I had the most common issue of really bad upset tummy problems, hard to leave the house! I also just felt really wiped out somehow as if a brick had hit me! Soon as I started forxiga it was like a switch had been flicked and I felt great.Dear Kimbo1962, I see from your post that you could not tolerate the Metformin medication. May I ask you what symptoms you had as my mum is also not coping too well with it. xx
I too and my twin sister took Metformin with resulting stomach problems. However, my doctor suggested that as I was on the maximum dose I should go on to insulin. I really wish I hadn't because my diabetic control is not good. However, when my twin sister mentioned to her doctor about Metformin effects he said that the stomach upsets would mean she wasn't absorbing enough Metformin anyway so he cut her dose! Result is she no longer has stomach upsets and her diabetic control is very good.Please may I ask if anyone knows if there is an alternative to Metformin? I have a 73-year-old friend who is a Type 2 and Metformin is making his life a misery. His stomach is constantly upset. I think he takes Gliclazide too but his readings seem constantly too high and I am worried for him.This past week he has had a flu type virus that has sent his readings up to sitting around 23 and I persuaded him those levels were becoming dangerously high, so he did phone for advice and a doctor met him at the out-of-hours clinic at the hospital but promptly sent him home with instructions just to double his Metformin.Now his stomach is so upset he cannot even leave the house.
Personally, I think he'd be better off on insulin now as even on a good day his readings only seem to sit around the 9 mark and I feel he'll be heading for complications if his doctor won't help him get his readings down.His doctor just said there is no alternative to Metformin, so if he can't tolerate it, he cannot give him anything else at all.Full stop.I've told him there must be something else he can take to help.
I think he thinks I'm just a fuss-pot, so what can I do to help? If I had a definite suggestion of an alternative to Metformin, at least that might ease his constantly upset stomach and make his life more bearable.
I accompanied my friend yesterday at her endocrinologist's visit. She couldn't tolerate Metformin and he switched her to Glumetza, an alternative to Metformin. She said this morning that she had not side effects at all, no upset stomach, no diarrhea etc.
"Although other long-acting forms of metformin are available (such as Glucophage XR® and Fortamet®), Glumetza is not equivalent to these products. Glumetza is specially designed to release the medication in the stomach, not in the intestines (as with other metformin products). This may decrease the intestinal-related side effects (such as diarrhea and gas).
Who Makes It?
Glumetza is manufactured by Depomed, Inc.
How Does Glumetza Work?
Glumetza is part of a class of diabetes medications known as biguanide medications. Glumetza works in several ways. It decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It can also decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body from the diet and can make insulin receptors more sensitive, helping the body respond to its own insulin better. All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels and lead to better control of diabetes.
Because Glumetza does not increase the amount of insulin produced by the body, it is less likely to cause dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), like many other diabetes medications can."
I accompanied my friend yesterday at her endocrinologist's visit. She couldn't tolerate Metformin and he switched her to Glumetza, an alternative to Metformin. She said this morning that she had not side effects at all, no upset stomach, no diarrhea etc.
"Although other long-acting forms of metformin are available (such as Glucophage XR® and Fortamet®), Glumetza is not equivalent to these products. Glumetza is specially designed to release the medication in the stomach, not in the intestines (as with other metformin products). This may decrease the intestinal-related side effects (such as diarrhea and gas).
Who Makes It?
Glumetza is manufactured by Depomed, Inc.
How Does Glumetza Work?
Glumetza is part of a class of diabetes medications known as biguanide medications. Glumetza works in several ways. It decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It can also decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body from the diet and can make insulin receptors more sensitive, helping the body respond to its own insulin better. All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels and lead to better control of diabetes.
Because Glumetza does not increase the amount of insulin produced by the body, it is less likely to cause dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), like many other diabetes medications can."
I accompanied my friend yesterday at her endocrinologist's visit. She couldn't tolerate Metformin and he switched her to Glumetza, an alternative to Metformin. She said this morning that she had not side effects at all, no upset stomach, no diarrhea etc.
"Although other long-acting forms of metformin are available (such as Glucophage XR® and Fortamet®), Glumetza is not equivalent to these products. Glumetza is specially designed to release the medication in the stomach, not in the intestines (as with other metformin products). This may decrease the intestinal-related side effects (such as diarrhea and gas).
Who Makes It?
Glumetza is manufactured by Depomed, Inc.
How Does Glumetza Work?
