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Coming off Metformin, to go to diet/exercise control

Discussion in 'Metformin/Biguanides' started by weggy, May 5, 2009.

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  1. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Hi all

    My first discussion that I've started... good to find this place, seems to be an excellent font of knowledge!

    So, my question, as above... has anyone here got experience of coming off Metformin? Any issues/side effects? About 3 months ago, I moved jobs and therefore introduced a daily walk of 40 mins into my routine. Add this to an improved diet and I soon saw my BM readings drop hugely, to the extent that I was having 'hypos' a couple of times a day. Not good. So, after doing a bit of research I decided to stop my 1000mg daily dose of Metformin. This was about 6 weeks ago now. I monitor my BM's about 4 or 5 times a day (reading other threads, I'm very fortunate to have an excellent GP for giving out test strips!) and my readings have been good, ie just before lunch today was 5.0.

    I've always wanted to get off the Metformin - when I was first diagnosed nearly four years ago I was put straight on Metformin and never given the chance to change my lifestyle - something I really regret now and pursuaded me to finally move GP's a couple of years ago!

    So far so good, but is there a brick wall around the corner? Am I about to hit it hard? Be very grateful to hear your thoughts.
     
    #1 weggy, May 5, 2009 at 4:58 PM
  2. cugila

    cugila · Master

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    For the benefit of others.
    Withdrawal should be done in stages dependent on the dose you are on. Say from 3 doses daily to 2 then 1 then none. This way you shouldn't be hit by any problems coming off the Met. It is not usual to just abruptly stop Met.
    As stated elsewhere Metformin does not cause Hypo levels of Bg.

    Weggie : I would be very interested to see the research you mention ?

    Ken.
     
    #2 cugila, May 5, 2009 at 5:09 PM
  3. sugarless sue

    sugarless sue · Master

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    As Ken says plus,

    Did you discuss coming off Metformin with your doctor first?
    If you can control your diabetes with just diet then good for you!!Once you get the carbs intake worked out and what foods you can eat then you are set.Just keep an eye on those readings,if you start to get higher readings then you maybe will have to go back on the Metformin again.Until then good luck with the diet.
     
    #3 sugarless sue, May 5, 2009 at 5:12 PM
  4. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    The research was reading an article which stated that newly diagnosed type 2's should be given the opportunity to change their lifestyles (exercise and diet) before being put on any medication...
     
    #4 weggy, May 5, 2009 at 5:25 PM
  5. sugarless sue

    sugarless sue · Master

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    That's what it says in the BNF,it's amazing just how many doctors don't read it!
     
    #5 sugarless sue, May 5, 2009 at 5:29 PM
  6. cugila

    cugila · Master

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    Ah ! Thanks for that weggie. That's not quite what I class as research, but no matter. :D
    I have sent you a PM if you would like to answer ?

    Cheers
    Ken.
     
    #6 cugila, May 5, 2009 at 5:29 PM
  7. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Answered Ken, and the BNF comment above would my sense of my answer :p
     
    #7 weggy, May 5, 2009 at 5:47 PM
  8. Trinkwasser

    Trinkwasser · Well-Known Member

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    IMO that would depend what sort of numbers you were running and for how long. Not a few doctors in the States are proactive with medication at first to get the BG and other factors normalised as quickly as possible, after which the meds are either reduced or eliminated.

    Over time I've met a few people who have stopped metformin. On the one side the side effects can be horrendous and for some people don't reduce, on the other it has cardioprotective properties as well as the effects on IR. It's a crapshoot (sometimes literally!)

    You may do as well without it, but if not there's nothing at all to stop you going back on it later.
     
    #8 Trinkwasser, May 5, 2009 at 6:42 PM
  9. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Absolutely - I still have plenty here and am more than prepared to restart them right now if I needed to... no problem with that.

    Any ideas what the side effects were? I've had a bit of a stomach upset for the past few days but that may not be linked. It's certainly not as bad as what I had when I first started on the Metformin!! :shock:
     
    #9 weggy, May 5, 2009 at 9:56 PM
  10. cugila

    cugila · Master

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    weggy said:
    Any ideas what the side effects were? I've had a bit of a stomach upset for the past few days but that may not be linked. It's certainly not as bad as what I had when I first started on the Metformin!! (unquote)



    The known side effects of Metformin are:

    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

    Ken.
     
    #10 cugila, May 6, 2009 at 8:26 AM
  11. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Sorry Ken, I didn't make it very clear - I meant are there any known side effects associated with someone stopping Metformin?

    cheers
     
    #11 weggy, May 6, 2009 at 8:32 AM
  12. cugila

    cugila · Master

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    Not that we know of, no. Will get back to you re Pm. Had a late night.

    Ken
     
    #12 cugila, May 6, 2009 at 8:34 AM
  13. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Good to hear there are, hopefully, no side effects. I'm surprised more people haven't done it though? Especially those that, like me, are obese at diagnosis and then lose some weight...

    No problem re the PM - no rush
     
    #13 weggy, May 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM
  14. totsy

    totsy Type 1 · Well-Known Member

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    hope it all goes ok for you ,as u say if it doesnt work u can always restart :D
     
    #14 totsy, May 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
  15. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Absolutely! To be honest, I'm surprised I've lasted this long without restarting them but fingers crossed.

    Any ideas how long Metformin stays in the body for, once it's been stopped?
     
    #15 weggy, May 6, 2009 at 11:48 AM
  16. sugarless sue

    sugarless sue · Master

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    Half life of Metformin is 6.2 hours so it depends on the dose that you are on.
     
    #16 sugarless sue, May 6, 2009 at 12:21 PM
  17. cugila

    cugila · Master

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    Weggy.

    Can't seem to find any specific information about how long it remains in the body after being stopped.
    However the information that if Surgery or other procedures are to take place then an interval of 48 hrs should be allowed for it to clear the system after the drug is stopped.
    This would indicate that it doesn't remain in the body for more than 48 hrs and is excreted in the normal way.

    Hope that helps.
    Ken.

    As Sue says the half life figure is correct.
     
    #17 cugila, May 6, 2009 at 12:26 PM
  18. sugarless sue

    sugarless sue · Master

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    Going by your stated dose of 1000mg it would therefore take approx.2 days 7hours to clear system so say 3 days .
     
    #18 sugarless sue, May 6, 2009 at 12:46 PM
  19. weggy

    weggy · Active Member

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    Cool thanks. I was under the impression that it would take weeks, rather than days.... so I'm even more pleased now that my readings are low, despite having no metformin in my system at all!
     
    #19 weggy, May 6, 2009 at 12:52 PM
  20. Trinkwasser

    Trinkwasser · Well-Known Member

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    Since the effects seem to build up slowly they may also wear off slowly after you stopped it due to long term changes to receptors etc. I haven't heard of anyone having any spectacular withdrawal problems but it may be an idea to do some extra monitoring over the next few weeks, see if your BG stays level or not.
     
    #20 Trinkwasser, May 7, 2009 at 5:35 PM
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