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Methylcobalamin + Metformin
Indications, Uses, Dosage, Drugs Interactions, Side effects
Methylcobalamin + Metformin
Drug Related WarningMethylcobalamin + Metformin
- Metformin accumulation during Metformin medication leads to the uncommon but dangerous metabolic condition known as lactic acidosis.
- Alcohol use accelerates the impact of metformin on lactate metabolism; hence, patients using metformin should be advised against excessive alcohol consumption, whether acute or chronic.
Medicine Type :
Allopathy
Allopathy
Prescription Type:
Prescription Required
Prescription Required
Approval :
DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India)
DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India)
Schedule
Schedule H
Schedule H
Pharmacological Class:
Water soluble Vitamin, Biguanide, Therapy Class:
Antidiabetic Agent, Approved Countries
India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is an anti-diabetic agent belonging to the pharmacological class of water-soluble vitamins and biguanides.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin has been approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is approved to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, aiding in managing blood sugar levels and potentially alleviating diabetic neuropathy symptoms through glucose regulation and support for nerve health, respectively.
Methylcobalamin is absorbed in the small intestine, stored in the liver, and then dispersed throughout the body. The body absorbs metformin in the upper intestine, distributes it throughout, metabolizes it mostly in the liver, and excretes it through the kidneys, retaining some unmetabolized amounts in the faeces.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin side effects that commonly occur include taste change, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and loss of appetite.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is available as a tablet for convenient administration.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is available in India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is an anti-diabetic agent belonging to the pharmacological class of water-soluble vitamins and biguanides.
Methylcobalamin: The biological activity of vitamin B12 is to assist methionine synthase in converting homocysteine to methionine, which facilitates a number of methylation processes and protein synthesis. Additionally, the process of myelin formation plays a vital role in forming red blood cells and preserving the integrity of nerve cells. Recycling folate coenzymes, which are necessary for DNA synthesis and cell division, also involves vitamin B12.
Metformin: Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, reduces glucose absorption in the intestine and improves insulin sensitivity (increases peripheral glucose uptake and utilization).
Synergistic Benefits: When used together, metformin and Methylcobalamin provide synergistic effects for treating diabetes. Vitamin B12 in Methylcobalamin promotes nerve regeneration and health, preventing diabetic neuropathy. The common diabetic drug metformin controls blood sugar levels. Together, they enhance nerve healing and glucose regulation, which may lessen neuropathic pain and associated consequences in diabetic patients, improve nerve function, and help with overall diabetes management.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is available in oral tablets.
Tablets: To be swallowed whole with water/liquid. Do not chew, crush or break it.
As the physician recommends, take the medication orally twice daily before meals or generally with a meal.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin can be used in the following health conditions:
Diabetes mellitus type 2
It is also called adult-onset diabetes. It is a long-term disease when the body either produces insufficient insulin or gets resistant to it, potentially raising the risk of cardiovascular disorders such as heart attacks and chest pain.
Methylcobalamin: Methylcobalamin has traditionally been employed to treat or prevent deficiency in ailments, including pernicious anaemia and atrophic gastritis. However, the elderly require special attention at a higher risk.
Metformin: Metformin improves glucose tolerance by lowering basal and postprandial plasma glucose. It exerts its effect by decreasing hepatic glucose production by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, delaying intestinal glucose absorption, and increasing insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization.
Dual benefits: Methylcobalamin+ Metformin resolves vitamin B12 insufficiency by combining the effects of Metformin, which lowers the generation of glucose in the liver, with Methylcobalamin. It reduces the chance of hypoglycemia and helps obese diabetes individuals lose weight. This combination is the recommended approach to controlling diabetic complications in obese persons because it reduces liver glucose output and regulates intestinal glucose uptake, both of which alleviate diabetes complications.
Metformin increases the body's sensitivity to insulin and lowers blood sugar by delaying glucose absorption from the gut and reducing the liver's synthesis of glucose. In addition to treating type 2 diabetes, it additionally helps women with PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Orally: Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is available as a tablet that can be taken orally.
