• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Type 2 Metformin dose timing and increased urination at night

S

sawyatt

Member
Messages
10
Hi - can anyone throw some light on something I’ve only recently heard about please. My sugars are under control and I don’t have a urine infection, but I do have to get up anywhere between 3 and 7 times a night for a wee. It’s exhausting at time’s! I’m taking 500mg I’d extended release metformin 4 times a day (on waking, lunch time, dinner time and before bed). My GP has told me off for doing this and said I should take 2 in the morning and 2 at dinner time. My chance I read yesterday that metformin can cause increased urination - especially at night. If this is the case then surely if I take 2 at night, this would make the problem worse? The reason I take them 4 times a day was to minimise stomach problems as I thought a steady trickle better than 2 big hits, but my GP tells me this is nonsense as they’re extended release so doesn’t matter when you take them. Does anyone have any thoughts on the increased urination aspect please (I am also diagnosed with painful bladder syndrome and fibromyalgia) Thanks Guys!
 
sawyatt said:
Hi - can anyone throw some light on something I’ve only recently heard about please. My sugars are under control and I don’t have a urine infection, but I do have to get up anywhere between 3 and 7 times a night for a wee. It’s exhausting at time’s! I’m taking 500mg I’d extended release metformin 4 times a day (on waking, lunch time, dinner time and before bed). My GP has told me off for doing this and said I should take 2 in the morning and 2 at dinner time. My chance I read yesterday that metformin can cause increased urination - especially at night. If this is the case then surely if I take 2 at night, this would make the problem worse? The reason I take them 4 times a day was to minimise stomach problems as I thought a steady trickle better than 2 big hits, but my GP tells me this is nonsense as they’re extended release so doesn’t matter when you take them. Does anyone have any thoughts on the increased urination aspect please (I am also diagnosed with painful bladder syndrome and fibromyalgia) Thanks Guys!
Click to expand...
Doctor is right metformin needs to be taken with a meal or just after eating otherwise it does not work . I have not heard anyone say it increases urination though
 
I must say I have never heard that Metformin can cause increased urination, nor I have I seen it listed as a side effect.

In Diabetics, increased urination is usually a sign that you have high blood glucose and the body is trying to remove it.
 
britishpub said:
Is that true?

I never took mine with meals, probably why nothing seemed to change when I stopped taking it. :banghead:
Click to expand...
Yes that is right it says it on the leaflet and that is how it is prescribed by my husband's doctor during or straight after a meal
 
My understanding of [regular] Metformin being recommended to be taken with meals is to minimise gastrointestinal upset rather than to ensure its efficacy, but I’m by no means certain.

With regards to the urination this is not something I recall experiencing once by blood glucose levels came down.
 
Increasing toilet visits is a new one on me.. what is your overall diet like? Drinking habits? Salt intake?
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I’m reliably told that metformin is prescribed with meals to help avoid stomach upset. It works just as well on an empty stomach but we may find ourselves spending a lot of our time in the bathroom! Guess it’s just my painful bladder causing the problems as it actually increases the lower my blood sugar is! I shall try taken it all in 2 doses and see what happens!
 
Hi
I had the same problem, urinating through the night, my doctor told me stop tea and coffee after 5.30 pm. It did the trick for me!

Hope this helps

Geordie
 
I also pee frequently at night. It is not metformin in my case but rather benign prostate enlargement which also can get infected and simulate bladder pain. Tea coffee (caffeine) definitely aggravates, drinking just before going bed aggravates so try drink at least two hours before going to bed.
An interesting aside is to ask whether diabetes type 2 (or1) increases likelihood of enlarged prostate.
 
I don’t take metformin with meals because I don’t have meals at the time metformin is due. Even when my sugars are high it doesn’t make me want to go to the toilet any more times than I do. I don’t need to get up during the night I only go about 3/4 times a day.
 
Back
Top