Pharmacology: Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes

Running head: PHARMACOLOGY 1
Pharmacology
Name
Institution

PHARMACOLOGY 2
Pharmacology
In essence, the issue surrounding diabetes has no doubt gain traction in the clinical
discourses particularly in the contemporary world. According to researches, the number of
individuals diagnosed with diabetes has recently gone up something which medical scientists
attribute it to the overall change of lifestyle. Consequently, there are various medications
procedures that have been set aside with an aim of treating this illness across the globe. One
main medication that has been tipped for this purpose is the metformin. Ideally, metformin is a
type of medication that is used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. The overall function of
metformin is to lower the level of blood sugar by improving the manner in which an individual’s
body handles insulin (Zaccardi et al., 2016). Notably, this medication is often prescribed
particularly for diabetes in case diet as well as exercise has not been sufficient in controlling the
level of blood in a patient’s blood. This paper proposes to discuss in detail a pharmacotherapy
plan supporting the choice and need to prescribe a metformin and discuss the
pharmacotherapeutic considerations in relation to dosing, drug to drug interactions and potential
treatment-related outcomes, discuss expected therapy goals and desired outcomes from
introduction of metformin including monitoring and evaluation of treatment outcomes, make
recommendations for continued therapy based on patient factors and disease management
(Sonesson, Johansson, Johnsson, & Gause-Nilsson, 2016). Discuss patient education in relation
to drug adherence. Discuss the risk and benefits of drugs and conditions that may need a dose
adjustment. The paper will do this in reference to 45 years patient in respite care.
Pharmacotherapy Plan Supporting the Choice and Need to Prescribe a Metformin

PHARMACOLOGY 3
In essence, metformin often comes along with a rather information of patients inserted in
a plan. In case of this 45 years old patient who is in respite care, he is required to read the overall
information in a careful manner and ensure that he or she understands it before taking the
required metformin. At this point, patients are supposed to ask any question to their doctors if
they have any.
Primarily, the 45 year old person is then supposed to follow the meal plan as provided by
their doctors. Notably, this is considered a crucial step especially for controlling a person’s
condition and is essential if the medicine is intended to work (Tahrani, Barnett, & Bailey, 2016).
Additionally, there is a need for a directed exercise in a regular manner while testing for sugar in
a patient’s blood or rather their urine.
Metformin is supposed to be taken alongside meals with an aim of helping reduce
stomach or rather bowel side effects that may happen within the first weeks of treatment. The 45
years old patient should swallow the tablet or instead of the extended-release table, where some
part of the tablet may then pass through a person’s stool especially after their bodies have already
absorbed the medicine. Notably, this should be a normal occurrence and there should be no need
for panic. The tablet should be swallowed by taking a glass full of water while not crushing or
even chewing it.
Furthermore, the oral liquid is to be measured by the use of a marked measuring spoon,
oral syringe, or even medicine cup. Apparently, this is because the average household teaspoon
may sometimes fail to hold the right amount of intended liquid. One thing that a patient has to
keep in mind is the fact that they are supposed to use only the metformin that their doctors have
prescribed for them. Notably, this is because various brands may not work for the purpose of
treating diabetes.

PHARMACOLOGY 4
Within approximately one to two weeks, the 45 year old patient may be able to notice
some improvement. However, full effect regarding blood glucose regulation takes nearly two to
three months (Lu, Min, Chuang, Kokubo, Yoshida, & Cha, B2016). At this point, a patient may
feel free to ask his or her doctor any question that one might have regarding the same.
Need To Prescribe a Metformin
Primarily, there are various reasons why there is a need to prescribe a metformin to a
diabetic individual. One clear reason for the medical practitioners to prescribe metformin to a
patient is because it is proven to extend the life of an individual in the long run. According to
research, metformin has for long been associated with nearly 24 percent lower causes of
mortality as compared to patients who chose not to take metformin. Additionally, metformin is
tipped to produce a modest weight loss strategy while normalizing hypertension. In this case, it
ought to be useful to the patient at hand given that he has some hypertension complication. The
use of metformin is as well thought to improve heart failure while preserving the kidney thus
regarded as one of the best medication for diabetes type 2. In this light, there is a need for
prescribing metformin. Metformin would help the 45 year patient in this case to control diabetes
illness and, therefore, helping an individual’s body responds well to insulin a body naturally
produces.
Pharmacotherapeutic Consideration In Relation To Dosing and Drug To Drug Interaction
There is a various consideration that medical practitioners set aside before they decide the
type of dosing an amount that a particular patient requires a treatment process. In this light, the
dosing of metformin is no doubt different for different type of patient. One has to follow the
orders that are given by the doctors as well as the directions on the label. In case the dose of a
particular patient is different, one is not supposed to change anything unless there is a clear