People taking a widely-used medication have been urged to seek medical advice should they notice a particular symptom appearing on their skin. This side effect of metformin could indicate serious liver complications.
Metformin ranks amongst the most commonly prescribed medicines in the world, with approximately 200 million people globally believed to be taking it. It is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
It is also prescribed to help prevent type 2 diabetes in those at high risk of developing the condition. Additionally, metformin can be used to boost fertility in those with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome - PCOS).
However, as with any medicine, it can trigger side effects. These are frequently minor and manageable, including nausea, loss of appetite, and stomach pain.
Should these side effects persist and cause concern, patients are advised to consult a doctor or pharmacist. Certain side effects, however, can be considerably more serious and require immediate medical attention. The NHS website characterises the serious side effects of metformin as "rare" and occurring in "less than one in 10,000 people".
Should any of these emerge, the NHS recommends patients "call your doctor or call 111 straight away". These symptoms include jaundice, which may be apparent on the skin or in the eyes. The NHS stated: "The whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin – this can be a sign of liver problems."
The health service also urged individuals to seek medical attention if "you get a general feeling of being unwell with severe tiredness, fast or shallow breathing, being cold and a slow heartbeat".
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Common side effects
The NHS lists common side effects of metformin as:
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach ache
- Loss of appetite
- A metallic taste in the mouth
It also warned the drug can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency and low blood sugar for which you may need to speak to your doctor.
When to call 999
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to metformin. The NHS said you should call 999 now if:
- Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- You're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- Your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- Someone faints and cannot be woken up
- A child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
The NHS added: “You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.”
For more information, visit the NHS website here.
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