- Messages
- 76
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Being obese.
Two years ago, I was put on Metformin (slow release) tablets for a short period of time; these were suspected of causing Gastric & Duodenal inflammation & very severe Gastric & Duodenal bleeding, following a Gastroscopy during which eight biopsies were taken. I lost so much blood that I was rushed back to hospital 12 hours later for a blood transfusion & another procedure to stop the bleeding. I immediately discontinued the Metformin.
Recently a consultant at the same hospital ( :roll: ) strongly implored me to re-start Metformin & gradually increase to the maximum dose.
Within a couple of weeks, I was overwhelmed with massive abdominal pain & recurrent diarhoea (no medication would stop it). I also started getting very severe irregular heartbeats (Cardiac Arrhythmia), including periods of Bradycardia (beating at about 40 beats per minute instead of my normal 95 beats per minute). During this period, I co-incidentally had routine blood tests at my GP surgery, including a Liver Function test. That same day, I STOPPED taking the Metformin (I'm on Insulin too). Two days later, my GP called me in to see him urgently; there he told me that I had Hepatitis (inflammation of the Liver); he agreed that I should not take the Metformin.
1 week later, all my symptoms had stopped. NO DIARRHOEA & NO CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA. A further blood test showed that I had NO HEPATITIS any more! My GP told me that "my body cannot tolerate Metformin & that I should never take it again, under any circumstances."
So, although most people benefit from Metformin & only have mild side-effects, it CAN cause:
1. Severe Diarrhoea
2. Gastric & Duodenal inflammation
3.Cardiac Arrhythmia & Bradycardia
4. Hepatitis
Recently a consultant at the same hospital ( :roll: ) strongly implored me to re-start Metformin & gradually increase to the maximum dose.
Within a couple of weeks, I was overwhelmed with massive abdominal pain & recurrent diarhoea (no medication would stop it). I also started getting very severe irregular heartbeats (Cardiac Arrhythmia), including periods of Bradycardia (beating at about 40 beats per minute instead of my normal 95 beats per minute). During this period, I co-incidentally had routine blood tests at my GP surgery, including a Liver Function test. That same day, I STOPPED taking the Metformin (I'm on Insulin too). Two days later, my GP called me in to see him urgently; there he told me that I had Hepatitis (inflammation of the Liver); he agreed that I should not take the Metformin.
1 week later, all my symptoms had stopped. NO DIARRHOEA & NO CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA. A further blood test showed that I had NO HEPATITIS any more! My GP told me that "my body cannot tolerate Metformin & that I should never take it again, under any circumstances."
So, although most people benefit from Metformin & only have mild side-effects, it CAN cause:
1. Severe Diarrhoea
2. Gastric & Duodenal inflammation
3.Cardiac Arrhythmia & Bradycardia
4. Hepatitis