Metformin and contrast media: where is the conflict?

Intravascular administration of iodinated contrast media to patients who are receiving metformin, an oral antidiabetic agent, can result in lactic acidosis. However, this rare complication occurs only if the contrast medium causes renal failure, and the patient continues to take metformin in the presence of renal failure. Because metformin is excreted primarily by the kidneys, continued intake of metformin after the onset of renal failure results in a toxic accumulation of this drug and subsequent lactic acidosis. To avoid this complication, metformin must be withheld after the administration of the contrast agent for 48 hours, during which the contrast-induced renal failure becomes clinically apparent. If renal function is normal at 48 hours, the metformin can be restarted. There is no scientific justification for withholding metformin for 48 hours before administration of the contrast medium, as currently recommended in the package insert. The authors review the pharmacology of metformin and present a departmental policy for managing patients with diabetes who receive metformin and who require intravascular administration of iodinated contrast media.