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I Accidentally Took A Double Dose Of 1000 Mg Of

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Posted on Fri, 28 Feb 2020
Twitter Fri, 28 Feb 2020 Answered on
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Question : I accidentally took a double dose of 1000 mg of metformin in a 1 hr time. I’m a little nervous about going to bed. I’m 72 yrs old and my A1c is 7.0.
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Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Metformin overdose

Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor"service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and here is my opinion.

Majority of oral hypoglycaemia agents used clinically,for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (like sulfonylureas) can cause a life threatening fall in blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Metformin or the glitazones are the only exceptions.
Metformin cause a fall in the levels of raised sugar and make them euglycaemic(normal)but very rarely do they cause hypoglycemia.

In my opinion,you should go to sleep with an absolute peace of mind as metformin has a very wide margin of safety.
If you have taken metformin alone and not in combination with other insulin stimulator drugs like sulfonylureas or with insulin injections,you have not missed your meals and you have not consumed alcohol, I don't think that you have any reason to worry.

Metformin (in high doses) has a potential for causing lactate acidosis (which presents as pain abdomen,muscle pains and difficulty in breathing) but it is very unlikely in a dose of just 1 gram.

But if you have consumed a combination drug or alcohol,you should watch for symptoms of hypoglycaemia (specially in view of your advanced age) and seek medical help as and when required.

Hope that I have answered your query.
If you have any doubts,please let me know.

Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
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Dr. AJEET SINGH

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1994

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I Accidentally Took A Double Dose Of 1000 Mg Of

Brief Answer: Metformin overdose Detailed Answer: Hi.... Welcome to "Ask a Doctor"service. I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX I have gone through your query and here is my opinion. Majority of oral hypoglycaemia agents used clinically,for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (like sulfonylureas) can cause a life threatening fall in blood glucose (hypoglycemia). Metformin or the glitazones are the only exceptions. Metformin cause a fall in the levels of raised sugar and make them euglycaemic(normal)but very rarely do they cause hypoglycemia. In my opinion,you should go to sleep with an absolute peace of mind as metformin has a very wide margin of safety. If you have taken metformin alone and not in combination with other insulin stimulator drugs like sulfonylureas or with insulin injections,you have not missed your meals and you have not consumed alcohol, I don't think that you have any reason to worry. Metformin (in high doses) has a potential for causing lactate acidosis (which presents as pain abdomen,muscle pains and difficulty in breathing) but it is very unlikely in a dose of just 1 gram. But if you have consumed a combination drug or alcohol,you should watch for symptoms of hypoglycaemia (specially in view of your advanced age) and seek medical help as and when required. Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any doubts,please let me know. Stay healthy and stay blessed. Regards.