Any long term side effects of metformin use

[pavlosn]

Hallo

Can someone advise if there are any long term adverse effects of using metformin.

I was prescribed 1500mg of the medication as soon as I was diagosed last August and, in combination with some drastic diet and lifestyle changes, it has helped me to quickly bring my diabetes under control, as summarised in the info given with my signature below.

My current fasting blood glucose level is around 5 mmol. Current readings taken 2 hours after a meal very rarely rise above 6 mmol. This is on a daily intake of about 150 - 180g of Carbohydrate.

The reason I am asking is that I am about to see my endoctrinologist next week and would like to discuss with him the possibility of decreasing the dosage of metformin.

Although I could reduce my carbohydrate intake slightly, if at all possible, I would prefer not to do it as I am happy with my current diet (I am losing weight and in addition to controlling glucose levels,my lipid problem is greatly improved) and feel that it is one I could happily maintain for the long term. ..... But it does mean that I stay on the medication, hence my question.

At the moment, other than the general feeling/awareness that all medication has some unwanted side effects, I am not aware of any specific reason why I should try to get off/ reduce the metformin. Does using oral medication mean that your diabetes will progress to insulin dependence faster than with diet alone? Any other known adverse consequences of the specific medication? I do not suffer from upset stomach and show no symptoms of Acidosis.

Please treat this as a request for specific information and not as an invitation for more general debate on the subject of "to low carb or not", which although very interesting is in my opinion covered extensively in a number of other posts.

At any rate, I fully respect both approaches if they lead to the desired effect.

Thank you

Regards

Pavlos

 

[cugila]

Hi Pavlos.

I have been on Metformin for many years before finding a way to control my DIabetes. I was on the maximum doseage of 3g daily. It did some work towards controlling my Bg levels but I soon found after coming here that it was not the answer to my problems. My diet, my lifestyle was. That is well documented elsewhere and I don't need to go back over it.

Because of the better control I now no longer take Metformin at all, or Gliclazide - all gone. I do take Byetta though, so not all meds are finished. This drug in particular is far better for me than Insulin as it doesn't have the same problems with possible weight gain.

Using oral meds does not mean that you will automatically progress to Insulin. Only if you are not well controlled do things need to be treated, by whatever means. There are other alternatives to Insulin such as Byetta, Victoza etc. There are members on here who have successfully controlled their diabetes for years by diet alone. You can read about them on here as well.

The known side effects of Metformin are as follows: (They are not mandatory BTW)
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea (usually transient), abdominal pain, taste disturbance, rarely lactic acidosis (withdraw treatment), decreased vitamin-B12 absorption, erythema, pruritus and urticaria; hepatitis also reported.

Your B12 should be monitored every 6 months as well.

If you have no side effects and it is working I shouldn't worry too much. I never had a single side effect even when on the max dose. Something to do with drinking Guinness over many years and a cast iron constitution.

So, you do NOT have to stay on Metformin for life, however it also has other beneficial effects which you may want to consider. Discuss with your Endo.

 

[hanadr]

Pavlos
there was an article in the papers recently, which suggested that every older person should take Metformin, as they should take a Statin, because it might prolong life.
I can't remember where I saw this, but probably in "The Telegraph".
I've been on metformin for 6 years and as far as I know, I have no long term effects. I am now on 2 x 500mg per day. At one point I was taking a 3rd 500mg with my midday meal. that's the highest dose I ever used. I low carb. 8)
Hana

 

[AndyR]

i saw a report recently which i copied to my blog, http://reeley.blogspot.com/search/label/cancer%20stem%20cell%20killer, that seems to say that if you are on metformin, you have a 62% lower chance of getting cancer. That seems a bloody good side effect to me!! :mrgreen:

 

[KimDaleManor]

Does anyone know of any research stating that 2000mg of Metformin daily is the maximum recommended? If so does anyone know why it has come down from 3000mg daily?

Many Thanks

 

[Celeriac]

The dosage for SR is max 2000mg daily IDK what it is for XR or bog standard or whether the dosage differs for Glucophage (brand) and generics like Bolamyn, for example.

A pharmacist should know, the one in my local ASDA is really helpful.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

The dosage for SR is max 2000mg daily IDK what it is for XR or bog standard or whether the dosage differs for Glucophage (brand) and generics like Bolamyn, for example.

A pharmacist should know, the one in my local ASDA is really helpful.

Edited: Never mind, see post below

Do you have a link to a source for that info? I think I will start googling this as I can't remember where I saw the 3000mg dose mentioned.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

The dosage for SR is max 2000mg daily IDK what it is for XR or bog standard or whether the dosage differs for Glucophage (brand) and generics like Bolamyn, for example.

A pharmacist should know, the one in my local ASDA is really helpful.

You're right, for SR it is 2000mg, but for ordinary metformin it is 3000mg, according to this website with info compiled from the drug companies:
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/20952

I'd be surprised if the max dosage differed between generics/brand.