Globally around 120 million people consume metformin as the first-line therapy or as a treatment regimen for their type 2 diabetes. A study conducted by UK researchers examined the medication compliance of 1.6 million people with type 2 diabetes. The revealed that metformin had the lowest adherence rate compared to other medications while DPP -4 inhibitors had the highest adherence rate. Studied indicate that metformin is associated with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and flatulence which can reduce the patient compliance over time.
Experts believe that patient adherence can be improved by prescribing right type of metformin (extendend-release or regular version) based on the patient history, and patient education. What is your line of action? Do you change your patients' medication when they have metformin side -effects?
