American Kidney Fund Concerned About Fatality Potential of Common Diabetes Medication

American Kidney Fund
Thursday, 25 April 2002

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is concerned that metformin, sold as Glucophage, may be fatal to a significant number of diabetes patients who take the prescription medication. Glucophage helps the body use insulin and is among the most common drugs for the management of Type II diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes).

According to a study published in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Glucophage can cause a rare side effect called lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the blood that is fatal in about half of all cases.

"The drug package insert warns of this side effect, and says it should not be used by patients who have kidney disease, or those taking drugs for heart failure," said AKF Chairman of Medical Affairs Paul W. Crawford, MD. "About 20,000,000 Americans have kidney disease and don't know it. Even the most common blood test for kidney disease (to measure a waste product of muscle tissue metabolism called creatinine) may indicate normal kidney function, when in fact the kidneys may be functioning at just 50%."

Dr. Crawford explained, "The study is truly alarming, because it indicated that nearly a quarter of the 100 patients studied who were prescribed Glucophage, met one of the very criteria listed on the medication's insert."

Researchers for the University of North Carolina study say the study may underestimate the frequency of contraindications and that it is difficult to determine if doctors are aware that they may be prescribing against the so-called "black box" warning. Harvard Medical School, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Public Citizen Health Research Group have previously suggested that physicians need to pay more attention to cautionary information required by the federal government on drug labels.

Dr. Crawford noted, "A majority of people with diabetes are unaware of the main complications of it - kidney disease and heart disease. We need to treat the whole person, not just the 'parts' such as the kidneys or the heart. We need to consider that by prescribing a medication for one health problem, we may be exacerbating or even causing another. Patients, too, need to become more knowledgeable about their conditions, so that they can take a more active role in their own care."

For more information, or to contact American Kidney Fund, see their website at: www.akfinc.org