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Decided to ditch the metformin

Major Buckmaster

Major Buckmaster

Well-Known Member
Messages
291
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Stuff
Hi all.

Decided to stop the metformin as I can no longer tolerate the side effects.

I'm a little apprehensive as I stopped taking them property a couple of weeks ago and my BGs were up slightly but I had a nasty cold and I think a slight sinus infection which had gone now.

Am I right in thinking the raised levels were the cold rather than the lack of metformin?

And another thing... I walk. Maybe 3 miles. Sometimes up hill sometimes walk less but my readings are always higher. Don't get it.
 
Excercise can affect bg levels however it can also aid insulin resistance. Infections can raise levels so keep an eye on your results.

As to giving up on Metformin, if you can't tolerate it and it is affecting your quality of life then I think it is up to you to make the decision. Might be worth having a chat to your GP about getting the slow release Metformin which is said to be kinder on the tummy (that's if you arn't on the sr version already).
 
Speaking from personal experience, if you are able, then I advise a gradual reduction of the dose rather than complete and immediate cessation.

In any event you’ll likely see a small upward trend in your fasting numbers, but you can counter this by keeping your glycogen stores depleted through carb restriction and plenty of exercise.
 
Guzzler said:
Excercise can affect bg levels however it can also aid insulin resistance. Infections can raise levels so keep an eye on your results.

As to giving up on Metformin, if you can't tolerate it and it is affecting your quality of life then I think it is up to you to make the decision. Might be worth having a chat to your GP about getting the slow release Metformin which is said to be kinder on the tummy (that's if you arn't on the sr version already).
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I'm on the ordinary one but it's not just stomach issues it's making me forgetful, foggy, sick, and utterly miserable. So I feel I've made the right decision for me. I can always go back on it. I will see how if effects me for a week and go from there.

So hopefully in the long term the exercise should help?
 
Jim Lahey said:
Speaking from personal experience, if you are able, then I advise a gradual reduction of the dose rather than complete and immediate cessation.

In any event you’ll likely see a small upward trend in your fasting numbers, but you can counter this by keeping your glycogen stores depleted through carb restriction and plenty of exercise.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I do intend to increase my exercise. I just think it's holding me back as I feel so unwell on it and it's effecting my sleep which also doesn't help.

I will do as you suggest and reduce slowly
 
Major Buckmaster said:
I'm on the ordinary one but it's not just stomach issues it's making me forgetful, foggy, sick, and utterly miserable. So I feel I've made the right decision for me. I can always go back on it. I will see how if effects me for a week and go from there.

So hopefully in the long term the exercise should help?
Click to expand...

Aye, walking is said to be beneficial as is resistive training of some kind. Not only for Diabetes but for overall physical and mental health. I hope you feel better soon.
 
Walking usually seems to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels so yes keep going. As for metformin I stopped taking mine after three weeks of hell and felt much better. Cut almost all carbs and sorted blood sugars after that so for me it had little effect.
 
I've been off my metformin for a couple if months. My dose was 3 x 500mg per day.

I was taken off the metformin as a result of other health problems. I never had any side effects from the metformin.

During the time I've been off the metformin my blood sugar has been consistently higher by about a couple of mmols. So whereas a pre meal reading used be around 5, it is now about 7.

I'm having my blood tested weekly at the moment to test for kidney function and there are signs of improvement which means I will likely go back into the metformin fairly soon.
 
4B406263-8594-4DEE-95A0-A02A62C1027B.jpeg Metformin only helps a small amount but just as a visual, here is a graph of my average monthly blood sugars, I recently dropped from 3 tabs a day to 2, then after three months went back up to three (for reasons I won’t go into here), you can plainly see the effect.
 
Your comment on feeling 'foggy' made me stop and think, are you on a statin of some kind? Brain fog can be a side effect for some people when on statins but I havn't heard people complain about Metformin causing this kind of thing. That doesn't mean Met doesn't have that affect, just that I have not heard it said.
 