It is advised to administer two times daily before meals and avoid breaking, crushing, dissolving, or chewing pills; swallow them whole with a glass of water. It is best to take it regularly at a fixed time each day following the physician's prescribed schedule for regular and evenly spaced intervals because the dose and duration of therapy are individualized per specific conditions to achieve the most effective and successful treatment outcome.
The dosage and duration of treatment should be as per the treating physician's clinical judgment.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin has various strengths, such as 750 mg+ 500mg, 750 mg+ 1000 mg.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin is available in the form of Oral tablets.
Dosage Adjustment for Adult Patients
Dose: The recommended dose of Methylcobalamin+ Metformin for adults is one tablet PO every 12 hours, i.e. BD.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin should be used in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, along with appropriate dietary restrictions.
Methylcobalamin+Metformin is usually taken with meals to lower the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects and to ensure proper absorption.
Limit or avoid alcohol while taking methylcobalamin + Metformin, as alcohol can potentiate the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Patients should limit high-carbohydrate, high-sugar foods to maintain stable glucose levels.
This involves substituting carbohydrates with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. as carbohydrates can be converted into sugars, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels.
The dietary restriction should be individualized as per patient requirements.
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin may be contraindicated under the following conditions: -
- Hypersensitivity to any of the medication's ingredients
- Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment.
- Patients receiving radiological investigations.
- The existence of certain disorders, such as chronic cardiac dysfunction, increases the risk of lactic acidosis caused by Biguanide medicines, which makes these conditions susceptible to tissue anoxia.
- Patients with heart conditions should use this drug with caution as it may increase the risk of heart failure. Methylcobalamin + Metformin should be stopped in severe dehydration from extreme Vomiting, diarrhoea, heat exposure, or fever. This medication may worsen electrolyte abnormalities in dehydrated patients. Emergency medical attention is necessary.
- Alcohol consumption should be limited as it heightens the risk of lactic acidosis.
- Use cautiously in individuals with heart disease, as it may increase the risk of heart failure.
- Patients with severe liver or kidney issues need close monitoring as their normal function is crucial in eliminating excessive lactic acid.
Alcohol Warning
It is unsafe to consume Methylcobalamin+ Metformin with alcoho
Breast Feeding Warning
It is considered safe during breastfeeding. It does not excrete via breast milk.
Pregnancy Warning
It is considered safe during pregnancy. It has no adverse effect on the developing foetus.
Food Warning
Avoid excessive intake of high-sugar or high-fat foods. Take low fat and a low sugar diet.
The adverse reactions related to Methylcobalamin + Metformin can be categorized as: -
- Common Adverse Effects: Hypoglycemia, Gastrointestinal disturbances like nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
- Less Common Adverse Effects: Skin reactions or allergic responses
- Rare Adverse Effects: Lactic Acidosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, or hepatotoxicity may occur.
The clinically relevant drug interactions of Methylcobalamin+ metformin are briefly summarized here:
- Drug-Drug Interactions: Vitamin Methylcobalamin+ Metformin may interact with other anti-diuretics or water pills, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen and celecoxib), antacids (cimetidine and omeprazole), anti-asthma drugs (salbutamol), corticosteroids, anti-HIV drugs (dolutegravir), iodinated X-ray contrast agents, anti-epileptic drugs (topiramate and lamotrigine), antibiotics (neomycin), a drug used to treat high blood pressure (verapamil), antibacterial (rifampicin and trimethoprim), a drug for treating chest pain (ranolazine), anticancer (vandetanib), and an antifungal drug (isavuconazole).
- Drug-Food Interactions: Limit alcohol consumption when taking metformin + Methylcobalamin, as this raises the risk of lactic acidosis.
- Drug-Disease Interactions: Patients should not use metformin and methylcobalamin concurrently if they consume alcohol or have heart conditions (such as congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction).
The most common side effects of Methylcobalamin + Metformin include:
- Change in taste
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Diarrhoea
- Hot sensation
- Headache
- Anorexia (loss of appetite) Vomiting (being sick)
- Sweating
Methylcobalamin+ Metformin should be prudent in the following group of special populations.
