Dont know what to think

[iggy-lil]

I have just come back from seeing one of our GP's. Have been tired for a while but it has been getting worse. Also can not cope with the nausea since starting the metformin - which has been wipeing me out.

I wanted to see the GP that has been treating my diabetes but he is away.
Anyway after having a chat and a good cry about how the tiredness and nausea is really affecting me ( I know there are worse off than me but it is my life its affecting) she has arranged blood tests to check my thyroid and iron/b12 (which I was hoping for) but she cant look at my diabetic medication or will change the metformin to slow realease as she says it has proven that it dont make a difference but also the other GP is in charge of my treatment.

Never had this before - usually any of the GP's will see you for on going treatment.

I was given the option of stopping my metformin for a few days until I see the diabetic GP but I said I would carry on thinking its just a few more days, but now Im home I am thinking of stopping it just for a day or 2 just to see if I still have the nausea. I cant have an appointment for 2 weeks to see this GP but can risk walk in surgery in a weeks time to see him, need too be there for opening time to make sure which I will.

Have any of you just stopped metformin and did it make a huge difference?

thanks for reading this far x

 

[viviennem]

In some practices the diabetic specialist GP sees all the diabetic patients and controls their medication; it might have caused trouble if the other one had changed your meds without reference to the specialist. It's very frustrating, but I can understand why. They have plenty of rows between themselves behind the scenes; we just don't see it!

How many Metformin are you taking, and when? It might make a difference if you cut down on the quantity, or took them all at once/separated them over the day. I doubt if stopping them all at once would hurt; someone else may know more.

Some people find that taking them right in the middle of a meal helps reduce the side-effects, rather than taking them before and after.

What other pills are you on? Is nausea a side-effect of any of them? Maybe it's not just the met. Try taking a list of everything you take and ask your local pharmacist for advice - and on how to stop the met. They're usually delighted to help.

Otherwise I don't know what to say to help. I've never had nausea as a side-effect. If you really can't bear it, stop them and make an appointment to see the specialist GP immediately on his/her return.

Good luck!

Viv 8)

 

[SouthernGeneral6512]

I think I'm having problems with metformin too ... been taking them for about 2 weeks and have been lightheaded and tired for about 10 days. Problem is they do seem to control my blood sugar so it's hard to know what to do :sick:

 

[iggy-lil]

Thanks for the replies.

I do understand about the diabetic specialist GP and I usually do try to always see the same GP for each condition/treatment as I like continuity of care. I just couldnt get used to the nausea/tirdness and couldnt wait until next week. It is early days , just past 4 weeks of taking the metformin. Im not on what I thought was a high dose. 500mg with breakfast and 500mg with evening meal - which I do take 1/2 way through the meal (as read on here ). You lot are fab with support and information :thumbup:

I am on several other meds but have sadly been taking some for over 3 years, some over 1 years so long enough I think to cause anyknown side effects.
The GP I saw did say I could stop the metformin for a few days until I see the other GP as she feels it wont make any difference for a few days - even though I cant cope with the nausea I am more scared of stopping so I did ring our pharmacist for advice and he said to try to carry on as the side effects will soon stop and he said he had some medication to stop the nausea. I think if I had been in the chemist I would have hugged him , he even offered to deliver them for me there and then . So thanked him and told him hubby would pop me up to get them. Hubby was out at the time so rung him and he called in on the way back, the pharmacist even gave hubby a glass of water thinking I was in the car so I could have a tablet straight away. :angel: How is that for service.

I have had a tablet - the relief is great and as long as they keep me going until I see the GP I dont mind atall.

A bit long winded but so pleased to just have a bit of relief.

 

[Grazer]

Glad the pharmacist could help, but if it comes back, stopping the met for a few days won't do any great harm to your BGs. Can't understand the "slow release is proven not to make a difference" - I'd say the opposite, it's proven it DOES, it's just a bit more expensive!

