Browny

[browny]

Hi to everybody

I have been advised by doc to take Metformin SR 500 twice a day, can somebody please let me know whether i can take a beer in the weekend.

 

[Patch]

Yes you can have a beer at the weekend.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi Browny, thats a good question and if you google metformin and alcohol you will find that something like 99% of web sites will tell you that you should not drink alcohol whilst taking metformin.

But..there is some history to consider here, metformin is part of a group of drugs called the biguanide class and the original drug prescribed to diabetics was called phenformin.

When alcohol was taken with phenformin it could cause lactic acidosis a very serious and life threatening condition so alcohol was on the no no list for phenformin users.

Now that metformin has replaced phenformin it has a slightly different make up and lactic acidosis is not as much as a threat as it was with phenformin.

Metformin can still cause lactic acidosis but it is rare in a healthy person who does not have renal dysfunction, and those who suffer kidney disease are not usually prescribed metformin as far as I know.

I would surmise therefore that alcohol in moderation is fine but binge drinking is probably not a good idea.

Personally I find that since taking metformin I seem to get worse hangovers so I tend not to drink as much as I maybe used to :***: But I seem to be fine with a glass or two of red wine or an occasional beer

 

[RoyG]

I still have a few, like last week at races good few, and the week before at a wedding. I tend to have wine or my favorite whiskey and soda, Still here, but as Sid said the recovery is more drawn out these days. and that will be my last bash at it for the next few months. the hangover ain't worth the pleasure.

 

[browny]

Thanks Guy for your prompt response.

So i can go ahead for a beer in the weekend and not Alcohol?

 

[Grazer]

No problems with any form of alcohol with metformin UNLESS you have existing medical conditions preventing it, such as liver or kidney disease, or unless you are an alcoholic. A diabetes-specialist endocrinologist toldmeit was pure nonsense to say you couldn't drink with metformin UNLESS you had those pre-existing conditions which would normally prevent someone beng prescribed metformin in the first place. He said he'd never once had a patient on metformin suffer from lactic acidosis as a result of drinking in 30 years of specialising. So enjoy. I do on a regular basis. In fact a bottle of Rioja awaits me tonight before my curry! :thumbup:

the recovery is more drawn out these days

Probably lack of practice or age Roy! :lol:

 

[RoyG]

No problems with any form of alcohol with metformin UNLESS you have existing medical conditions preventing it, such as liver or kidney disease, or unless you are an alcoholic. A diabetes-specialist endocrinologist toldmeit was pure nonsense to say you couldn't drink with metformin UNLESS you had those pre-existing conditions which would normally prevent someone beng prescribed metformin in the first place. He said he'd never once had a patient on metformin suffer from lactic acidosis as a result of drinking in 30 years of specialising. So enjoy. I do on a regular basis. In fact a bottle of Rioja awaits me tonight before my curry! :thumbup:

the recovery is more drawn out these days

Probably lack of practice or age Roy! :lol:

Both my friend, sad to say :cry: I used to be the party animal, but now I'm the first to leave to get to my Bed Age has a lot to answer for.