Major Buckmaster said:
Hi all.

Decided to stop the metformin as I can no longer tolerate the side effects.

I'm a little apprehensive as I stopped taking them property a couple of weeks ago and my BGs were up slightly but I had a nasty cold and I think a slight sinus infection which had gone now.

Am I right in thinking the raised levels were the cold rather than the lack of metformin?

And another thing... I walk. Maybe 3 miles. Sometimes up hill sometimes walk less but my readings are always higher. Don't get it.
Click to expand...
Illness can up your levels, as can excersize. I'd say, keep testing, see what metformin-less life does for you. There's still the slow release kind, and if Met isn't for you, hey, there's a thousand other things you can try. It's just the first go-to, is all. If you need medication at all, that is, on the diet you're on now. Who knows, you could be doing without for the long haul.

I did check the side-effects, and while confusion is listed, it's headed under hypo's, and I'm guessing you'd mention having those if you had 'em.... So, well... I was wondering, were you put on statins around the same time you started taking metformin? Because the tummy-issues can certainly be attributed to the metformin, being forgetful and foggy, not so much.... That sounds more like a statin-ussue. (Statins, by the way, can also raise bloodsugars). Not saying you should bin your entire medicin-cabinet, but it may be worth looking into.
 
Hi,
I had to stop Metformin because of side effects, good luck in your recovery.
Take care
 
JoKalsbeek said:
Illness can up your levels, as can excersize. I'd say, keep testing, see what metformin-less life does for you. There's still the slow release kind, and if Met isn't for you, hey, there's a thousand other things you can try. It's just the first go-to, is all. If you need medication at all, that is, on the diet you're on now. Who knows, you could be doing without for the long haul.

I did check the side-effects, and while confusion is listed, it's headed under hypo's, and I'm guessing you'd mention having those if you had 'em.... So, well... I was wondering, were you put on statins around the same time you started taking metformin? Because the tummy-issues can certainly be attributed to the metformin, being forgetful and foggy, not so much.... That sounds more like a statin-ussue. (Statins, by the way, can also raise bloodsugars). Not saying you should bin your entire medicin-cabinet, but it may be worth looking into.
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Hi.

No im not in statins. Maybe it's just sleeplessness and a mix of meds.

I will give it a go for a week and see how I get on. Go to the doctors if it's going higher.
 
bulkbiker said:
Walking usually seems to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels so yes keep going. As for metformin I stopped taking mine after three weeks of hell and felt much better. Cut almost all carbs and sorted blood sugars after that so for me it had little effect.
Click to expand...
I like the idea of your approach.
 
Major Buckmaster said:
Hi all.

Decided to stop the metformin as I can no longer tolerate the side effects.

I'm a little apprehensive as I stopped taking them property a couple of weeks ago and my BGs were up slightly but I had a nasty cold and I think a slight sinus infection which had gone now.

Am I right in thinking the raised levels were the cold rather than the lack of metformin?

And another thing... I walk. Maybe 3 miles. Sometimes up hill sometimes walk less but my readings are always higher. Don't get it.
Click to expand...
Came off metformin a few weeks ago after having 12 years of side effects. BS went up quite a bit now on 40 am 80 pm gliclazide. Have not felt so well in years. good luck
 
Guzzler said:
Your comment on feeling 'foggy' made me stop and think, are you on a statin of some kind? Brain fog can be a side effect for some people when on statins but I havn't heard people complain about Metformin causing this kind of thing. That doesn't mean Met doesn't have that affect, just that I have not heard it said.
Click to expand...
 
I sometimes get that "foggy" feeling, sometimes "buzzy" feeling. I have been on metformin for 10 years and Farxiga for 2 years and I found the Farxiga made me wake up and be easily irritated, which is not good at work. So I switched my Farxiga to nightime and it seems better though I do feel a little foggy sometimes. Gradual reduction is always a safe way to try to come off meds.
 
My fog was caused by blood pressure tablets not diabetes. It however took 3 weeks to clear
 
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