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What Are the Dangers of Cutting Metformin?

Metformin is an oral medication that controls blood sugar levels in diabetics along with diet and exercise. Metformin treats type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

  1. Metformin XR

    • Metformin XR, sold under the brand names Fortamet and Glucophage XR, is an extended release form of metformin. It is not available as a generic drug.

    Regular Metformin

    • Regular metformin, available as a generic and sold under the brand names Glucophage, Glumetza, and Rionet, is safe to cut, split, or break.

    Warnings

    • Do not crush, chew, or break the extended release (XR) forms of metformin; this will put too much metformin in your system (overdose), causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or triggering lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis has a 50 percent fatality rate.

    Hypoglycemia and Lactic Acidosis

    • Symptoms of hypoglycemia include hunger, weakness, tremors, sweating, fast pulse, convulsions, fainting, coma, and lactic acidosis. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness, increasing drowsiness, slow pulse, cold feeling, shortness of breath, muscle pain, lightheadedness and fainting.

    Side Effects

    • Mild side effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain. Serious side effects include shortness of breath with minimal exertion, swelling, rapid weight gain, fever, chills, flu symptoms, body aches and allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, throat, or tongue).

    Considerations

    • Regular metformin should not be given to children under 10. Metformin XR should not be given to children under 17. Contact your doctor immediately or call 911 if you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis.

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