Metformin And Alcohol
By Will Shakestear
Metformin and Alcohol Consumption – Risks
When taking Metformin to control type 2 diabetes it is not recommended to consume large amounts of alcohol. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of a potentially life threatening condition called lactic acidosis. This is where the body produces a build up of lactic acid that cannot be neutralized quickly enough. When this happens the patient will feel nauseous and may have vomiting, a low blood pressure and a rapid pulse. If lactic acidosis is suspected then medical advice should be sought immediately.
Metformin And Alcohol Interaction
When you are first prescribed Metformin by your health practitioner, you should, if in doubt, ask whether it is safe to drink alcohol while taking the medication. Ask him if it is safe to mix Metformin and alcohol. It is generally thought that small quantities of alcohol do not harm the treatment. The occasional glass of red wine is supposed to be beneficial to health. It must be remembered though that the aim of taking Metformin as a diabetes treatment is to lower the blood sugar levels. If a lot of alcohol is used in cooking, the sugars from the alcohol remain after the spirit has been burnt off, and should be taken into consideration if you have been placed on a calorie controlled diet by your practitioner.
Metformin And Alcohol Side Effects
One of the long term effects of excessive alcohol consumption is liver damage; this can manifest itself as cirrhosis. This affects the livers ability to process the sugars in your system, and if Metformin is taken, the chances of lactic acidosis will greatly increase. It must be stated though that Metformin will not actually induce lactic acidosis but if there are other health related issues, then being prescribed the tablets and not informing your health practitioner will only compound the problem.
On being prescribed Metformin, patients should not feel any adverse effects if they drink moderately. There are those that will tell you that alcohol lowers the blood sugar levels and whilst this may be true, lower levels can result in hypoglycemia. If this is suspected, hospital treatment should be sought immediately.
Also see Metformin Side Effects for more information
Metformin and Alcohol – Effects On Your Social Life
Whilst it may be felt that Metformin could seriously inhibit your social life, this need not be necessarily so. Any patient who is using the tablets can take one of two courses of action with regard to alcohol consumption when in a social environment. One is to abstain completely, maybe nominating themselves as the designated driver or telling their companions the reason for their abstinence; or they can have one or two drinks and then change to a non alcoholic drink.
Metformin Weight Loss and Alcohol
Consumption of alcohol is also associated with weight gain and if you are using Metformin as a dietary measure to lose weight there will be a negative effect if alcohol is drunk too often.
Conclusion
So the overall thoughts of combining metformin and alcohol is that provided moderation is practiced, then the occasional alcoholic drink will not be harmful, but excessive alcohol intake must be avoided when on the treatment. Practicing restraint will ensure your health will remain good and the treatment will work as it is supposed to.
