“Metformin oral medication prescribed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus 100 million people over the years, most in the world”. Why not used much in the Japan. In one of the very safe drug, this very expensive drugs, why doctors hesitate to prescribe what? I’ll arrive at the mystery.

Type 2 diabetes drug, metformin

Metformin roots, grasses, medicinal or is ガレガソウ. Flowers small, white or purple flowers.

Metformin is a drug as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, is diagnostic when first-choice drugs today around the world.

Where to classify a class of oral medicine, in one of the biguanide drug “metformin” it is of General Medicine (component) name. Because unauthorized metformin but biguanide system in the United States, metformin is as as class name.

Metformin is one of only four types of WHO (World Health Organization) chose as essential medicines for diabetes, diabetes drug. The other three is insulin regular, NPH, SU drug glibenclamide. Is medication prescribed under the idea should allow cheap get safe medicines and essential medicines, any poor person.

Metformin to spread to world history

System of government private therapy from the earlier medieval roots is
Biguanide drug has followed the various vicissitudes of fortune. Roots of biguanide plant of legume species in the Mediterranean “officinalis (medicinal) Gallego. Galega officinalis “on dates. All of is the nickname of this grass known in English and French liliac, Italian fitch Professor weed, Goat’s rue.

Often translated as “ガレガソウ” in Japan, so following the ガレガソウ. Galega is “out more milk” means, that increases milk production in cows ate the grass was known. officinalis is a “medicinal”.

Has been used diabetes treatment as a folk remedy herb ago the middle ages in Europe. Is has is recommended as “breastfeeding” increase lactation of women as a medicinal herb, from recognised ガレガソウ today’s toxic and in General, please note the Internet store. Are especially toxic strong flowering period.

System of Government developed diabetes medication early 20 century
At the beginning of 20 century chemist who was separated from this ガレガソウ Guanidine, guanidine compounds. Guanidine is was toxicity at the same time is able to lower blood sugar test animals. So chemists who is to join two Guanidine, succeeded to be safer. Biguanide (biguanide) and means (two) bi guanidine (Guanidine).

“Metformin” in one of the biguanide, buformin etc. phenformin was also. Metformin was first synthesized and will re-evaluate the announced that it was forgotten in the advent of insulin while in 1929, the France doctor Jean Sterne successful treatment as a diabetes drug in the late 1950s. First product names Glucophage metformin’s （ eat the sugar is naming him.

System of Government used stop for more than 30 years, concerns about side effects
Phenformin was used as a biguanide drug in the United States, no biguanide drug now stop using for the high death rate of side effects severe lactic acidosis (see below).

However, shaped for metformin for lactic acidosis is happens in only a very rare example of a virtually metformin was involved. It is not used in the United States more than 30 years.

System of Government in the late 20 century Europe
Metformin started used from 1972 in Canada 1961, in Japan from 1958 in the United Kingdom. Large-scale clinical trials of type 2 diabetes occurs in the 1990s, and was again prove the effect of metformin.

Review safety of the United States food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Glucophage is 1994. Just a few years in the United States that would became the most commonly prescribed oral medications. Type 2 diabetes for Americans is the more insulin resistance by obesity, blood has a lot of insulin. That SU drug prescription and who, in addition to high insulin blood diseases in a rather dangerous. Without promoting insulin secretion if metformin, is from without worrying about increasing the weight.

Metformin is not used much in Japan mean

Was not caused by Japan drug phenformin was used, from lactic acidosis by biguanide drug concerns prescribed dose of metformin is 1, maximum 750 mg dose and established a halfway. Hypoglycemic is also insufficient active ingredient missing from the boot for the rumors of the death rate of 50% lactic acidosis also flowed diabetes specialist is anyway, general medical has become completely intimidated.

High doses can Westerners that 2,250 mg prescription 1, 5/10/2010 from Japan even though belated, metformin “metgluco ®” was released, thank you very much awareness of General Medicine lactic acidosis is not wiped out. Metgluco ® is the brand name in the above-mentioned Glucophage Japan.

The possibility of serious side effects with metformin?

Consider whether “lactic acidosis” is a high mortality bring phenformin, side effects can happen even metformin.
Type 2 diabetes causes high blood sugar if you apply either of the following three.

1. Capture the glucose into muscle and fat cells lacking insulin.
2. Insulin is 10 minutes to successfully capture (the resistance)
3. High blood sugar helps glucose discharged rapidly from the liver (gluconeogenesis)

Is interaction mechanism of metformin is not yet complete, reduction (effects 3) Suppression of gluconeogenesis in the liver and insulin resistance (2 effects) are confirmed. Is obvious effect to more than two out of three high blood sugar cause.

Insulin as well as in to incorporating glucose into muscle and fat, may work to stop the release of glucose from the liver. Type 2 diabetes and the view is why insulin becomes difficult to interact and liver, and is the general theory of gluconeogenesis 3 times of REE. Metformin is found also could increase the insulin sensitivity of liver using isotope tests. In other words, is to reduce gluconeogenesis.

Back lactic acid made of muscle and glucose in the liver. Make only requires body from the amino acid alanine and glycerol component of triglycerides, as well as lactic acid during famine and hunger in glucose. This is called gluconeogenesis in the liver.

From lower blood sugar levels if metformin over the brake in the gluconeogenesis is cannot excrete the kidney is taking metformin is in vitro, and they rapidly accumulated body brakes too effective to excessive lactic acid in the blood. This is “lactic acidosis”.

Also, glycolysis, difficulty in breathing and heart attacks while taking metformin and oxygen in the blood, such as loss of the extract energy from glucose system does not use oxygen only generates large amounts of lactic acid.

And gluconeogenesis from those of lactic acid is blocked by metformin, may be by lactic acid blood diseases. But these are rare cases. From precautions drug attachments including warnings and contraindications are noted, is only if they abide by the doctor. Do not fear in gossip.

Discusses the bright story of metformin diabetes next time, as well as use is under consideration to Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancers.

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