Adverse Effects
The most common adverse effect of metformin is gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and increased flatulence; metformin is more commonly associated with gastrointestinal side effects than most other antidiabetic drugs. The most serious potential side effect of metformin use is lactic acidosis; this complication is very rare, and the vast majority of these cases seem to be related to comorbid conditions, such as impaired liver or kidney function, rather than to the metformin itself.
Metformin has also been reported to decrease the blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in people with hypothyroidism, and, in men, testosterone. The clinical significance of these changes is still unknown.
Read more about this topic: Metformin
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