Long Acting Version Of Glucophage (Metformin) Now Available
Glucophage, the nation’s most popular medication for treating Type 2 diabetes has just been improved. Bristol-Myers Squibb which produces the original Glucophage recently released a once-a -day version, Glucophage XR (eXtended Release). For many current users of Glucophage who take the original medication at each meal, the availability of the long acting preparation will make taking their medication much easier.
The benefits of Glucophage XR don’t end with the added convenience. Initial reports from practitioners suggest the slower release of long acting Glucophage XR, helps reduce stomach upset that sometimes occurs with the original Glucophage.
In my own practice treating diabetics using the original Glucophage a problem I have run into is a tendency for blood sugars to be elevated first thing in the morning. A possible explanation is that the short action of Glucophage leaves the blood sugar untreated for part of the time between doses. If the last dose of the day is taken at 6 p.m or so, then blood sugar can be expected to rise from about 2 a.m. until the dose taken at breakfast kicks in. For many diabetics those hours of untreated blood sugar can spell trouble. With Glucophage XR the 24 hour profile can be expected to help eliminate this problem.
Finally, we are all accustomed to paying higher prices for new and improved products. Thanks to Bristol-Myers Squibb this pattern is being broken for Glucophage XR which should cost noticeably less than its predecessor. Cost comparison in my area shows that Glucophage XR can be purchased for 15 to 20% less than original Glucophage.
Traditional benefits of Glucophage including a tendency to induce weight loss, absence of hypoglycemia, use as a solo medication (monotherapy) and ability to combine safely and effectively with other diabetes medications are all preserved with Glucophage XR.
To promote the launch of Glucophage XR Bristol-Myers Squibb has set up a web site at http://www.glucophagexr.com. For qualified individuals with a prescription a free months supply of medication will be available on-line. This promotion ends in April.
As always, consult with your health care provider prior to using any prescription drug including Glucophage XR.
Does Glucophage 850 mg, lower high blood pressure???
And if a person comes off using Glucophage, does this
have an affect on blood pressure?
Thank you and God bless you.
I am unaware of any effect of Glucophage on blood pressure either to increase or decrease.
Many people who use Glucophage to control diabetes are on other medication including blood pressure lowering medication. If someone stopped using Glucophage and noticed a change in blood pressure I would suspect perhaps some kind of change occurred in a blood pressure pill as well.
Another possibility is that high blood sugar can lead to dehydration which can then cause a drop in blood pressure. If someone stopped using their diabetes medication and their sugar levels went up they could get dehydrated which would then result in blood pressure going lower.
Does this help?
Gary Pepper, M.D.
Metabolism.com disclaimer applies to this reply
http://www.metabolism.com/2008/09/06/terms-conditions-service-agreement/
I take 1500 mg of Gluc XR daily, usually after my evening meal, but have read somewhere that it can be better to break up the dose (one 750 in the am and one 750 in the PM) - because while it’s XR, this increases the rate of absorption. is this true? i tried doing this after 2 years of being on the gluc with no side effects.. and spacing the doses actually seemed to upset my stomach a lot. does this make sense at all?
IF it works for you, that is convincing evidence for you to do it that way. It is interesting how different people respond differently to the same medication. Some people are extremely sensitive to the gastro effects of glucophage (metformin) while others have no side-effects at all even at max doses. In your case it sounds like the digestion of the glucophage tablet goes better with smaller amounts at one time. I can’t think of why anyone would ask you to change the way you are doing it.
As always, ask your own doc before making any changes to your treatment plan.
Terms of Service:http://www.metabolism.com/2008/09/06/terms-conditions-service-agreement/