Metformin

[sportsrancho]

[uvula]

Maybe we can work on an inhaled form of vitamin b12

[peppy]

so far renal failure and neuropathy.

www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/02/May02/053102/800471e6.pdf

The guidelines, Metformin is always used.

[cm5]

Better we should be considering Metformin for helping prevent cancer, etc etc etc

Anti-tumor effects of metformin in animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26030161

[agedhippie]

Metformin does not cause renal failure, the problem is in using metformin in people with reduced renal function. Metformin is cleared by the kidneys so if the renal function is sufficiently impaired you get increased metformin levels which is bad since that can lead to lactic acidosis (recent EU large scale research suggests that this risk exists but is seriously overstated). The fix is to do blood tests to monitor the level and to adjust the dose to hit the target metformin level. The FDA has just relaxed the guidelines on metformin and renal insufficiency - metformin is now approved for use in all patients with an eGFR higher than 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2.

[agedhippie]

Jul 31, 2016 17:19:24 GMT -5 cm5 said:

Better we should be considering Metformin for helping prevent cancer, etc etc etc

Anti-tumor effects of metformin in animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26030161

There are studies showing it is protective against breast and colon cancers. Somewhere there is actually a trial for it as a chemotherapy drug, it's fairly recent I seem to remember however I am not sure of the stage the trial is at.

[cm5]

New article about anti-aging effects of metformin:  www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2016/3/Anti-Aging-Human-Study-on-Metformin-Wins-FDA-Approval/Page-01

Effects against Hepatitis C:  www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2012/9/In-The-News/Page-01

Another news article, editorial:  www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2012/11/Metformin-Makes-Headline-News/Page-02

BTW---metformin, for some reason, chews up B12-----

[tayl5]

Here's an article about some new genetic analysis studies around metformin response: www.dddmag.com/news/2016/08/gene-variant-explains-differences-diabetes-drug-response#.V6uIljjY6_g.linkedin. It describes common variants that make people more or less responsive to the standard dose of metformin. Variants having the largest effect are in a key glucose transporter. No immediate advantage or disadvantage comes to mind for MannKind, I just think it's cool when another puzzle piece gets put in place.

[thekindaguyiyam]

metformin raised my liver enzymes along with advil to treat fibro.  the misdiagnosis was terminal blood cancer with 2 years to live.
I'm no longer taking advil or metformin and never will again.

[tayl5]

Glad it was a misdiagnosis, thekindaguyiyam. I hope you have a long and happy life, fibro notwithstanding.

[thekindaguyiyam]

thanks for the humanistic reply. Some meds help us and other ones kill us.
Best to You Tay.

[cm5]

Liver toxicity----more likely to have been the non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), no matter which exact type. Unfortunately this is not sufficiently recognized, nor are people instructed about this possibility---
And, perhaps greater problems with low-quality OTC generics----an unrecognized risk.

See this article from 2003 specifically about one NSAID---

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for the management of rheumatological disorders, and as analgesics and antipyretics. Hepatotoxicity is an uncommon, but potentially lethal complication, which usually occurs within 12 weeks of starting therapy. It can occur with all NSAIDs, but appears to be more common with diclofenac and particularly sulindac. Female patients aged >50 years, with autoimmune disease, and those on other potentially hepatotoxic drugs, appear to be particularly susceptible. Liver function test abnormalities generally settle within 4–6 weeks of stopping the causative drug. However, some patients may develop acute liver failure and successful orthotopic liver transplantation may be undertaken in such patients. Recent in vitro animal studies have shown that the mechanism of diclofenac toxicity relates both to impairment of ATP synthesis by mitochondria, and to production of active metabolites, particularly n,5-dihydroxydiclofenac, which causes direct cytotoxicity. Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) has also been shown to be important in diclofenac-induced liver injury, resulting in generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial swelling and oxidation of NADP and protein thiols. Physicians and hepatologists must be vigilant to the hepatotoxic potential of any NSAID, as increased awareness, surveillance and reporting of these events will lead to a better understanding of the risk factors and the pathophysiology of NSAID-related hepatotoxicity.

qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/96/11/787.short