Beer And Metformin: What You Need To Know

Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and occasionally prediabetes. It is also used to treat inflammation with chronic joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. While it is generally safe, drinking alcohol while taking metformin can have harmful effects and, in rare cases, can even be life-threatening.

Metformin and alcohol can cause hypoglycaemia

Metformin is a medication that helps people manage type 2 diabetes and occasionally prediabetes. It works by improving insulin sensitivity, promoting the uptake of glucose into tissues, and reducing sugar levels in the bloodstream.

Alcohol also has significant effects on blood sugar. When the liver has to process a lot of alcohol, it becomes tired and releases less glucose. Long-term alcohol use can also make cells less sensitive to insulin, so they absorb less glucose from the blood, and levels in the bloodstream increase.

When metformin and alcohol are mixed, they can cause hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar. This can happen if someone takes too large a dose of metformin, maintains a poor diet, or consumes too much alcohol. Alcohol can cause low blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours after drinking it. The risk of hypoglycaemia is much higher when metformin and alcohol are combined.

The symptoms of hypoglycaemia can include:

• Weakness
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Hunger
• Tiredness
• Exhaustion unrelated to activity or sleep
• Trouble thinking or concentrating
• Pale skin that is cool to the touch
• Nervousness or anxiety

If you are experiencing low blood sugar, you can often correct it at home using glucose supplements or by consuming 15 grams of simple sugars, such as honey or fruit juice. If blood sugar levels are not restored after 15 minutes, consume more doses until normal levels return.

If you are taking metformin, it is important to talk to your doctor about drinking alcohol. While it may be safe to have a moderate amount of alcohol while on this medication, regularly drinking excessive amounts can reduce the drug's effectiveness and increase the risk of serious complications.

Metformin and alcohol can cause lactic acidosis

Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and occasionally prediabetes. It helps people manage their blood sugar levels by limiting the amount of glucose their body absorbs from food and lowering the amount of glucose produced by the liver.

Metformin and alcohol can interact with each other and cause harmful effects, although this is rare. Regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while taking metformin can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Both metformin and alcohol put stress on the liver, intensifying the harmful effects of both and increasing the risk of liver complications.

One of the most severe side effects of combining metformin and alcohol is lactic acidosis, a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious side effect of metformin, occurring in an estimated 1 in 30,000 people who take the drug. While taking metformin, the body produces more lactic acid than usual, and when combined with alcohol, the body cannot get rid of the lactic acid quickly enough, leading to a buildup. This buildup can cause serious damage to the kidneys, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. If not treated immediately, lactic acidosis can lead to organ failure and even death.

The risk of developing lactic acidosis while taking metformin alone is quite rare. However, when a person consumes alcohol in addition to taking metformin, the risk increases significantly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a black box warning on metformin packaging about the risk of lactic acidosis, specifically mentioning alcohol use disorder as a risk factor for developing this dangerous complication.

Therefore, it is essential to talk to your doctor before consuming alcohol while taking metformin. Although not everyone who takes metformin needs to avoid alcohol completely, excessive alcohol use should be avoided at all costs. Drinking alcohol in moderation while taking metformin is likely safe as long as you do not have other risk factors.

Metformin and alcohol can cause vitamin B12 deficiency

Metformin is a medication that helps people manage type 2 diabetes and occasionally prediabetes. It is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the US, with nearly 20 million Americans taking it in 2021 alone. Metformin works by improving insulin sensitivity, promoting the uptake of glucose into tissues, and reducing sugar levels in the bloodstream.

Doctors typically advise against drinking alcohol while taking metformin as it does not support diabetes management and can be unsafe. Both metformin and alcohol put stress on the liver, intensifying the harmful effects of both and increasing the risk of liver complications. Regularly mixing metformin with excessive alcohol can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

One of the potential side effects of taking metformin is vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in cardiovascular and neurological health, as well as the formation of healthy red blood cells. A long-term deficiency can lead to anemia and other health problems.

While vitamin B12 deficiency is a rare side effect of metformin, some research suggests that the risk may be higher than previously thought, with 10 to 30% of people who take metformin long-term experiencing reduced circulating B12 levels. Alcohol consumption can also contribute to decreased vitamin B12 levels, as it can interfere with absorption by causing inflammation in the stomach.

Therefore, the combination of metformin and alcohol can potentially lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can have serious health consequences. Symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
• Inability to concentrate
• Feelings of depression and irritability
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Tiredness and weakness

If you are taking metformin and drinking alcohol, it is important to be aware of the potential risk of vitamin B12 deficiency and to seek medical advice if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Metformin and alcohol can cause abdominal pain

Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and occasionally prediabetes. It helps to maintain healthy blood glucose levels by limiting the amount of glucose the body absorbs from food and lowering the amount of glucose produced by the liver. It also boosts insulin sensitivity.

While metformin is generally safe and well-tolerated, it can have side effects, including abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. These side effects can be worsened by alcohol consumption.

Drinking alcohol while taking metformin can lead to abdominal pain for several reasons. Firstly, both metformin and alcohol stress the liver, intensifying their harmful effects and increasing the risk of liver complications. The liver has to work harder to process alcohol, and when it is overworked, it becomes tired and releases less glucose, which can lead to a drop in blood sugar levels. This can cause symptoms such as confusion, sweating, tremors, palpitations, and irritability.

Secondly, metformin can cause a slight increase in lactic acid levels in the body. When combined with alcohol, this effect is amplified because alcohol slows down the liver's ability to clear lactic acid. This can lead to a dangerous buildup of lactic acid, known as lactic acidosis, which can cause serious damage to the kidneys, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and can be life-threatening.

Finally, long-term use of metformin may lower vitamin B12 levels, and alcohol consumption can also contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency by harming the digestive system and reducing the body's ability to absorb this vitamin. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a range of symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Therefore, it is important for individuals taking metformin to be aware of the potential risks associated with alcohol consumption and to speak to their doctor for personalised advice. While occasional drinks may be safe for some, excessive alcohol use should be avoided.

Metformin and alcohol can cause liver damage

Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and occasionally prediabetes. It helps people manage their blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels. When a person drinks alcohol, it has significant effects on their blood sugar. Alcohol can cause low blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours after consumption.

Metformin and alcohol can interact with each other and cause harmful effects, although this is rare. Regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while taking metformin can reduce the medication's effectiveness and increase the risk of serious complications. Both metformin and alcohol put stress on the liver, intensifying the harmful effects of both and increasing the risk of liver complications.

Lactic acidosis is a rare but dangerous side effect of metformin. It is a consequence of the muscles producing energy using oxygen-dependent processes. During strenuous or prolonged activity, the body may need more oxygen than is available, so the cells switch to oxygen-lacking processes. This anaerobic glucose breakdown produces lactic acid, which further breaks down into lactate. The liver then processes lactate into glucose. When lactate does not clear from the bloodstream quickly enough, it can build up, increasing blood and muscle acidity. Metformin slows the rate of lactate uptake by the liver, as does alcohol. Therefore, the combination of metformin and alcohol increases the risk of lactic acidosis.

Lactic acidosis can be life-threatening. If symptoms occur, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Warning signs of lactic acidosis include:

• Cramping or pain, particularly around the gut
• Fast or shallow breathing
• Fluttering heartbeat
• Hypoglycemia, which can lead to weakness, headaches, and confusion

In addition to increasing the risk of lactic acidosis, drinking alcohol while taking metformin can also worsen other side effects of the medication, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is important for anyone taking metformin to talk to their doctor about alcohol consumption while on the medication.

Frequently asked questions