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|Articles|July 22, 2021
Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Metformin and Kidney Function in Diabetes
Author(s)Saro Arakelians, PharmD
How should pharmacists manage a patient with diabetes on metformin with GFR below 30?
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Clinical Pearl of the Day:
If a patient has diabetes, with metformin onboard as a treatment option, and GFR (kidney function) is below <30, metformin should be discontinued.
Explanation:
- Do not use metformin among patients with an eGFR less than 30.
- Do not start metformin among patients with an eGFR between 30 and 45.
- Stop metformin if a patient’s eGFR drops less than at any point during therapy.
- Complete a risk-benefit analysis of metformin if a patient’s eGFR drops to less than 45.
- Because metformin is renally cleared, it may cause some concern about nephrotoxicity, especially lactic acidosis, in patients with impaired renal function.
Reference:
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