Metformin-induced severe enteropathy: a case report

• Main Authors: Iman, Mohd Shahril, Che' Man, Mohamad, Muslim, Nurul Hassanah, Che Alhadi, Shahidah, Amiruddin, Salman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Journal of Critical Reviews 2021
• Subjects: R Medicine (General); RA Public aspects of medicine; RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RS Pharmacy and materia medica
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/89708/7/89708_Metformin-induced%20severe%20enteropathy%20a%20case%20report.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/89708/; http://www.jcreview.com/index.php?mno=73237

We highlighted a case of an elderly man with uncontrolled diabetes experienced unbearable chronic diarrhoea for 18 months with the extent of wearing diapers daily. He was having numerous investigation to exclude causes such as malignancy and other red flags chronic diarrhoea causes. His abdominal x-ray portrays extensive abnormal gas pattern at small and large bowel but no dilatation yet other examination tests were inconclusive. His symptoms gradually resolved and achieve full recovery after discontinued Metformin. Even though, metformin was widely use, the most common cause of chronic diarrhoea among diabetic patient is still metformin until proven otherwise. Hence, the necessary precaution should be practice as extent of reaction of metformin adverse drug reaction (ADR) to gastrointestinal tract vary commonly mild to moderate and rarely severe reaction. The delay of suspicion of metformin�induced enteropathy was significantly impaired his social life, burden with unnecessary invasive investigation and hinder the management of diabetes to achieve good glycaemic control. This case emphasizes on the crucial aspect of assessing drug history and attempt drug free-interval if suspicion of adverse drug reaction.