Is my Grandmother allergic to Metformin tablets?

[Rachel1608]

Hello, my Grandmother has been Type 2 diabetic for about 2/3 years now and she gets frequent bouts of diarrhoea daily. She’s been to the doctor about it a few times, and they just tell her that it is a side effect of the long-release tablets that she’s been taking. However, in the last year/few months, her tongue has become inflamed and sore (which she puts down to using asthma pumps), and she has been getting red blotches on her hands, arms and legs that seem to inflame and swell up and then the next minute go down.
On looking up these symptoms last night, I read an NHS article that basically said that all of these symptoms could be a severe allergic reaction to metformin. I was just wondering if anyone has had anything like this before and what to do to fix it. Thanks for any help!

 

[bulkbiker]

Stop taking the tablets for a few days and see if any of it clears up?
I had dreadful problems with stomach upset on metformin so stopped it and changed diet instead.

 

[Resurgam]

I think that it is some sort of punishment mentality which makes HCPs insist on Metformin being taken, even when it is having the embarrassing side effects plus some really nasty ones.
I had itching, aches and pains and memory issues when taking Metformin and a statin.
there seems to be no problem in controlling my BG levels by diet alone, so I'd be rather inclined to forget to take a few tablets just to see if the unwanted effects reduce, and then to be rather more forceful with the HCPs if they did - believe me, the tablets made me feel that life was not worth living.

 

[bangkokdiabetic]

I would consider stopping metformin for a while maybe a month or 2 and watch my bl
ood sugar levels (Meter required) and also watch my diet and adjust it to keep levels low. If her symptoms still occur ask for a referral to a specialist

 

[jason134]

After being on metformin for about 2 months I started getting pins and needles on my arms and legs went back to drs told him about it and he said I was having a reaction to the metformin took me straight off them with in 2days all symptoms gone now linaglipton

 

[jason134]

Helps that my gp is also type 2

 

[jason134]

He also promotes lchf diet

 

[MagicFirefly]

Hello, my Grandmother has been Type 2 diabetic for about 2/3 years now and she gets frequent bouts of diarrhoea daily. She’s been to the doctor about it a few times, and they just tell her that it is a side effect of the long-release tablets that she’s been taking. However, in the last year/few months, her tongue has become inflamed and sore (which she puts down to using asthma pumps), and she has been getting red blotches on her hands, arms and legs that seem to inflame and swell up and then the next minute go down.
On looking up these symptoms last night, I read an NHS article that basically said that all of these symptoms could be a severe allergic reaction to metformin. I was just wondering if anyone has had anything like this before and what to do to fix it. Thanks for any help!

Metformin is a known stomach irritant and unfortunately diarrhoea is a common side effect.