Metformin SR and Nausea ... How Long?

[stillo]

Hi

Severe side effects for me and been on it since April, been off metformin for 19 days feel so much better, the thing i cannot understand is i must be cured of diabetes because my Nurse will not be giving me anymore medication we will be seeing how we go, so miraculous recovery for me

Stillo

 

[Saveatree]

Hi, I'm type 2, 24, diagnosed in August last year. First I was on 3 500mg tabs of metformin a day, which then increased to 5 500mg metformin a day. I was then given Gliclazide to take along side it. The sickness didnt pass and I've now been on metformin slow release for around five months but recently the constant nausea has returned, has anyone else had this?

 

[Topaz9]

Hi

Severe side effects for me and been on it since April, been off metformin for 19 days feel so much better, the thing i cannot understand is i must be cured of diabetes because my Nurse will not be giving me anymore medication we will be seeing how we go, so miraculous recovery for me

Stillo

Have had stomach pains since I took it. I have made a request to be taken off tablets and given insulin. Hope it works. Am going to see a specialist

 

[Mike d]

I have made a request to be taken off tablets and given insulin.

I would think about that some more if it were me. Big move. Are you on slow release metformin?

I would really like to read the opinions of others but a huge step from where I sit. Anyone else care to comment?

 

[Topaz9]

Yes. They started me on normal Metformin. I met a doctor who diagnosed my stomach pains as caused by Metformin and changed it to SR. The pains stopped but the other side effects it had created are still there - inability to eat any animal products - milk, meat and all their by-products. If I eat any of them the pains come back. It is very complicated. I now have to take vitamin B12 because I can't eat meat and allergy tablets to survive. This is why I want to try insulin

 

[Indy51]

@Topaz9, I think you would get more help if you started a new thread of your own and give other members a bit more about your history and other medical conditions.
I think you would find it very difficult to get a doctor to take you straight from metformin to insulin unless there is evidence that you are Type 1 or 1.5. They have a fairly rigid protocol of drugs that they try for Type 2 and tend to have an "insulin is the last resort" mentality.

 

[Topaz9]

I know. I have been researching the drug and it's designed to help patients to lose weight I suppose by suppressing appetite but in my case it has backfired instead it has blocked my stomach from processing any foods. I won't bore you again. My other option is a carbohydrate and completely sugar free diet and stop the medication completely. Good morning if you are in the UK

 

[Mike d]

Agree with @Indy51

Might be something else going on but of course, we're not qualified to comment ... but insulin is a massive step and I'd want everything else investigated first. Much more of your history is needed before I'd make further comment

 

[Mike d]

I know. I have been researching the drug and it's designed to help patients to lose weight I suppose by suppressing appetite but in my case it has backfired instead it has blocked my stomach from processing any foods. I won't bore you again. My other option is a carbohydrate and completely sugar free diet and stop the medication completely. Good morning if you are in the UK

Do you know that for a fact or is it an educated guess? What is your diet as I reckon therein lies the clue(s). Don't worry about "boring" us ... we're here to help.

 

[Topaz9]

I don't have colds. I don't have headaches. The only medication I took before this problem was for hypertension and it never gave me any problems.

 

[Indy51]

How old are you? When were you diagnosed with Type 2? Are you overweight? Have you tried diet and/or exercise to get your BG under control?

I can believe the problems with metformin - the SR version gave me bleeding gastritis. I wonder though if you don't have some other gastric issue going on - it usually takes a couple of years for metformin to interfere with nutrient absorption enough to cause symptoms of B12 deficiency. Coeliac and/or NCGS (non-coeliac gluten sensivity) is another common cause of those kinds of symptoms.

As well as the B12 deficiency, have you been tested for folate and ferritin?

Might be worthwhile trying a gluten free diet to see if it helps.

 

[Mike d]

BTW, insulin for those diagnosed with diabetes MAY (stress that word "may") add weight, so that's another issue to take into account.

 

[Topaz9]

I'll tell you my age later. I was diagnosed end of 1999 and because of my own stupidity I trusted doctors. I was also at university studying chemistry and I thought I had poisoned myself in the student labs. (I was a very mature student just catching up). It wasn't until 2010 when this young doctor diagnosed my problem that I started thinking about Metformin seriously but the doctors have their backs up. I have been referred to a specialist towards end of June. I'm sure it's going to be a fight. I have been low on iron but I eat my spinach

 

[Topaz9]

Oh I fluctuate between 14, 15 and 16 stone

 

[Mike d]

Nothing more from me then ....

 

[Topaz9]

Been good sharing with somebody. Will let you know what the endocrinologist say

 

[Mike d]

I'll tell you my age later.

It's in your profile so perhaps you might care to remove it?

 

[Topaz9]

They don't show our profiles do they? That private. Oh I'm going to remove it. I've been trying to hide my real name in Facebook they won't let me.

 

[Topaz9]

I just remembered that you said SR gave you a gastric problem. How do you deal with it. You can't continue taking other medication

 

[Mike d]

They do if you click on your avatar. Would have thought you entered that when you registered, but no big deal. Age is irrelevant in any event.. Your diet details (if you want advice) are not.