Metsol (metformin)

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

The following medicines may increase blood glucose levels. If you start treatment with any of these your dose of metformin may therefore need increasing:

- corticosteroids, such as prednisolone
- diuretics, especially thiazide diuretics, eg bendroflumethiazide
- beta-2-agonists, such as salbutamol
- lithium
- oestrogens and progesterones, such as those contained in oral contraceptives.

Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) may occur, sometimes unpredictably, if ACE inhibitors such as captopril are taken with metformin.

Cimetidine may cause an increase in the blood level of metformin. Your doctor may reduce your metformin dose if you take both medicines.

When metformin is taken with other antidiabetic medicines, such as sulphonylureas (eg gliclazide, glibenclamide) or insulin, there will be an enhanced blood sugar lowering effect. Your blood sugar level should be monitored.

Metformin should be stopped before X-ray examinations involving injections of iodinated contrast materials, as these may cause a temporary decrease in kidney function that could affect the blood level of metformin. Metformin should not be started again after the X-ray until kidney function has been tested and found to be normal.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Glucophage

Metformin tablets and liquid are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

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