 

[sallylondon]

Slow release made a huge difference to me tolerating Metformin. Keep asking for it. :thumbup:

 

[paragliderpete]

hi. You don't say how long you have been taking Metformin. I had to slowly start taking Metformin very slowly. Started with 1/4 tablet every other day, and over a period of a month increased it to one tablet a day. Then increased it further until I reached maximum dosage of 2000mg.
I found also that if I had any amount of carbs with the tablet , this also tended to upset me.
It took me about 3 months to tolerate the metformin. The problem with stopping yours would be that if you started taking it again then you would have to start from scratch re conditioning yourself.

The Metformin SR I can take without problem . Its alot easier on the stomach.

Even when used to taking either you will still get the odd upset.

You may have to fight for the SR as it;s a cost thing. I won my argument on the grounds of adverse reaction to the standard form. Get glucophage SR if you can , as I found bioequivalants like Bolymin not as effective. Unfortunately It's a cost thing again.

 

[iggy-lil]

Glad the pharmacist could help, but if it comes back, stopping the met for a few days won't do any great harm to your BGs. Can't understand the "slow release is proven not to make a difference" - I'd say the opposite, it's proven it DOES, it's just a bit more expensive!

Thats what this GP said and she is usually a good GP. I had a feeling she might say it as I did a search online for the slow release so I could ask and there are quite a few letters/information for GP's from pcts stating that slow release is not really that better BUT they only have to look on here to see that a lot of you have gained from taking them. Again like a lot have said its probably down to the cost as the costs were on these forms :shock:
Im seeing the nurse tuesday for bloods and diabetic speacialist GP hopefully at walk in thursday but in the meantime(if these tablets stop the nausea) after I see the nurse I am going to see the on duty GP and ask for a prescription for these tablets as they are a lot for just 10 :shock:
But at the moment they are well worth the money 8)

hi. You don't say how long you have been taking Metformin. .

Just over 4 weeks. Started with 1 with breakfast for a week and then increased to 1 with breakfast and 1 with evening meal the 2nd week.

 

[angieG]

Have you tried taking them before or after the meal?
When I first started them I tried them during my meals and found them a bit stomach churning. I now take mine about 20 or 30 minutes before I eat so they have time to digest before the food and that seems to work for me. We are all different so try experimenting a bit.
Hope you get sorted.
Angie

 

[alison m]

I have been on metformin since diagnosis in May, the first 3 weeks after starting the meds I felt brilliant, but then I started to feel really wiped out, so tired all of the time, I went to see my doc and he said I might be sensitive to metformin,so he reduced my dose and now I feel really good again, after seeing him again today he told me my diabetes control was good so he would leave it at 1 500mg each day, it could be that you to are sensitive to metformin and maybe reducing the dose might help you to, also I take my metformin just after eating and I have never had a problem with nausea.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon xx

Alison

 

[terrierist]

Slow release made a huge difference to me tolerating Metformin. Keep asking for it. :thumbup:

And me!! :thumbup: :wave:

 

[SouthernGeneral6512]

How much is the difference in price it seems that the SR is definitely better

 

[Unbeliever]

A GP told me ,a few years ago that the difference was £1 per month. I am not sure if he meant for me or whether that was an average. he said that the PCT didn't like it to be prescribed and the Drs had to make out a case for each ime it was.
he thought it was outrageous.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I try to get prior agreement with my nurse before I stop or change anything. This did not hold good with the statins which tend to cripple me. Three or four different types later it is now agreed that I can't take statins.

I was concerned about the metformin and got agreement to stop taking them for three months. I found there was no difference at all. The sugar levels were the same as before and I still whinged on about a lack of energy. Both the doctor and the nurse were very keen for me to start taking them again but did not explain why.

I now take 500mg per day for a reason I don't understand. Any more than that and my taste buds react and most foods tasted like burnt plastic. All other type 2 diabetics I have met have had similar problems with it.

I think that if you stopped taking metformin for a few days in order to learn something then you will not be doing much/any harm.