Restrictions on Taking Glucophage
Glucophage has a number of serious restrictions on its use. You may not use Glucophage if you have any of the conditions which usually accompany diabetes and which we will look at further.
So, you may not take Glucophage if you have developed such diabetic complications as any sort of kidney disease bringing about the reduced kidney function (which may have even preceded the onset of diabetes), or if you happen to be liable to the state of ketoacidosis which should be treated with insulin.
Restrictions come into play if you happen to have severe liver disease, heart problems, especially congestive heart failure, which are treated with other medicines of various types which may be incompatible with Glucophage. What is worse, defective liver function can lead to the condition of lactic acidosis. That is why as it is with kidneys and kidney dysfunction, it is advisable to check your liver function before you start taking Glucophage and keep checking it regularly during the therapy.
You had better avoid Glucophage if you experience hypersensitivity to metformin or any other component of Glucophage and develop an allergic reaction.
You are advised to abstain from Glucophage if you are going to be x-rayed with the injection of dyes (contrast agents). The same refers to the situation in which you need undergo a surgery. Unless normal food and liquid intake is established after the operation, it is recommended to make a stop in the drug therapy.
It is important to remember that taking Glucophage may develop serious side-effects, that is why it is necessary to be very careful to your state of health and tell your doctor about your indispositions. For example, you may become dehydrated due to vomiting, fever or any other condition, and then your doctor will have to take you off Glucophage because this condition can lead to lactic acidosis.
You may not take Glucophage if you drink alcohol, whether excessively or occasionally, because alcohol usually produces a short-term effect of hypoglycemia which will be aggravated by Glucophage. The risk of hypoglycemia also increases if you take Glucophage in combination with other anti-diabetic medicines.
You should not take Glucophage during pregnancy. Usually patients in this case resort to insulin. After giving birth to a child you are recommended to discuss the possibility of the continuation of Glucophage therapy for the period of breast feeding with your diabetes specialist.
It is not recommended to give Glucophage to children under 10 years old. And Glucophage XR should not be given to children under 17 years old.