Medication dropped and feeling rough.

[Tadpaul]

Hi to you all, I had my last lot of bloods done in August 2012, and was told I am progressing nicely. Imagine my surprise last Monday to find an answer phone message from my clinic saying "they have reviewed my bloods and have decided to drop my metformin from 2 a day to 1 at breakfast." This just happenss to tie in with my request for a repeat prescription.

So, like a good boy, I started taking 1 a day from then, (I will have to, they have already altered my script for collection).
Now the good bit, from Thursday onwards I am feeling hungry, even though my diet has not altered, i am feeling sleepy and lethargic, and I am getting irritable and tetchy, ie losing my temper, not something I have done for a long while.
I am also noticing my eyesight is a little more fuzzy and not as clear, ie struggling with my varifocals.

I know it is not my imagination as my wife has made various comments over the weekend as to my changes.

I really want to cut down on the meds but feel this is not right. I took some readings this morning and compared them to some old ones and I am 1.5 to 2 mm0ls up on all my readings. Just feeling this cant be right. :sick:

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi TadPaul, the maximum dose of Metformin 1000mg (bi daily) will only help to reduce bg levels by between 1 and 2 mmol/L so it would be unusual for a drop of 1 tablet to make a make a major diference in your levels, are you taking the 500mg or the 750ng tablets?

I am on the max dose (4 x 500mg tablets) and dropped one tablet a day for a few days and I noticed an increase of around .5 mmol/L and decided to stay on the max dose as I like to stay as low as possible. If you are concerned I would advise you discuss it with your doctor, we are all different and you may react to it differently to most.

Maybe start recording your levels at fasting - first thing in morning - and other times in the day like before and two hours after meals and get a pattern and then make an appointment to see your doctor and discuss the readings together, there will be a difference but it should not be as large as 1 or 2 mmol/L.

Is it possible that you are harbouring some sort of infection? I understand there are a lot of virus's doing the rounds at present.

 

[Tadpaul]

Thanks for the reply Sid,
I have just back from the surgery, and the DN says I have been reduced to 1 Metformin because "you are well in the guidelines for 1 tablet, with your last bloods, and I cannot overprescribe."
She gave me a meter, bless.
Tested my BG at 5.6 and said I am tired because I am hungry. Go figure! ! !

Ah well must take BG readings for a couple of days and report back next week.

 

[hallii]

Try asking the doctor and by pass the nurse.

Explain how you feel and why you want the extra 500mg.

Metformin is a cheap and effective medication and I cannot see a reasonable doctor refusing it.

Of course if you show that your BGs have started to climb since reducing the dose :wink: it would be the proper treatment to put it back where it was.

H