How to drink alcohol safely whilst taking Metformin

When you are taking Metformin for type II diabetes you should be wary of drinking large amounts of alcohol. Some doctors may encourage you to avoid alcohol entirely however, there are ways of being safe and being able to enjoy metformin and alcohol safely.  A casual drink now and then is said to have no effect on the medication however if you are unsure check with your health care provider.  You doctor will be able to take into account any other medication which you are taking to ensure that you can drink alcohol safely. 
Metformin increases your chances of developing the life threatening condition lactic acidosis. 
Lactic acidosis is a build up of lactic acid due to the body’s inability to process it fast enough, a function normally undertaken by the liver, kidney and skeletal muscle. Essentially the body’s lactate buffers become overloaded and a pH imbalance is created. 
This condition is life threatening and although it is rare for Metformin to cause this illness. it is possible. It is also possible for excessive drinking to trigger the condition. Combining metformin and alcohol dramatically increases your chances of developing lactic acidosis and can be dangerous. Even though it is rare to develop the condition and only affects one in every 3,000 patients, it can be fatal in diabetics. 
Lactic acidosis can leave you feeling week, anxious, severely anaemic, sick and nauseous and definitely a condition to be avoided whether diabetic or not.  Some people recommend that if you have a night planned when you wish to drink a vast amount of alcohol to stop taking your medication 1-2 days before the night. Always check with your doctor if you are planning on coming off the medication to check that it is okay for you to do so. 
Binge drinking when taking metformin is strongly inadvisable due to the risk of lactic acidosis (as well as all the other risks that go with consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time). Less serious side effects of metformin and alcohol include a flushing of the face, a decrease in your tolerance of alcohol and can cause sickness. Some metformin users suggest alcohol free alternatives on nights out and for the festival season. You can find many alcohol free beers and wines in the supermarkets. You may find it more suitable to drink low alcohol wines as many users say that alcohol tolerance is dramatically decreased and they sometimes feel light headed after just one pint of standard lager or bitter. 
Make sure you assess all the risks when choosing whether to drink alcohol when taking metformin. In general doctors advise it is okay in moderation but contact your own personal doctor so they can take everything about your health into consideration and help you make a decision.