- Pregnancy
Category B pregnancy (FDA): Possibly acceptable. Research on animals has either not indicated any danger, but human studies have yet to be conducted, or research on animals has shown some risk but not human risk.
It is not known whether pregnant women are safe. Doses of metformin up to 600 mg/kg/day—roughly double the maximum daily dose advised for humans based on body surface area—were not teratogenic in rats or rabbits. Analysis of the fetal concentrations revealed that As a result of metformin buildup during metformin treatment, lactic acidosis is an uncommon but dangerous metabolic consequence.Drinking too much alcohol can increase the effects of metformin on lactate metabolism and partially overcome the placental barrier to the medication. Hence, patients taking metformin should be advised against excessive alcohol use, whether acute or chronic. Metformin use during pregnancy is not recommended since research on animal reproduction is not necessarily indicative of human response.
Pregnant women should use insulin to keep their blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, according to expert agreement, as new data indicates that aberrant blood glucose levels are linked to a higher likelihood of congenital disabilities.
- Nursing Mothers
According to studies conducted on nursing rats, Metformin is excreted into milk and reaches levels comparable to plasma. Although studies involving nursing mothers have not been done, care should be taken with these patients, and the mother's need for the medication should be considered when deciding whether to stop breastfeeding or to stop taking it altogether.
- Pediatric Use
As per FDA, safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have yet to be established.
- Geriatric Use
While older patients were not adequately represented in Metformin clinical trials, recorded clinical experiences did not reveal any variations in response between older and younger patients. Individuals with normal renal function should use metformin to prevent severe adverse effects because the medication is eliminated through the kidneys. Elderly individuals should use caution as their renal function is deteriorating. Avoiding maximal dosing in the elderly, dosage changes should be based on renal health or regular monitoring.
Dose Adjustment in Kidney Impairment Patients:
Use caution to the patient who has a renal impairment.
Dose Adjustment in Hepatic Impairment Patients:
Monitor the patient liver and hepatic enzymes for 6 to 12 months. Use caution the patient who has liver disease.
Signs and Symptoms
The physician should be vigilant about the knowledge pertaining to the identification and treatment of overdosage of Methylcobalamin+ Metformin. Overconsumption of Methylcobalamin+ Metformin could lead to lactic acidosis symptoms like weakness, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, low blood sugar levels and stomach discomfort.
Management
There is no specific antidote or treatment for excessive intake of Methylcobalamin+ Metformin. However, immediate medical attention is essential. Methylcobalamin+ Metformin should be terminated immediately when an overdose is suspected or if any unusual symptoms occur after intake. Treatment might involve symptomatic and supportive measures.
Hospitalization and close monitoring are needed in cases of symptoms representing lactic acidosis, such as weakness, dyspnea, or stomach pain. Administering glucose or other sugary foods to patients with low blood sugar is an approach to treat this condition. If the overdose occurs recently, gastric lavage or activated charcoal may help prevent future absorption.
Hemodialysis may be considered in severe cases to remove the drugs from the bloodstream. Patients should be closely observed for any signs of lactic acidosis, a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, and treated accordingly.
- Pharmacodynamics
Methylcobalamin: Methylcobalamin increases the glucose sensitivity of beta-cells (β-cells) in the pancreatic islets and stimulates glucose-dependent insulin production, which helps to improve glycemic control in type II diabetes mellitus. Elevated GLP-1 levels stimulate glucagon release by improving alpha cells' sensitivity to glucose. By raising incretin hormone levels, methylcobalamin increases the insulin-to-glucagon ratio, which lowers postprandial hepatic glucose production and fasting. Gastritin does not alter the process of stomach emptying. Additionally, it does not affect blood glucose levels or insulin secretion in people with standard glycemic control.
