intolerance to metformin

Anniesmith

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have developed an intolerance to one of my medications. It seems to build up over 4-6 weeks and then it causes severe sickness, diarrhoea and fainting followed by a fine prickly rash. Bit scary as it happens so suddenly. After eliminating other possible culprits it seems to be the metformin. I've been taking it for a few years but this has been happening now since September. Has anyone else found they have built up an intolerance? What could be an alternative?
 
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Ally Pally

Well-Known Member
Messages
442
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
The colour pink!
I’ve recently had a Metformin ‘experience’. I usually get my meds direct from my doctor but the practice was closed for a week at Easter and they had to fax a prescription to the local Apotheke, who sourced their Metformin from a different pharmaceutical company - and I had an adverse reaction I.e. cramps, explosive diarrhoea - just as when I originally started Metformin, but this quickly resolved itself. Starting today I’m back on the ‘drug’ from the original Pharma company. It’ll be interesting to see what happens - or hopefully doesn’t happen.
 

Kittycat_7_

Well-Known Member
Messages
492
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi Annie,
Welcome to the forum
Tagging @daisy1 for her welcome pack
Please go and see your GP, have you been given a different brand recently maybe?
Hope you feel better very soon.
Take care
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Anniesmith
Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it both interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 600,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 

Jackthehat

Well-Known Member
Messages
84
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Had Metformin since 1998 with no issues but since my heart attack it now gives me the trots, im now under 17st (well, 16.99 stone) my new target is 99.99 kgs...
 

Q007

Well-Known Member
Messages
466
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
People who tell lies.
My GP (Dr Doom).
I have developed an intolerance to one of my medications. It seems to build up over 4-6 weeks and then it causes severe sickness, diarrhoea and fainting followed by a fine prickly rash. Bit scary as it happens so suddenly. After eliminating other possible culprits it seems to be the metformin. I've been taking it for a few years but this has been happening now since September. Has anyone else found they have built up an intolerance? What could be an alternative?
Evening hope you're well, my Hba1C spiked to 101, and I was put on metformin straight away, this was a month ago. Two days in a had the runs, the worst ever I was so sick. I sent a fax to the GP but she didn't reply so I stopped taking them. I have my diabetes review this Friday and plan to ask if there is an alternative I can try as my BG is still high. I'll let you know what they offer me. Stay well. Q.
 

Kittycat_7_

Well-Known Member
Messages
492
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Evening hope you're well, my Hba1C spiked to 101, and I was put on metformin straight away, this was a month ago. Two days in a had the runs, the worst ever I was so sick. I sent a fax to the GP but she didn't reply so I stopped taking them. I have my diabetes review this Friday and plan to ask if there is an alternative I can try as my BG is still high. I'll let you know what they offer me. Stay well. Q.

Hi,
There are alternatives, the long acting Metformin sometimes helps to.
Have you tried low carb?
Hope you get control very soon.
Take care
 
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Q007

Well-Known Member
Messages
466
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
People who tell lies.
My GP (Dr Doom).
Hi,
There are alternatives, the long acting Metformin sometimes helps to.
Have you tried low carb?
Hope you get control very soon.
Take care
I'm starting lo carbing now, but finding it hard. Good luck to you. Q
 

HMP1

Newbie
Messages
2
I’ve recently had a Metformin ‘experience’. I usually get my meds direct from my doctor but the practice was closed for a week at Easter and they had to fax a prescription to the local Apotheke, who sourced their Metformin from a different pharmaceutical company - and I had an adverse reaction I.e. cramps, explosive diarrhoea - just as when I originally started Metformin, but this quickly resolved itself. Starting today I’m back on the ‘drug’ from the original Pharma company. It’ll be interesting to see what happens - or hopefully doesn’t happen.
I have endured si.ilar issues with metformin ...I was using metformin extended release until a years stay in Spain where I could only get the standard metformin ...I am now in Florida where I can get extended release and not having stomach issues...I have also found that specific parmacompanies ingredients are a contributing factor.
 

RachelN76

Member
Messages
20
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I hate metformin.
Had I when I had gestational diabetes, and now back on it again.
I also take erythromycin for acne rosacea.

Both give me stomach cramps and diarrhoea. So both of them together is just a barrel of laughs!
Not really sure what the solution is sadly.
 

Anniya84

Well-Known Member
Messages
102
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Food that is killing me slowly
I think it's great, lol. I've lost around 6kg (roughly a stone) since I started on Metformin last Christmas. :woot::wacky:
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I hate metformin.
Had I when I had gestational diabetes, and now back on it again.
I also take erythromycin for acne rosacea.

Both give me stomach cramps and diarrhoea. So both of them together is just a barrel of laughs!
Not really sure what the solution is sadly.
Change what you eat?
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I was on Metformin and Atorvastatin and was losing the will to live. These days if I am even remotely tempted to overindulge I tell myself that it is the way back to being on Metformin again and my will power ramps up amazingly. The fridge door gets slammed shut at once, with the food on the inside.
 

Doreenann

Member
Messages
13
I have developed an intolerance to one of my medications. It seems to build up over 4-6 weeks and then it causes severe sickness, diarrhoea and fainting followed by a fine prickly rash. Bit scary as it happens so suddenly. After eliminating other possible culprits it seems to be the metformin. I've been taking it for a few years but this has been happening now since September. Has anyone else found they have built up an intolerance? What could be an alternative?
 

Doreenann

Member
Messages
13
I recently developed a problem with Metformin after a few years of 3x500 a day, episodes
of diarrhea. Medication reduced to 2 tablets, diarrhea stopped but my blood glucose levels went up.
so 1 25mg of alogliptin introduced. Not sure about this pill as I had all the common side effects in
turn, headache, sore throat etc. They resolved but now experiencing indigestion. I cant find anyone
who has had such an experience with this combination yet but intend seeing diabetic nurse about it.
 

TriciaWs

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,727
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
My mother's reaction to metformin was one of the reasons I went lowcarb instead - she carried on eating sweets, cakes, chocolate in spite of our efforts, so the GP even increased her dose in spite of the issues, and clear signs of malnutrition and losing too much weight - towards the end she had double incontinence but he still pushed the pills.
 

syrn

Newbie
Messages
1
I have developed an intolerance to one of my medications. It seems to build up over 4-6 weeks and then it causes severe sickness, diarrhoea and fainting followed by a fine prickly rash. Bit scary as it happens so suddenly. After eliminating other possible culprits it seems to be the metformin. I've been taking it for a few years but this has been happening now since September. Has anyone else found they have built up an intolerance? What could be an alternative?

Hi,
I’ve been experiencing the same thing every few months since I started taking metformin er. I thought 2000mg was too much for me so I started taking 1500mg instead. But it happened again. What’s your dosage? Or were you able to find an alternative?
 

bigjim19

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,960
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
a lot of food im supposed to eat yuk
Hi,
I’ve been experiencing the same thing every few months since I started taking metformin er. I thought 2000mg was too much for me so I started taking 1500mg instead. But it happened again. What’s your dosage? Or were you able to find an alternative?

Get your doctor to give you metformin slow release should take away any unwanted symptoms being honest don’t know why they give us the normal one when the majority gets these symptoms it would save us and the surgery time in the long run
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Eat fewer carbs so you don't need to take medication?
It really does work.
A meter to test glucose levels helps, pinpointing what can and can't be tolerated, as people vary a lot.