Metformin/Iodinated Contrast Materials
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
When these two medicines are taken together, your kidneys may not be able to properly remove metformin from your blood.
What might happen:
The effects of metformin may increase and cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis. Symptoms of lactic acidosis are: feeling very weak tired, or uncomfortable, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, unusual or unexpected stomach discomfort, feeling cold, dizziness or lightheadedness, suddenly developing a slow or irregular heartbeat.
What you should do about this interaction:
Contact your doctor about taking these two medicines together before you have any tests done that use an iodine dye.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of this drug interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Glucophage (metformin hydrochloride) US prescribing information. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company June, 2006.
2.Parra D, Legreid AM, Beckey NP, Reyes S. Metformin monitoring and change in serum creatinine levels in patients undergoing radiologic procedures involving administration of intravenous contrast media. Pharmacotherapy 2004 Aug;24(8):987-93.