Metformin: Metformin is an antihyperglycemic medication that lowers basal and postprandial plasma glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, improving their glucose tolerance. Its pharmacologic modes of action are distinct from those of other oral antihyperglycemic medication groups. Metformin increases peripheral glucose uptake and utilization, which lowers intestinal glucose absorption, reduces hepatic glucose synthesis, and enhances insulin sensitivity. Metformin, unlike sulfonylureas, does not result in hyperinsulinemia or hypoglycemia in either type 2 diabetes patients or healthy persons. Metformin medication does not alter insulin secretion, although it may reduce the plasma insulin response throughout the day and insulin levels while fasting.
- Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Methylcobalamin: It is rapidly absorbed from injection sites and reaches its peak within an hour of intramuscular injection 6.1% of the bioavailability is estimated.
Metformin: Slowly and incompletely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Food slightly delays and decreases the extent of absorption. Absolute bioavailability: 50-60%. Time to peak plasma concentration: 2-3 hours (immediate-release); 7 hours, range: 4-8 hours (extended-release).
Bioavailability: 50-60% (Metformin [fasted])
Distribution
Methylcobalamin: Distributed primarily to the liver, bone marrow, and other tissue where transcobalamin I and II Absorbed vitamin B12, which is transported via B12 binding proteins
Metformin: Concentrates in the liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. It crosses the placenta and then enters breast milk (small amounts). Volume of distribution: 654 ± 358 L.
Protein-bound: Negligible (Metformin)
Metabolism
Methylcobalamin: It's transformed into a cofactor for several metabolic pathways in tissues.
Metformin: Excreted unchanged in the urine and did not undergo specific hepatic metabolism (no metabolites have been found in humans) or biliary excretion.
Elimination
Methylcobalamin: The kidney is principally responsible for excreting methylcobalamin. The amount of injectable methylcobalaminin urine ranges from 50 to 98%. The first eight hours noted the most significant amount of excretion. Daily, the bile secretes 3–8 mcg of cyanocobalamin into the GI tract, most of which is absorbed back.
Metformin: With a plasma elimination half-life of roughly 6.2 hours, 90% of the absorbed medication is excreted via the renal pathway during the first 24 hours following oral administration. The elimination half-life of blood is roughly 17.6 hours, indicating that the erythrocyte bulk could constitute a distribution compartment.
Therapeutic benefits of a combination of Methylcobalamin and metformin
- Diabetes management: Metformin improves insulin sensitivity and lowers the liver's synthesis of glucose, which helps control blood sugar levels. Methylcobalamin prevents diabetic neuropathy by treating vitamin B12 deficiency and maintaining nerve function.
- Increased Metabolism: This combination can improve overall health outcomes by promoting weight loss and metabolic benefits, especially in those with diabetes or insulin resistance.
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- Raizada N, Jyotsna VP, Sreenivas V, Tandon N. Serum Vitamin B12 Levels in the Type 2 Diabetes Patients on Metformin Compared to those Never on Metformin: A Cross-sectional Study. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2017 May-Jun;21(3):424-428. doi: 10.4103/ijem.IJEM_529_16. PMID: 28553599; PMCID: PMC5434727.
- Infante M, Leoni M, Caprio M, Fabbri A. Long-term metformin therapy and vitamin B12 deficiency: An association to bear in mind. World J Diabetes. 2021 Jul 15;12(7):916-931. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i7.916. PMID: 34326945; PMCID: PMC8311483.
- de Jager J, et al Long-term treatment with metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes and the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency: randomised placebo-controlled trial. BMJ. 2010 May 20;340:c2181. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c2181. PMID: 20488910; PMCID: PMC2874129
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
https://www.centaurpharma.com/downloads/Metnurite.pdf
https://www.myupchar.com/en/medicine/metformin-methylcobalamin
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/022352s017lbl.pdf
Dr. Chumbeni E Lotha has completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy from RIPANS, Mizoram and Doctor of Pharmacy from SGRRU,Dehradun. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in
Dr JUHI SINGLA has completed her MBBS from Era’s Lucknow Medical college and done MD pharmacology from SGT UNIVERSITY Gurgaon. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751
Published on: 14 Nov 2023 10:20 AM GMT