This Monday, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products announced the recall of several batches of diabetes drugs containing metformin hydrochloride marketed by different manufacturers.
Specifically, the brands metformin VIR 850 mg film-coated tablets EFG, 50 tablets and Metformin Combix 850 mg film-coated tablets EFG, 50 tablets have been withdrawn from the market after the Official Medicines Control Laboratory of the aforementioned body determined that they were not met the specifications for the degree of impurity of the preparation.
A medication indicated in overweight patients
In the first case, the lots S001 with expiration date 12/31/2023 and S002 with expiration date 12/31/2023. In the second, only one batch has been affected by the health alert: M010518. All the units distributed from the affected batches have already been withdrawn from the market and returned to the laboratory of origin.
Metformin is a medication commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. Specifically, it is a compound capable of lower blood glucose levels to values as normal as possible.
This drug is especially useful in prolonged use and in patients with overweight diabetes mellitus II, in which it also helps to achieve maintenance of body weight or even certain decreases in it. Of course, the drug cannot replace other measures related to lifestyle, such as adjustments in the patient’s diet or the habitual practice of physical exercise.
At the same time, it should be remembered that metformin is associated, like any drug, with a slight risk certain side effects occur. For example, in some patients it can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach upset. Less commonly, it can trigger excessive drops in blood sugar if the patient does not eat, uses other drugs, or drinks alcohol.