Safety Information for Metformin

• Metformin is an FDA-approved oral medication for managing Type 2 Diabetes.
• It is also commonly prescribed off-label for other uses, including:
  • Diabetes prevention
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Weight loss

• Metformin works in a few different ways:
  • It reduces the amount of glucose your liver makes.
  • It improves your insulin sensitivity.
  • It decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) your body absorbs.
• Metformin can also increase the availability of satiety hormones. This can reduce appetite and cravings, resulting in modest weight loss.

• Metformin is a tablet that is taken by mouth. It is recommended to take Metformin with or right after a meal to minimize side effects.

• Metformin is available in immediate-release and extended-release tablets. The typical starting dose is 500 mg.
• Your doctor will customize dosing based on various factors and will likely increase your dose over time.

• Skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled unless your doctor says otherwise.
• Do not take two doses at the same time or extra doses.

• Metformin is considered a relatively safe drug. However, you should not take Metformin if:
• You have severe kidney disease
• You are severely dehydrated
• You are about to undergo surgery
• You just had a CT scan or MRI with intravenous contrast dye

Long-term use of metformin may reduce your body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12.

• Common side effects include: nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, excess gas, bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, and metallic taste. If any of these side effects are persistent, contact your doctor.
• Serious but rare adverse reactions may include: persistent vomiting or abdominal discomfort, worsening of kidney problems, liver injury, or lactic acidosis.
• For women: Metformin shouldn’t be used for weight loss if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding.

• Metformin has been prescribed to you off-label. This means that the drug is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but it is commonly used for weight loss.
• Off-label prescribing is very common and offers the advantages of better pricing, more flexible dosing, and the ability to customize a medication to better fit your needs.
• When using a medication off-label, we may require closer monitoring and more frequent contact so we can monitor side effects or drug interactions.
• Learn more about off-label medication use: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/understanding-unapproved-use-approved-drugs-label

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Combine medication with a balanced diet and regular exercise through engagement in the Noom app.
• Stay hydrated: To prevent dehydration, you should drink enough fluids so that your urine is clear to light yellow in color, which is usually at least half a gallon or eight glasses of water per day.
• Communicate with your Noom Med doctor: Regular communication helps us monitor your progress and adjust treatment as needed.