Who of modern young people do not want to be slim and have a beautiful figure? But the organization of proper nutrition and regular exercise is difficult, for this you need to have a certain willpower in order to see the goal and persistently achieve results. It is much easier to take some miraculous drugs and lose weight lying on the sofa in an embrace with cookies and chips.
Often people choose their own medicine from those that can be purchased at the pharmacy, and begin to take it in the hope of losing at least 10 kg per week. In most cases, those who want to lose weight are not even interested in the main purpose of the drug they purchased. Today we’ll talk about a drug such as Glucofage. Reviews of losing weight speak of him as a very effective means for weight loss, while this medication is intended for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.
The composition and release form of the drug "Glucophage"
Metformin hydrochloride is the main active substance of the drug. The auxiliary components are: magnesium stearate, povidone, hypromellose (2910 and 2208), microcrystalline cellulose. The drug is available in the form of tablets with a dosage of the main component in the amount of 500, 850 and 1000 mg. Biconvex tablets are oval. They are protected by a white film sheath. There are risks on both sides of the tablet, on one of them the dosage is indicated.
Also, consumers are offered a sustained release agent - Glucofage Long. Consumer reviews about this dosage form also characterize the drug on the positive side. The most frequently asked dosages in pharmacies are 500 and 750 mg of metformin.
The relationship of "Glucophage" with weight loss: the principle of action
The main component of the drug, metformin, is designed to reduce the level of sugar in the blood, which rises after eating (a natural physiological process in a living organism). Then the pancreas is connected to this process, the duties of which include the production of insulin. This hormone, in turn, converts glucose into fat cells.
Among the main advantages of the drug "Glucofage Long" for weight loss, the following can be noted:
- normalization of lipid metabolism unbalanced by diabetes;
- inhibition of the reaction of the breakdown of carbohydrates received with food, and, accordingly, their conversion into body fat;
- monitoring and normalizing the level of glucose and "bad" cholesterol contained in the blood;
- a natural decrease in appetite and cravings for sweets, which is associated with the normalization of the process of insulin synthesis.
All these factors together help diabetics to control their sugar levels and significantly improve the quality of life by normalizing endocrine processes.
The effect of metformin leads to a decrease in blood glucose, and sugar molecules go directly to the muscles. It is there that sugar burns intensively, fatty acids are oxidized, and carbohydrate absorption slows down (i.e., fat cells are not deposited and accumulated).
In addition, the Glyukofazh and Glyukofazh Long medicines, reviews of those who lose weight give them the ability to reduce appetite, as a result of which there is no overeating and, accordingly, insulin is released into the blood.
Dosage regimen and application schedule
The drug "Glucophage Long" does not recommend taking the instructions for use without a doctor's prescription. Although a sufficient percentage of health workers are positive about using metformin-based products to reduce weight.
The standard regimen is a course of therapy lasting from 10 to 22 days, then you should take a break for 1-2 months. After a while, the course can be repeated. With more frequent use, there is a likelihood of the body adapting (getting used) to the drug and reducing the effectiveness of the effect, that is, metformin loses its ability to fully manifest the quality of the fat burner.
The doctor chooses the optimal dosage individually for each patient, depending on the state of health and anthropometric parameters (weight, height, age). The minimum daily amount of the drug is 500 mg. Usually take a pill at night. However, most often "Glucofage 500" for weight loss is prescribed twice during the day, during lunch and in the evening. Much less frequently, the dosage can be increased to 3 doses - 1,500 mg per day (naturally, not independently, but as directed by the attending physician). In this case, it makes sense to pay attention to the prolonged (extended) action tablets “Glucofage Long 750” for weight loss. Reviews of doctors and patients characterize this tool as quite effective and convenient to use (1500 mg in two doses). Tablets are drunk before meals or during meals.
The maximum daily dose of the drug (again, as directed by a doctor) cannot exceed 3000 mg. With this dosage, it will be convenient to take Glucofage 1000 for weight loss (three times a day for a tablet with a content of metformin in 1000 mg).
A slow dose increase can positively affect the gastrointestinal tolerance of the drug.
