Hi,I am Dr. Amitkumar Sharma (Internal Medicine Specialist). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
I have been taking 1000 mg Metformin ER for diabetes since January. Lately, I have noticed that the pills are expelled whole with a bowel movement. Grossly, I checked to see if it s just the coating or if the pill is intact with the medication undissolved. It is the later. What can I do about this? Why am I not breaking down the medication in the gut as I should be?
Metformin ER is an extended release form of the medication. This is to make the medication work for longer period and to reduce the gastrointestinal side effect. The medicine is embedded in a matrix and is slowly released from it over a period of 24 hours. So what you see as the undissolved pill is the matrix after the release of the active ingredient. If the active ingredient was not released there would be no effect on your blood sugar. If you have further queries, I am ready to answer them. Dr. Noble Zachariah, Kuwait
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What Are The Side Effects Of 1000 Mg Metformin?
Hello, Metformin ER is an extended release form of the medication. This is to make the medication work for longer period and to reduce the gastrointestinal side effect. The medicine is embedded in a matrix and is slowly released from it over a period of 24 hours. So what you see as the undissolved pill is the matrix after the release of the active ingredient. If the active ingredient was not released there would be no effect on your blood sugar. If you have further queries, I am ready to answer them. Dr. Noble Zachariah, Kuwait