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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Shortness Of Breath A Side Effect Caused Due To Medication?

I have been experiencing shortness of breath lately. I am diabetic type 2 from more than 30 years. I am 68 years of age. I also have suffered at least 2 heart attacks, one in 1990 and the other in 2005. I take 1000 mg metformin twice a day. I was checking side effects of metformin and it includes shortness of breath as a side effect. What I want to find out is am I experiencing a side effect of metformin or is my heart starting to fail (heart failure) ?
Sat, 12 Apr 2014
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Cardiologist 's  Response
Dear Sir/ Madam
Thanks for writing to us.
Yes, Indeed 1-5% of patients on metformin therapy experience shortness of breath. However there may be other causes especially worsening of cardiac status. It would be best to get your self evaluated for systemic and cardiac causes of shortness of breath first before presuming that metformin is responsible for same.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder
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Is Shortness Of Breath A Side Effect Caused Due To Medication?

Dear Sir/ Madam Thanks for writing to us. Yes, Indeed 1-5% of patients on metformin therapy experience shortness of breath. However there may be other causes especially worsening of cardiac status. It would be best to get your self evaluated for systemic and cardiac causes of shortness of breath first before presuming that metformin is responsible for same. Sincerely Sukhvinder