Glumetza is part of a class of diabetes medications known as biguanide medications. Glumetza works in several ways. It decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It can also decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body from the diet and can make insulin receptors more sensitive, helping the body respond to its own insulin better. All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels and lead to better control of diabetes.
Because Glumetza does not increase the amount of insulin produced by the body, it is less likely to cause dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), like many other diabetes medications can."
I know, but:
Glumetza is specially designed to release the medication in the stomach, not in the intestines (as with other metformin products). This may decrease the intestinal-related side effects (such as diarrhea and gas).
I guess it is worth trying, my friend didn't have any of the bad side effects she had with Metformin.
Just trying to help.
Did he try Janumet ?Please may I ask if anyone knows if there is an alternative to Metformin? I have a 73-year-old friend who is a Type 2 and Metformin is making his life a misery. His stomach is constantly upset. I think he takes Gliclazide too but his readings seem constantly too high and I am worried for him.This past week he has had a flu type virus that has sent his readings up to sitting around 23 and I persuaded him those levels were becoming dangerously high, so he did phone for advice and a doctor met him at the out-of-hours clinic at the hospital but promptly sent him home with instructions just to double his Metformin.Now his stomach is so upset he cannot even leave the house.
Personally, I think he'd be better off on insulin now as even on a good day his readings only seem to sit around the 9 mark and I feel he'll be heading for complications if his doctor won't help him get his readings down.His doctor just said there is no alternative to Metformin, so if he can't tolerate it, he cannot give him anything else at all.Full stop.I've told him there must be something else he can take to help.
I think he thinks I'm just a fuss-pot, so what can I do to help? If I had a definite suggestion of an alternative to Metformin, at least that might ease his constantly upset stomach and make his life more bearable.
I had problems when I was on metformin and Gliclazide The metformin was affecting my kidney function and the Gliclazide gave me really bad constipation so much so that I had a perforated bowel that turned in an abscess and required surgery to drain it. I decided to stop taking both Metformin and gliclazide and went to see my doctor after a discussion about the alternatives he started me on insulin (Novamix 30) it took about 4 weeks to get the right dosage but since then my energy levels have gone back to what they used to be and I generally feel better in myselfPlease may I ask if anyone knows if there is an alternative to Metformin? I have a 73-year-old friend who is a Type 2 and Metformin is making his life a misery. His stomach is constantly upset. I think he takes Gliclazide too but his readings seem constantly too high and I am worried for him.This past week he has had a flu type virus that has sent his readings up to sitting around 23 and I persuaded him those levels were becoming dangerously high, so he did phone for advice and a doctor met him at the out-of-hours clinic at the hospital but promptly sent him home with instructions just to double his Metformin.Now his stomach is so upset he cannot even leave the house.
Personally, I think he'd be better off on insulin now as even on a good day his readings only seem to sit around the 9 mark and I feel he'll be heading for complications if his doctor won't help him get his readings down.His doctor just said there is no alternative to Metformin, so if he can't tolerate it, he cannot give him anything else at all.Full stop.I've told him there must be something else he can take to help.
I think he thinks I'm just a fuss-pot, so what can I do to help? If I had a definite suggestion of an alternative to Metformin, at least that might ease his constantly upset stomach and make his life more bearable.
I would be interested in seeing what you have to say. Thank you.There are herbal "alternatives".
If you wish I will share, but not at the expense of starting an argument on the forum.
I'm too chilled on red wine and don't want to spoil it- hic:grin:
I had been taking Forxiga for 10 months and had to come off it due to infections, but in all that time I had to take Metformin as well.I also had terrible problems with Metformin and was prescribed Forxiga ((Dapagliflosin) which has been great
What an inspiration you are. I am newly diagnosed and following a very strict diet 800 cals a day plus daily walks and weekend rambles! I have lost 21lb in 8 weeks, had a few days away a couple of weeks ago and had a couple of glasses of red wine and a small portion of chips (heaven!) finding it hard sometimes but I'm determined to stay med free. Got first fasting blood test in January since diagnosis, whatever happens I feel and look so much better.When diagnosed last June I was given metformin, after a week it was obvious I couldn't tolerate it and expected to be given the Sr version, instead the nurse practitioner gave me forxiga and I had no problems at all with it, it's still fairly new- may not be suitable for all of us, like most things it's down to individuals. I'm now, since mid January meds free and diet exercise only
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