Who should refrain from using the medication?
Since Glucofage is not a vitamin kit or dietary supplement, but is designed for use by patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, it has a fairly impressive list of contraindications.
Healthy people taking metformin-containing drugs run the risk of developing an imbalance in carbohydrate metabolism, which manifests itself in a delayed reaction of the human body to its own insulin. This situation inevitably leads to the development of diabetes.
Further, both Glucofage and Glucofage Long prohibit the use of instructions for people with increased sensitivity to constituent components. Any deviations in the functioning of the kidneys, liver, heart are sufficient grounds for refusing to use the medicine. Any diseases in the acute stage, periods of postoperative rehabilitation, gestation, lactation - all this prevents the use of Glucofage for weight loss.
Do not prescribe the drug to patients with any diabetic abnormalities: suffering from type 1 diabetes, as well as in this form of type 2 diabetes, when the patient does not have insulin in the body. It is forbidden to take Glucophage to people with anemia, severe bronchopulmonary diseases, hematological problems in which blood acidity is higher than normal.
Undesirable manifestations
Since the drug is designed to combat such a serious disease as diabetes, it simply cannot fail to have any side effects. Most often, there are general reactions to taking the medicine "Glucophage". Reviews of losing weight say about all sorts of gastrointestinal disorders.
If, against the background of using metformin-containing medicines for weight loss, diarrhea develops or gas formation in the intestines increases, the reason may be a large amount of carbohydrates consumed in food. You should review your daily diet. If you are nauseous after taking the drug, you must reduce the dosage of the drug. Quite often you can hear about spasms in the intestines and headaches that quickly go away.
When prescribing Glucophage and Glucophage Long slimming drugs to patients, reviews should also be taken into account. Health workers say that the majority of adverse events disappear by itself a few days after the start of the medication or after reducing its dosage.
In the presence of predisposing factors, lactic acidosis may develop. Such a reaction is considered the most dangerous. Its essence is to increase education and improper metabolism in the body of lactic acid. The following symptoms indicate the presence of such a reaction to the Glucofage preparation: vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, pain in the abdomen, loss of consciousness. The development of such a situation requires immediate withdrawal of the medication, urgent hospitalization in order to determine the level of lactate in the blood and in accordance with the results of symptomatic therapy. For the removal of metformin and lactate from the body, the most effective treatment will be hemodialysis.
Uncontrolled administration of drugs based on metformin can cause serious and irreversible consequences in the functioning of the brain (such is a manifestation of glucose deficiency) and the development of diabetes mellitus.
Special recommendations
Even patients taking medication in small dosages (starting with Glucofage 500) for weight loss can have the most negative reviews if special instructions for use are not followed. You will have to abandon foods containing large amounts of carbohydrates: dried fruits, soda, sweets and other sugar-containing dishes. Not very useful during this period will be eating instant cereals, potatoes, pasta and white rice.
The use of drugs with metformin against the background of low-calorie diets (diet no more than 1000 kcal) with alcohol-containing substances and alcohol is absolutely incompatible.
There are no special diets when using Glucofage. There are no special restrictions on spices and salt either.
Interaction with other drugs
Information on what and how to take "Glucophage" is contained in the instructions for use of the medication. A parallel intake of it together with danazol can provoke the development of a hyperglycemic effect. The simultaneous use of metformin preparations and ethanol-containing substances can cause the development of lactic acidosis during a state of acute alcohol poisoning. The likelihood of developing such a scenario is even higher with fasting, low-calorie diets and functional liver failure.
Patients with diabetes should be careful when using Glucofage and antipsychotics or glucocorticosteroids (GCS). In such cases, the dose of the drug with metformin should be adjusted depending on the level of glucose in the blood. Also, special attention must be paid to combining Glucophage with loop diuretics. In such situations, there is a risk of deviations in the functioning of the kidneys and, as a consequence, the development of symptoms characteristic of lactic acidosis.
Hypertension medications can lower blood glucose. Therefore, when the need arises for such a “neighborhood”, the dose of metformin should be adjusted.
