Commonly used diabetes drug metformin smells bad and this may explain why many patients stop taking it

According to a new study, the diabetes drug metformin smells like fish or dirty socks to some people and this could account for the well-known side effects of the drug, which can make people nauseated.

But the problem could be solved by coating the pills so they do not smell or release the odor into the stomach, where it can be burped up.

Metformin. Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.

References:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E54H20100215

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