How long do Metformin effects last after stopping?

[spendercat]

In the last two years some terrible life stresses have caused my Type2 to worsen, and although diet controlled for years my doctor wanted me to try Metformin.
We started at 500mg slow release, and after three months I was pretty sick and miserable, nevertheless we increased it to 750mg, and within a month I had to stop. I had exhaustion, nausea and overwhelming malaise. Worst of all was the SMELL. Everything tasted and smelled of rotten cabbages. Food, coffee, wine, and me, my body, sweat, aargh.
I know other people have suffered these sort of side effects so my question is: when does it stop?
Three weeks later the smell is still with me. Food is inedible and weirdly, I can't smell anything else - not perfume or normal scents at all.
Getting a bit desperate here.
Incidentally he has now given me Glipimide, and I am afraid to take it.

 

[Freema]

I cant imagine that it lasts for much longer, after 14 days it should be out of your body, bur maybe your body takes longer to get i out , drink lots of Water and sleep as much as you can as the body repairs much better under sleep... If you have got lasting changes of your taste and ability to smell ... the Company ought pay you a compensation

 

[urbanracer]

Posts 17 to 20 in this thread might be of interest to you @spendercat .......

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/coming-off-metformin-to-go-to-diet-exercise-control.7953/

 

[spendercat]

I am beginning to think this just has to be a long term recovery.
My energy is coming back, and the nausea is gone, but I still have bowel urgency and the taste/ smell alterations.
My friend took steroids for a period and had major side effects, she was told that it takes as long to recover from side effects as she took the drug for.
I am hoping that after taking Metformin for four months the effects will completely disappear after four months.

 

[spendercat]

If anyone checks this thread for information, I think I may have dealt with this problem.
I read that diabetics on Metformin have only 25% of normal levels of folic acid. I know that my family have unusually high folic acid requirements (doctor told me years ago).
So I am taking high dose folic acid. Odd taste is almost gone after three days.
Coincidence? Probably.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

My DN said that a pill takes a month to get out of your body. I have personal evidence suggesting that she is reading from her computer screen and not in the real world. My point is that it takes as long as it takes.