June 04, 2006
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I have been on 500 mg of metformin per day for three years, and my sugar is controlled, but the medication damaged my kidneys. While the kidney shape and size and arteries are all right, my kidney function is 26%. It used to be 40%, and in two years, I lost 14% function in my kidneys. I will not get that function back, and I am afraid that I might have to go on dialysis in the not so distant future. My doctor cannot explain why I lost that much kidney function. However, since I am not taking the metformin anymore, my ankles are not swelling. Any thoughts?Answer
Metformin does not cause kidney damage, The concern is that if you have pre-existing kidney disease for some other reason that results in elevation of the creatinine level in the blood, that it's considered inappropriate to use this medication.If your doctor is unable to explain the disorder, you should be evaluated by a specialist called a "nephrologist." It's possible that you will need additional testing, including perhaps a kidney biopsy, if the nephrologist is unsure what happened. Sometimes however, the diagnosis is ESRD (end-stage renal disease), and exactly what caused it is impossible to tell.
For more information, see:
- glomerular diseases,
- your kidneys and how they work, and
- management of chronic kidney disease and pre-ESRD in the primary care setting.
