Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Vomiting, Altered taste, Diarrhoea, Abdominal pain, Loss of appetite.

Expert advice for Melmet Tablet SR
Metformin is the medicine of choice to lower blood sugar levels. You should continue to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and take your other diabetes medicines (if prescribed) along with Melmet. Chances of weight gain and low blood sugar are lesser as compared to other diabetes medicines. An upset stomach with nausea and diarrhoea may occur in the first two weeks; take it with food to avoid an upset stomach. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) may occur when taken along with other antidiabetic medicines, alcohol or on delaying/skipping a meal. Carry a sugar source with you for immediate relief. Notify your doctor if you have a kidney disease. Your doctor may adjust your dose. Vitamin B12 deficiency and symptoms of anemia like fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath or headache may occur. Notify your doctor if you experience any of these as you may require supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Melmet helpful in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
Yes. Melmet is helpful in patients with PCOS. It may be used along with other medicines to induce ovulation and regularize menstrual cycles. It also delays the development of type 2 diabetes if you already have prediabetes and aids in weight loss if you follow a diet and exercise program.

Q. How does Melmet help in weight loss?
Melmet helps in weight loss by decreasing hunger (appetite) and hence food intake. It makes the insulin already available in your body to work more effectively. This leads to decrease glucose production, increase glucose use and decreased fat deposits which further helps to lower body weight. However, it is not yet approved for weight loss, this is an off-label use.

Q. Is Melmet useful in the treatment of infertility?
Melmet is commonly used off-label for the treatment of infertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It regulates ovulation and androgen levels in the body and improves menstrual regularity and pregnancy rates and outcomes. This beneficial effect is thought to be due to improvement in insulin resistance by Melmet.

Q. Does Melmet cause low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)?
Melmet can lower blood sugar level (hypoglycemia). It happens more often if you delay or miss your food, do more than your routine exercise, drink alcohol or take other antidiabetic medicine along with. So, regular monitoring of blood sugar level is important and be cautious of symptoms of hypoglycemia and always keep glucose tablets, honey or fruit juice with you.

Q. Can I take Melmet forever?
Melmet is generally a safe and well-tolerated drug even on long-term use. However, its long-term use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency leading to anemia and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). so, it should be taken only at prescribed doses for the duration as advised by the doctor.

Q. Is Melmet a sulfonylurea?
No, Melmet is not a sulfonylurea. It is an antidiabetic drug used to control high blood sugar levels in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, along with modification in diet and exercise.

Q. Is Melmet a steroid?
No, Melmet is not a steroid. It is an antidiabetic drug used to control high blood sugar levels in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, along with modifications in diet and exercise.

Q. Does Melmet cause bloating?
Melmet commonly causes stomach upset like bloating (heavy and uncomfortable feeling in the stomach), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. To avoid these side effects, it is advised to be taken after meals, preferably started at a low dose and then increased slowly over weeks, or by using slow-release tablets.

Q. Is Melmet good for fatty liver?
Melmet is seen to be beneficial in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). One of the underlying cause of NAFLD is insulin resistance. Melmet improves insulin resistance and liver enzymes in these patients. It is not seen to benefit patients of alcoholic fatty liver disease and is usually avoided in patients with liver cirrhosis as they are at an increased risk of lactic acidosis.

Q. What is the benefit of combining Melmet with coenzyme q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that helps in energy production and is found in heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas (which produces insulin). It can repair the damage caused to these organs by free radicals. Low levels of CoQ10 are seen in patients with diabetes. So, some researchers suggest it be given from outside. It can be taken with Melmet as no drug-drug interactions or harmful effects have been seen between the two.

Q. Does Melmet help in improving your menstrual cycle (periods)?
Yes, Melmet does improve menstrual cycle (periods) regularity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is associated with insulin resistance, decreased ovulation, and high androgen levels which cause menstrual irregularities like delayed periods and scanty bleeding. Melmet helps in regularizing menstrual cycles by improving insulin sensitivity, ovulation rate, and decreasing androgen levels.

