english.prescrire.org > Spotlight > Archives : 2017 > In the October issue of Prescrire International - Metformin in patients with moderate renal impairment: reduce the dose

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In the October issue of Prescrire International - Metformin in patients with moderate renal impairment: reduce the dose

FREE DOWNLOAD This month's sample page is taken from the Adverse Effects section. Metformin is the first-choice oral glucose-lowering drug in type 2 diabetes, but it can provoke lactic acidosis, a rare but sometimes fatal adverse effect. What does this mean for patients with moderate renal impairment?
Full text available for free download.

Summary

  • To minimise the risk of metformin overdose, attention should be paid to drug interactions, with regular monitoring of the patient’s kidney function, and more frequent monitoring in high-risk situations.
     
  • For patients with moderate renal impairment, if the choice is to continue metformin therapy, it makes sense to reduce the dose.

Full text available for free download.

 ©Prescrire 1 October 2017

"Metformin in patients with moderate renal impairment: reduce the dose" Prescrire Int 2017; 26 (186): 241. (Pdf, free)
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See also:

Hypoglycaemic agents and
type 2 diabetes: metformin
should be the first-line
drug treatment
(May 2015)
Free

Type 2 diabetes and metformin.
First choice for monotherapy:
weak evidence of efficacy
but well-known and
acceptable adverse effects
(November 2014)
Free