Contents:
- Medical Video: How To Take Metformin | How To Start Taking Metformin | How To Reduce Metformin Side Effects (2018)
- Safety of metformin drugs for pregnant women
- Consumption of metformin during pregnancy does not cause weight gain
- How many doses of metformin medicine are safe for consumption?
- Side effects of metformin drugs that may be experienced by pregnant women
Medical Video: How To Take Metformin | How To Start Taking Metformin | How To Reduce Metformin Side Effects (2018)
The drug metformin is a drug commonly prescribed by doctors to treat symptoms of type 2 diabetes and control blood sugar levels. These drugs tend to be safe for consumption of people with diabetes in general. But, is drinking metformin safe for pregnant women who also have diabetes? Are there risks of side effects that might affect the health of the fetus in the womb? Check out more in this article.
Safety of metformin drugs for pregnant women
Metformin is a drug for controlling high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Metmorphine works by helping restore the body's proper response to the naturally produced hormone insulin, avoiding insulin resistance, and reducing fat levels in the body. This drug also decreases the amount of sugar produced by the liver and is absorbed by your stomach or intestines.
Metformin drugs are included in category B according to drug safety classification from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means, medicine metformin is safe for consumption by pregnant women who have diabetes because so far various studies have found no risk of pregnancy safety or the health of the fetus in the womb.
A study published by the journal Human Reproduction Update states that consumption of metformin in pregnant women will not cause birth defects, miscarriages, or other pregnancy complications.
Metformin drugs are also safe for consumption by breastfeeding mothers though. Indeed, there are some substances that may enter the body of the fetus when the mother consumes the drug, but that does not harm the fetus.
Consumption of metformin during pregnancy does not cause weight gain
The effectiveness and safety of metformin drugs have been tested in pregnant women who have gestational diabetes. Researchers divided pregnant women with gestational diabetes into two groups. One group was given insulin and one was given metformin. This study was conducted for two consecutive years to observe certain changes in their conditions.
From the results of these studies it is known that metformin does not cause massive weight gain in pregnant women. Unlike insulin drugs. In addition, babies born to mothers who drink metformin are also known to have lower fat levels, than babies from the group of mothers who use insulin.
How many doses of metformin medicine are safe for consumption?
The metformin dose actually depends on each person, depending on medical history, level of insulin sensitivity, and body sensitivity to side effects that occur.
In pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who use insulin, doctors usually will also give metformin as an addition. The dosage given is not much different from other women who are not pregnant.
However, the doctor will give the drug with the lowest dose and then see the side effects and effects of the drug. After feeling safe and effective enough to control blood sugar levels, doctors will gradually increase the dose.
Side effects of metformin drugs that may be experienced by pregnant women
Although safe for consumption by pregnant women, but the use of metformin can cause several side effects such as:
- The stomach feels like a result of gas
- Heartburn, a hot sensation in the pit of the stomach
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Indigestion
For some pregnant women, this drug might cause symptoms morning sickness getting worse. If this happens to you, then you should consult a doctor.
