Glucophage

Glucophage: a drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus

Glucophage, also known by its international name metformin, is an antidiabetic agent belonging to the biguanide group. The drug is produced in France by the companies Laboratory Aron and Lifa Sante. Glucophage is available in a variety of dosage forms, including 500 mg tablets, 850 mg film-coated tablets and 500 mg film-coated tablets.

Glucophage is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus when correction of hyperglycemia by diet therapy, including in combination with sulfonylurea drugs, is ineffective, and also as an adjunct to insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus.

However, the use of Glucophage has a number of contraindications. For example, it is contraindicated in cases of hypersensitivity to metformin, kidney disease or renal failure, severe liver disorders, cardiac and respiratory failure, acute phase of myocardial infarction, infectious diseases, major surgery and trauma, chronic alcoholism, acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis with or without coma, research using radioactive iodine isotopes, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Also, the drug has restrictions for use in children and the elderly (over 65 years).

When starting a course of treatment with Glucophage, some side effects may occur, such as anorexia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain, metallic taste, megaloblastic anemia, lactic acidosis, hypoglycemia, rashes and dermatitis.

When using Glucophage, it is necessary to take into account the interaction of the drug with other drugs. For example, phenothiazines, corticosteroids, thyroid hormones, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium antagonists, isoniazid, thiazide and other diuretics weaken the effect of Glucophage. Insulin, sulfonylurea derivatives, acarbose, NSAIDs, MAO inhibitors, oxytetracycline, ACE inhibitors, clofibrate derivatives, cyclophosphamide, digoxin, morphine, sympatholytics, amphotericin B and alcohol can enhance or weaken the effect of Glucophage.

The dosage of Glucophage should be individual and determined in accordance with the severity of the disease, the degree of hyperglycemia, the presence of obesity, age, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors.

In general, Glucophage is an effective drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but its use should be under the supervision of a physician and taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.