Increases activity of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), usually activated by high AMP:ATP ratio, as seen in starvation or energy deprived states.
In such condition, liver decreases gluconeogenesis in favour of glycolysis.
Minor actions
Increasing peripheral insulin sensitivity
Pharmacokinetics
5 hour half life
Taken with or after meals
Indications
Obese patient with T2DM
Annotations:
Has a mild anorexic effect, so can help to reduce weight.
Contraindications
General anaesthesia or iodine
containing contrast medium
Annotations:
Iodinated contrast media increase the risk of renal failure.
Suspend on the morning of surgery and restart
when renal function returns to baseline. Suspend
prior to any test, restart at least 48 hours after the
test if renal function has returned to baseline.
Renal failure
Review dose if eGFR <45
and stop if eGFR <30.
Those at risk of tissue hypoxia or sudden deterioration in renal
function. Dehydration, severe infection, shock, sepsis, acute heart
failure, resp failure, or hepatic impairment or recent MI.
Adverse reactions
Minor -
common
Nausea, Diarrhoea and metallic taste
Reduces with time or
reduced dose
Prolonged use - B12
deficiency due to
malabsorption
Ketonuria with normal
blood sugars. Reduces with
the dose, and not severe
Lactic acidosis,
RARE
Annotations:
0.03 per 1000 patient years
Background of renal or liver
failure, cardiogenic and septic shock