Q. Can I take Melmet with atorvastatin?
Yes, Melmet can be taken with atorvastatin. There are no reported harmful effects when they are used together. Rather some studies suggest beneficial effects in diabetics as they may prevent a very high increase in blood glucose after food, decrease some inflammation markers and protect the patients from liver injury.

Q. Can I take Melmet with phentermine?
Melmet can be taken with phentermine. These are sometimes given together in obese patients who are also diabetic and are taking Melmet along with exercise and diet modification. Phentermine decreases food intake by its action in the brain. However, phentermine can decrease the effect of Melmet leading to very high blood glucose levels. So, a dose adjustment of Melmet may be needed.

Q. Can I take Melmet with levothyroxine?
Melmet can be taken with levothyroxine but the dose of Melmet may need to be adjusted. Levothyroxine can decrease the effect of Melmet leading to very high blood glucose levels. These are used together in patients with coexisting thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Q. Can I take Melmet with prednisolone?
Melmet can be taken with prednisolone but the dose of Melmet may need to be adjusted. Prednisolone can decrease the effect of Melmet leading to very high blood glucose levels. Continuous use of steroids like prednisolone can also cause diabetes known as glucocorticoid-induced diabetes and use of Melmet is recommended in these patients.

Q. Can I take Melmet with metoprolol?
Melmet can be taken with metoprolol. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects in humans when they are used together. However, some animal studies suggest that metoprolol can decrease the blood levels of Melmet and on long-term use can increase lactic acid and uric acid levels.

Q. Does Melmet clear acne?
Melmet is not indicated for clearing acne due to just any condition. It only helps in clearing acne in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) along with other problems like facial hair, abdominal obesity, and irregular menstruation.

Q. Does Melmet cause hair loss?
No, hair loss has not been reported with Melmet. It only helps in clearing facial hair (hirsutism) in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) along with other problems like acne, abdominal obesity, and irregular menstruation.

Q. Does Melmet cause weight gain?
No, weight gain has not been reported with Melmet. Rather it helps in decreasing weight especially abdominal fat patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus and in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) along with other problems like facial hair, acne, and irregular menstruation.

Q. Does Melmet cause constipation?
Melmet is not known to cause constipation. Some common side effects associated with the use of Melmet includes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, altered taste, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Q. Is Melmet safe?
Melmet is a safe and well-tolerated drug even on long-term use when taken strictly as advised by the doctor. However, there are some very common side effects like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, altered taste, diarrhea, and loss of appetite you may experience even at therapeutic doses.

Q. Does Melmet increase blood pressure?
Melmet is not known to increase blood pressure. Some common side effects associated with the use of Melmet includes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, altered taste, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Q. Is Melmet an insulin?
No, Melmet is not an insulin. Melmet is an oral drug used in type 2 diabetes mellitus and lowers blood glucose levels by decreasing its production and increasing absorption and making the already available insulin in your body to work better. Insulin is a normally produced hormone in the body, used in the injectable form in the treatment of both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and it works by absorbing and storing glucose from the blood.

Q. Is Melmet a banned drug?
No, Melmet is not a banned drug. It is a prescription medicine and is available when prescribed by registered medical practitioner.

Q. Is Melmet a birth control pill?
No, Melmet is not a birth control pill. It is an antidiabetic drug used to control high blood sugar levels in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, along with modification in diet and exercise.

Q. Is Melmet a statin?
No, Melmet is not a statin. It is an antidiabetic drug used to control high blood sugar levels in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, along with modification in diet and exercise.

Q. Can I take Melmet with saxagliptin?
Both Melmet and saxagliptin are anti diabetic drugs and can be used together. Their fixed dose combinations are also available and commonly advised once Melmet is unable to control blood sugar levels even after giving the maximum tolerated dose. As they work by different mechanisms, they help in better control of blood sugar levels compared to either drug taken alone.

Q. Does Melmet cause blurry vision?
Melmet is not known to cause blurred vision. Change in vision in a patient with diabetes could be due to multiple reasons. It could be a temporary problem either due to high blood sugar levels which cause your lens inside your eye to swell and change your vision. If the blurred vision continues for a long time, consult a doctor.

