USD $47.00 Jennifer Clements received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Campbell University in 2006 and completed a primary care residency at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2007. You do not currently have access to this article. Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; at the time of writing she was Postgraduate Year 2 Ambulatory Care Resident, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), Iowa City Biguanide research continued, and by the early 1990s, studies showed that metformin was safer than phenformin. Metformin hydrochloride, USP is a white to off-white crystalline compound with a molecular formula of C H N • HCl and a molecular weight of 165.63.Metformin hydrochloride is freely soluble in water, slightly 4 11 5 soluble in alcohol, practically insoluble in acetone and in … The use of metformin in mild-to-moderate CKD clearly is not at all uncommon. A controversial contraindication for metformin is renal disease or dysfunction. Since its approval, its labeling has warned of a contraindication in elevated serum creatinine (>1.5 mg/dL for males, >1.4 mg/dL for females) due to a risk of lactic acidosis secondary to metformin accumulation. Section of Clinical Pharmacy, Patient Support Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaCardiology, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaArrhythmia Management Clinical Outcomes Research, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Medtronic, Inc., Fridley, MinnesotaSection of Clinical Pharmacy, Patient Support Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaInformation Resource Management Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaSection of Clinical Pharmacy, Patient Support Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaCardiology, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaArrhythmia Management Clinical Outcomes Research, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Medtronic, Inc., Fridley, MinnesotaSection of Clinical Pharmacy, Patient Support Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaInformation Resource Management Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FloridaUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, UI, and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, UIHC Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, and Professor (Clinical), Department of Family Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. For patients with a creatinine clearance of 45–59ml/min or an eGFR of 45–59ml/min/1.73m2, the initial dose of metformin is 500mg or 850mg once daily in the morning with food. It is generally a safe and effective medication. These changes make some people who have both diabetes and CKD eligible to take metformin, and research suggests that the medication may have benefits for this population. For a variety of reasons, eGFR is a much more accurate method of assessing kidney function.Has the revised FDA guidance changed the way you think about metformin for your patients with diabetes and CKD?Blog posts written by individuals from outside the government may be owned by the writer and graphics may be owned by their creator. The relationship between metformin accumulation and lactate increase is still debated. Metformin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Systematic review evaluates benefits and harms of metformin use in people with diabetes and CKD. The use of metformin in mild-to-moderate CKD clearly is not at all uncommon. Don't already have an Oxford Academic account? You have entered an invalid code Thank you for submitting a comment on this article. Lipska KL, et al, published recommendations for metformin among patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction. -When fasting blood glucose levels decrease to less than 120 mg/dL, consider decreasing the insulin dose by 10% to 25%. Among individuals with eGFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 and diabetes, 32.2% were treated with metformin and had a normal creatinine level (<1.5 mg/dL), whereas 13.4% were treated with metformin despite a frankly elevated creatinine level (>1.5 mg/dL). Ann M. Philbrick, Pharm.D., Michael E. Ernst, Pharm.D., Deanna L. McDanel, Pharm.D., Mary B. Ross, B.S .Pharm., M.B.A., Kevin G. Moores, Pharm.D., Metformin use in renal dysfunction: Is a serum creatinine threshold appropriate?, Most users should sign in with their email address.