icon-nav-help
Need Help

Submit your question to our team of health care professionals.

icon-nav-current-questions
Current Question

See what's on the mind of the community right now.

icon-conf-speakers-at-a-glance
Meet the Team

Learn more about our world-renowned team.

icon-nav-archives
CWD Answers Archives

Review the entire archive according to the date it was posted.

CWD_Answers_Icon
March 28, 2001

Pills for Diabetes

advertisement
Question from Illinois, USA:

Why should Glucophage be temporarily discontinued if you are going to have X-rays or surgery with dyes involved? What dire things can happen if you do not discontinue use and have those dyes injected? What type of blood test checks for lactic acidosis?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

Recommendations for stopping Glucophage [metformin] stem from the fact that dyes can cause toxic effects on the kidney. This decreases the removal of the medicine, and it builds up in the body. When the medicine builds up, it can cause the condition called lactic acidosis which can be screened for with routine electrolyte and lactic acid levels. It is a good practice to do this, and I would recommend this to my patients.

JTL