Q. What is lactic acidosis and how is it related to Melmet use?
Lactic acidosis is a rare, but serious complication associated with the use of Melmet. Patient has high blood lactic acid levels and may present with tiredness, weakness, stomach pain, loose stools, severe muscle pain, muscle cramps and difficulty in breathing. It is especially seen in old age patients, those with kidney, liver or heart disease, or who take large amounts of alcohol. If you have these symptoms, stop taking Melmet and consult your doctor.

Q. Is Melmet use associated with liver pain?
Melmet is not known to cause any liver pain or damage. Rather, it is seen to be useful in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C. However, it is usually avoided in patients with liver cirrhosis as they are at an increased risk of lactic acidosis which is a serious complication associated with the use of Melmet.

Q. Does Melmet make you feel high?
No, Melmet does not elevate the mood or make you feel high. It is an antidiabetic drug used to control high blood sugar levels in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, along with modification in diet and exercise. Rare side effects of Melmet include anxiety and depression.

Q. Can Melmet cause back pain?
Usually, Melmet is not associated with back pain. However, it can be a presentation of stomach upset, a common side effect caused by Melmet which includes bloating (heavy and uncomfortable feeling in the stomach), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, or it could be a symptom of lactic acidosis, a rare and a serious complication of Melmet.

Q. Can long-term use of Melmet cause vitamin b12 deficiency?
Yes, Melmet causes vitamin B12 deficiency on long-term use as it interferes with absorption of vitamin B12 in the stomach. If untreated, it may cause anemia and nerve problems and the patient can have tingling sensation and numbness in hands and feet, weakness, urinary problems, change in mental status and difficulty in making balance (ataxia). To avoid these problems, some researchers suggest an intake of vitamin B12 from outside at least once every year.

Q. Is Melmet useful in the management of metabolic syndrome?
Yes, Melmet is seen to be useful in the management of metabolic syndrome, a collection of risk factors that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, abnormal blood cholesterol levels and excess fat around the waist. Melmet is an insulin sensitizer and it improves the action of insulin and normalises blood sugar levels and reduces body weight.

Q. How beneficial is it to take Melmet with glimepiride?
Both Melmet and glimepiride are anti diabetic drugs and can be used together. They work by different mechanisms and can control the blood sugar levels in a much better way when used together as compared to either drug taken alone. However, glimepiride can cause very low blood glucose levels, so a regular monitoring of blood glucose is very important.

Q. Is it safe to take Melmet with cetirizine?
Yes, Melmet can be taken with cetirizine. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. Can I take Melmet and ranitidine together?
Melmet can be taken with ranitidine. However, if you are taking them together, you need to monitor blood glucose levels regularly as ranitidine can decrease the removal of Melmet from the body and increase its blood levels. This can cause very low blood sugar levels and other side effects as well and the dose of Melmet may need adjustment.

Q. How beneficial is it to take Melmet with linagliptin?
Both Melmet and linagliptin are anti-diabetic drugs and can be used together. Their fixed dose combinations are also available and commonly advised once Melmet is unable to control blood sugar levels even after giving the maximum tolerated dose. As they work by different mechanisms, they help in better control of blood sugar levels compared to either drug taken alone.

Q. Does Melmet inhibit hepatitis B virus protein?
Yes, some research studies have shown that Melmet can decrease the multiplication and growth of hepatitis B virus when given along with other antiviral drugs. However, this is indication is still under research and not yet approved.

Q. Can I take Melmet before or after a chest x-ray? Does its use lead to chest x-ray abnormality?
Melmet should be temporarily discontinued before chest or any X-ray that requires injection of a contrast medium or dye. These dyes can decrease kidney function and Melmet along with these dyes can cause a serious side effect like lactic acidosis. So you may need to stop taking Melmet. However, do not stop taking any medicine without talking to your doctor.

Q. Does Melmet make you sleepy?
Melmet can cause sleepiness which could be an early symptom of lactic acidosis along with tiredness, weakness, stomach pain, loose stools, severe muscle pain, muscle cramps and difficulty in breathing. It is a serious condition caused by Melmet seen in old age patients, those with kidney, liver or heart disease, or those who take large amounts of alcohol. If you have these symptoms, stop taking Melmet and consult your doctor.

