THE Department of Public Health reiterates that metformin is one of the safest and most effective medicines for diabetes, and has encouraged patients, legislators and the general public to directly talk to their primary care physicians, pharmacists and other health care providers for concerns regarding the drug.
“This is an open invitation to patients, our legislators and the public to talk to us and your physicians for any concern about this drug,” Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider said yesterday.
Dr. Richard Brostrom, medical director of public health, said metformin is “very safe” and it is “very important” for diabetic patients who take them to continue to do so.
Metformin helps the body use insulin and control blood sugar levels, he said.
Brostrom said it is also among the only few diabetes drugs that help patients lose weight.
Ted Parker, manager of PHI Pharmacy, said some patients has started discontinuing the intake of metformin—sold as Glucophage—due to “unnecessary fear.”
“This is a lot safer than the other diabetes drugs,” said Brostrom, adding that the risk of getting lactic acidosis is “too small.”
But patients with kidney disease or on drug treatment for heart failure are advised to take caution when taking this drug, he said. The CNMI has never experienced any case of metformin-induced lactic acidosis, he added.
“Patients can get lactic acidosis from other factors,” Brostrom said.
