’t Take Metformin

If a patient has already had an allergic reaction to metformin or another medication they shouldn’t take it. If the patient has any other liver or kidney problems, drinks a lot of alcohol, has had a heart attack, or are being treated for heart failure, or have breathing or circulation difficulties, or have a severe infection they should not be prescribed whit metformin.

Weight Loss and Metformin

Metformin, unlike other medication prescribed for diabetes, does not cause the patient to put on weight. In fact, research has suggested it may even cause the patient to lose weight. Metformin has been prescribed to help some patients to manage their weight, which can be very useful for a patient suffering from Type 2 Diabetes due to being overweight or obese, however the patient will still need to change their diet and increase their physical activity to help them lose weight.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Whilst Taking Metformin

Research shows that taking metformin during pregnancy is usually safe, either alone or combined with insulin. Metformin is usually also safe to take whilst breastfeeding, as whilst metformin does pass to the baby through the breastmilk, it is in too small an amount to affect the health of the baby.

How to Buy Metformin

The usual way is to buy metformin over the counter at your pharmacy, but it is also possible to buy metformin online from an online pharmacy. Online pharmacies are a great way to get immediate advice from a health professional when a patient needs to get information about their symptoms and any possible side effects of medications. Professional advice can be found at online pharmacies, where the doctors can also provide any prescriptions that the patient needs.

The main advantage when you buy metformin online are the simple ordering process and fast delivery offered by online pharmacies, which is often much quicker than the patient having to visit their doctor for an appointment and then having to take the prescription to the pharmacist to buy metformin over the counter. The other advantage is that when buying metformin without prescription, the online pharmacy can provide an online prescription. It is a quick and convenient way to buy metformin, saving the patient time and money as the online pharmacy can source metformin at a lower cost than a pharmacy.

Using an online pharmacy to buy metformin is very convenient and it is easy to get the best price for your medication. Online pharmacies stock both branded and generic medications.

Dangers of Buying Metformin Online

As long as the patient buys metformin from a registered online pharmacy, the dangers are minimal. As medication like Metformin should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional, it would be dangerous to purchase from an unregistered online pharmacy, as they are not supervised by a qualified healthcare professional which registered online pharmacies are.

The problem with purchasing from an online pharmacy is that there is the danger that the metformin may be out-of-date, fake, or diluted which stops the medication from performing properly or not having any effect at all. Even when buying Metformin online, the patient should continue to see their own doctor to ensure the medication is still appropriate and the dosage is correct.

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About the Creator

Clare Scanlan

I am passionate about writing! Passionate about animals, especially horses, passionate about women's and children's rights!

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