TITLE:
Possible Metformin-Induced Toe Nails Disorder
AUTHORS:
Min Lu, Ying Zhou, Yimin Cui
KEYWORDS:
Metformin; Nail Disorder; Adverse Drug Reaction
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.4 No.3,
May
31,
2013
ABSTRACT: The aim of this article was to report a case of
toe nails disorder associated with metformin use in an elderly patient with
type2diabetes. Two
years ago, after receiving metformin 0.5 g
three times daily for 6 months, a 60-year-old
Chinese man found his ten toe nails gradually thickened and yellowed
(especially two thumbs). The symptoms improved and recovered after metformin discontinuance.
Half year ago, metformin 0.5 g three
times daily adopted again and toe nails disorder occurred again. Physician
modified the therapy plan and replaced metformin with acarbose to control blood
glucose level of this patient. According to the follow up 3 months after his
discharge, ten toe nails recovered significantly
and new parts of the nails were normal. Nail disorder was rarely reported in
the worldwide, but the physicians should keep awareness of this adverse drug
reaction (ADR), proper actions should be taken once it occurred to avoid unnecessary
suffering of the patient.