title: Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of metformin extended-release oral antidiabetic therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: an observational trial in Asia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present prospective observational study was to assess the tolerability and antihyperglycemic efficacy of metformin extended-release (MXR) in the routine treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from six Asian countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 3556 patients treated with once-daily MXR for 12 weeks, or until discontinuation, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with MXR was well tolerated, with 97.4% of patients completing 12 weeks of treatment. Only 3.3% of patients experienced one or more gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects and only 0.7% of patients discontinued for this reason (primary endpoint). The incidence of GI side-effects and related discontinuations appeared to be considerably lower during short-term MXR therapy than during previous treatment (mean 2.71 years' duration), most commonly with immediate-release metformin. A 12-week course of MXR therapy also reduced HbA1c and fasting glucose levels from baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides new insights into the incidence of GI side-effects with MXR in Asian patients with T2DM and on the tolerability of MXR in non-Caucasian populations. Specifically, these data indicate that once-daily MXR not only improves measures of glycemic control in Asian patients with T2DM, but also has a favorable GI tolerability profile that may help promote enhanced adherence to oral antidiabetic therapy.
authors: Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chul-Hee
authors: CH
authors: Kim
authors: Kyung-Ah
authors: KA
authors: Han
authors: Han-Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Oh
authors: Kevin Eng-Kiat
authors: KE
authors: Tan
authors: Radhakrishna
authors: R
authors: Sothiratnam
authors: Askandar
authors: A
authors: Tjokroprawiro
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Klein
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin