Metformin and Alcohol: Metformin is a popular, effective medication that doctors normally prescribe for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Metformin is one of the top drugs recommended to treat diabetes by the American Diabetes Association. Many studies have shown its ability to control blood sugar and save lives. It reduces the insulin need. Metformin is basically used to treat diabetes. But drinking alcohol with metformin can affect your diabetes.
Metformin and alcohol can interact with harmful effects it increases the life-threatening. It develops the risk of extremely low blood sugar levels called hypoglycemia and another is a condition called lactic acidosis, It also increases the risk of hypoglycemia which is very bad for your health and this includes symptoms like drowsiness, confusion, headache. If you see these symptoms then stop drinking and eat something that can increase your blood sugar level. It is also advisable to carry glucose tablets that can eat quickly when they need to raise the blood sugar level.
Drinking too much alcohol while taking metformin can cause a build-up of lactic acid. It is very serious it can damage your kidney, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Alcohol causes blood glucose levels to rise or fall depending on how much you drink. Combining with the blood sugar-lowering effects for the metformin can lead to “insulin shock” which is a medical emergency. It results in metformin will absorb less sugar from the blood and increase the levels in the bloodstreams. Some alcoholic drinks contain a lot of sugar which also results in an increase of glucose in the blood level which also dangerous for the type 2 diabetes patient.
What is metformin?
Metformin is basically used to treat type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have a problem with a substance called insulin. Insulin mainly helps your body to control the sugar level in your body. Type 2 diabetes your insulin is not produced in that quantity the way which your body required. If your insulin level will be high in your blood level then it causes several damages to your body like drowsiness, confusion, headache.
Some of the serious damages like damage to your kidney, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. If you drink alcohol for a long time then it makes your brain cell less reactive and also makes cells less sensitive to insulin. It results in metformin will absorb less sugar from the blood and increase the levels in the bloodstreams. Some alcoholic drinks contain a lot of sugar which also results in an increase of glucose in the blood level which also dangerous for the type 2 diabetes patient. When you have diabetes, drinking alcohol can be risky.
Metformin helps to lower your blood sugar level by addressing both of these problems. Interacting with metformin and alcohol can cause low blood sugar levels for more than 24 hours after you drink it. Alcohol and metformin can interact with negative results. alcohol can make diabetes worse. It has a great impact on the liver. If you rarely drink alcohol then it is ok for you. Combining with the blood sugar-lowering effects fo the metformin can lead to “insulin shock” which is a medical emergency. Metformin and alcohol both put stress on the liver, resulting in increasing the risk of liver complications.
The side effect of metformin
1. Gastrointestinal complications are the most common side effects faced due to the micing of metformin and alcohol.
2. Stomach and abdominal pain which is very tough to again come to normal position.
3. It increases the chances of vomiting due to excess of alcohol and metformin.
4. It can also cause indigestion and severe headaches for which you may admit in the hospital.
5. This also increases the risk of high blood pressure which may result in a stroke. It is very life risk so avoid taking metformin and alcohol.
Metformin and alcohol can interact with harmful effects it increases the life-threatening. It develops the risk of extremely low blood sugar levels called hypoglycemia and another is a condition called lactic acidosis.
Hypoglycemia
Metformin helps to regulate blood sugars so it may cause hypoglycemia or in other words I can say low blood sugar level. Maintaining a poor diet or consuming metformin with alcohol can also cause the risk of hypoglycemia. So here are some symptoms of hypoglycemia like drowsiness, confusion, headache. If you see these symptoms then stop drinking and eat something that can increase your blood sugar level.
If low blood pressure occurs then immediately take some glucose tablets or you can simply consume 15 grams of simple sugar, honey, or fruit juice. It will take 10-20 minutes to bring your sugar level into a normal condition. Some alcoholic drinks contain a lot of sugar which also results in an increase of glucose in the blood level which also dangerous for the type 2 diabetes patient.
Lactic acidosis
Lactic acidosis is dangerous because it has some dangerous side effects. Anaerobic glucose breakdown produces lactic acid, which further breaks down into lactate. Then the liver converts the lactate into glucose. Lactate level increase in your body during strenuous activities as the body needs more oxygen to clear.
If the lactate level increases level in the bloodstream quickly which will result in increased blood and muscle acidity, which will affect your ph level of the blood. If it is not kept in the control of the acidity level in blood then you may immediately die due to the change in ph level. So it is important not to mix alcohol with the metformin. So here are some symptoms of lactic acidosis like drowsiness, confusion, headache. If you see these symptoms then stop drinking
Conclusion
If you drink occasionally then it is ok. But if you drink excessive amounts of alcohol with metformin then it makes you serious wich may lead you will admit in the hospital also. Drinking too much alcohol while taking metformin can cause a build-up of lactic acid. It is very serious it can damage your kidney, heart, lungs, and blood vessels.