Glucophage and physical activity
Not so long ago, regarding physical exertion and the use of the Glucofage medication, reviews of losing weight and medical workers agreed that in such cases the effectiveness of metformin significantly decreases, because lactic acid is released in the muscles, which negates the effect of the drug due to increased acidity blood. However, recent studies in this area have refuted negative suspicions. Moreover, it has now become clear that Glucophage and an active lifestyle together significantly accelerate the process of weight loss.
Even after taking relatively small doses of metformin (for example, Glucofage 500), reviews of losing weight (those who do not forget about physical activity) are more often positive. The fact is that the main component of the drug contributes to the delivery of glucose directly to the muscles, where it is successfully burned, if a person who wants to lose weight does not forget about intense physical activity. Otherwise, the metabolic processes of the body will “drive” glucose in a circle until it eventually converts to glycogen and does not turn into fat deposits. Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself: before taking Glucophage, it is advisable to develop a program of physical activity and strictly adhere to it. Only in this case can one expect good results.
What is the opinion of health workers about Glucofage?
Currently, doctors have no consensus about the effectiveness and safety of metformin for weight loss. Official medicine does not prohibit the use of Glucophage and Glucophage Long for the treatment of obesity. The reviews of many medical specialists are positive. Although another part of doctors considers such treatment unacceptable, because the medication can provoke deviations in the processes of carbohydrate metabolism, cause the development of diabetes and lactic acidosis, which threatens the patient's life.
In order to clarify the truth in many countries of the world, relevant studies are being conducted on this subject. So, in 2014, studies were conducted on the basis of Cardiff University, in which about 180 thousand people took part. As a result, it was proved that metformin and preparations containing it can increase life expectancy not only in people with diabetes, but also in those who do not have such a diagnosis. In addition, it turned out that the use of metformin significantly slows down the aging process in the body.
Patient opinion
Since the conversation is not about dietary supplements or vitamins, but about a serious drug, it is absolutely natural that there are very different opinions about it among consumers.
On the one hand, patients who took even the smallest doses (for example, a single dose for taking Glucofage 500), the reviews leave the most positive about the medication. And a decrease in appetite is evident, and body weight decreases. True, some believe that weight is reduced slowly, 2-3 kg within a month. However, health workers consider this rate the most comfortable for the body as a whole. Most importantly, do not make appointments yourself. Be sure to consult a doctor who will evaluate the patient’s health status, take into account height, weight, age, select the most optimal dose and develop a dosage regimen to achieve a positive effect.
There are patients who tried to take Glucofage (on their own, because a qualified medical specialist will never make such appointments) to build muscle in bodybuilding. Here you need to know that the anabolic mechanism, which is very important for muscle growth, is triggered by a whole list of substances, including glucose and insulin. And “Glucophage” and any metformin-containing drugs provoke a state in the body, similar to hunger, which arose after exhausting physical exertion. Therefore, the reviews of such patients that the drug was ineffective are based on the very principle of the action of this medication.
There is enough negative about the use of the drug "Glucofage." Reviews of losing weight report a lack of effect, the development of adverse side effects. In such situations, someone simply could not tolerate for several days until the body adapts to Glucofage. For some, the presence of concomitant diseases really provoked a lot of side effects, and you can’t do anything here - you will have to pay attention to other drugs to reduce body weight. And someone did not take into account the recommendations of the instructions for use on reducing the consumption of foods high in carbohydrates, the inadmissibility of combining metformin with low-calorie diets, alcohol-containing substances, diuretics, antipsychotics and other substances.
Often, negative reviews about Glucofage can be dictated simply by the fact that this oral hypoglycemic medication, which belongs to the biguanide group, is designed specifically for patients with diabetes mellitus, and it can disrupt carbohydrate metabolism in a healthy person.
The advantage of the drug is the fact that Glucofage is quite cheap and is sold in the pharmacy network without prescriptions, which makes it accessible to the population with any financial level of income.
In any case, before proceeding with the reception of Glucophage in order to reduce body weight, you should seek the advice of a medical professional of the appropriate profile. This is the only way to achieve a positive result without risking serious harm to your body.