Q. Does the use of Melmet cause joint pain?
Use of Melmet is not associated with joint pain. However, diabetes itself decreases blood circulation to the joints and even damages them leading to joint pain. Use of anti-diabetic drugs like sitagliptin or saxagliptin is also associated with joint pain. Early symptoms of lactic acidosis like muscle pain and cramps with weakness and tiredness can be mistaken for joint pain.

Q. Can Melmet help in reducing weight gain caused by antipsychotics?
Melmet may be of help in the treatment and prevention of weight gain caused by antipsychotics along with lifestyle modifications like a change in diet and regular exercise. Weight gain is an important reason for discontinuation of these medicines. Melmet improves insulin sensitivity and prevents weight gain, both of these factors are affected by the use of antipsychotics.

Q. Is Melmet useful in the treatment of fragile X syndrome?
Melmet has shown promising results in some animal research studies in the treatment of fragile X syndrome. It may help in improving mental and behavioral disorders (autism) and control obesity and risk of developing diabetes in these patients. But these results are very preliminary and it is still not approved for the treatment of fragile X syndrome.

Q. What is the difference between liraglutide and Melmet?
Melmet and liraglutide are antidiabetic drugs and both control blood sugar levels effectively. Melmet is taken by oral route and it decreases glucose production from liver and glucose absorption from the gut and increases insulin sensitivity. While liraglutide is an injectable and it increases insulin release from the pancreas. Both cause stomach upset, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and bloating while liraglutide also increases the risk of pancreatitis.

Q. Does Melmet use make you feel high?
No, Melmet does not elevate the mood or make you feel high. It is an antidiabetic drug used to control high blood sugar levels in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, along with modification in diet and exercise. Rare side effects of Melmet include anxiety and depression.

Q. Does Melmet make you sweat?
Yes, sweating is one of the known side effects of Melmet. The exact cause of this is not known. Some researchers suggest it to be due to low blood sugar levels especially at night which can cause night sweats as well. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and talk to your doctor as your dose of Melmet may need to be adjusted.

Q. Can I take Melmet with clomiphene citrate?
Melmet can be taken with clomiphene citrate. They are advised together in patients with infertility along with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Clinical studies have shown an improvement in ovulation and pregnancy rates in these patients as compared to use of clomiphene citrate alone or if the patients are resistant to the effects of clomiphene citrate. However, this is still under research.

Q. Is Melmet useful in treating or preventing breast cancer?
Melmet is seen to be useful in the treatment and prevention of cancers especially breast cancer in research studies. As high insulin levels are known to increase the risk of cancer, Melmet decreases cancer cell growth by decreasing insulin and blood glucose levels. However, its use in treating breast cancer is not yet approved.

Q. Does Melmet use increase your chance to get Helicobacter pylori infection?
No, Melmet is not associated with an increased risk of Helicobacter pylori infection. Diabetes itself increases the risk of H.pylori infection which increases the chances of stomach upset like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating by Melmet.

Q. Does Melmet use leads to anemia?
Melmet may decrease the levels of vitamin B12 on long term use which may rarely cause a type of anemia in which blood cells are larger than normal (megaloblastic anemia). You may need to take foods rich in vitamin B12 like eggs, dairy products, and meat or a supplement from outside.

Q. Is Melmet useful in the treatment of prediabetes?
Melmet is seen to be useful in the management of prediabetes, a condition with blood glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough to label you as diabetic. Melmet makes the insulin already available in your body to work more effectively, decreases glucose production by liver and increases use of glucose by the muscles and lowers body weight. However, lifestyle modifications like a change in diet and exercise should be tried first as they are seen to be more effective than Melmet.

Q. Can I take Melmet with teneligliptin?
Yes, Melmet can be taken with teneligliptin. It is a good add-on treatment if the blood sugars are very high even after taking Melmet. The risk of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) is also very low with both the medicines. However, consult your doctor before taking them together as a dose adjustment may be needed.