Common Health Issues

Lactic Acidosis Symptoms

• By Rich Health Editorial Team
• November 03, 2021

Lactic acidosis is caused by too much lactic acid in your blood. Lactic acid can accumulate when your body doesn’t get enough oxygen or when your body’s metabolism is disturbed. This can occur with certain diseases and combination of health problems. Lactic acidosis is more common in people with diabetes who use metformin but even then it is very rare. Only 1 in 33,000 people who use metformin each year will develop lactic acidosis. Still, in case you are that person, it is important to recognize the symptoms and know how to prevent it from occurring.

 

LACTIC ACIDOSIS SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling extremely weak or tired, having muscular pain, trouble breathing, or stomach discomfort, feeling cold, dizzy or light-headed and having an irregular heartbeat.

 

 

What You Should Do When You Have Lactic Acidosis

Lactic acidosis is more likely to occur if you have any sort of kidney, liver or heart problems, or other serious illness. If you have any of the symptoms of lactic acidosis, are taking metformin, and/or have any of these health problems, you should call your doctor right away. Lactic acidosis is life-threatening if not treated promptly. Usually, an underlying problem is triggering lactic acidosis and you will be treated for that problem first. This may require emergency attention. 

 

If there is an underlying problem, lactic acidosis can make it even worse, which is why you need to seek prompt treatment. You may be treated with bicarbonate, dichloroacetate, or other agent to neutralize the excess acid in your blood. However, treatment of the primary problem is most essential. There is no self-treatment of lactic acidosis. You will need to be treated by medical personnel, probably in a hospital setting.

 

LACTIC ACIDOSIS PREVENTION

To prevent lactic acidosis from occurring, do not take metformin if you have any serious underlying health problems. Your doctor is unlikely to prescribe it if you have liver, kidney or heart disease. Make sure you tell your doctor of any other problems you are experiencing so that other complications are not overlooked. Metformin should not be taken by anyone with poor kidney function. If you are taking metformin, you should have your kidney function checked regularly by your doctor. If you have heart failure or liver problems, or if you are hospitalized with a serious illness, you should avoid metformin. Discuss any concerns about metformin with your doctor.

Sources and References

The Diabetes Problem Solver—Quick Answers to Your Questions About Treatment and Self-Care by Nancy Touchette

 

Lactic Acidosis by Jeffrey Kraut and Nicolaos Madias