• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Kicking off 2011 with some drugs questions

G

Geoffo

Member
Messages
8
Very interesting reading last year's medication posts!

Type II for about 15 years - father had it - and his brothers, and his father and his brothers... I used to be on "upto" 3000mg of Metformin. I say upto as normally 2000mg (4 x 500) but with enough "stock" to pop another pill if, say, I had to go out to a restaurant to eat or if I craved some fruit. Plus 2 x 80g Gliclazide which was initially good at controlling fructose intake but as time goes on has become much less effective. Anyway, Doc decided their practice limit was 2000mg and got stroppy phone call from the Practice Manager! They lowered the Metformin but upped the Gliglazide to 4 x 80g. (He said that with the 1/2 life of Metformin, 2 x 1000g doses a day can't be bettered) Now I find I am putting on more weight (but still within good BMI) and have more hunger cravings! Is there a real danger with 2500-3000mg of Metformin? I felt I had better control with previous dosage. I'd be interested in other peoples dosages/experiences?

He's just retired, so am trying to build up some "real" info for the new doc as I'm finding it more difficult than ever!

Thanks people!
 
There is a Topic called 'Metformin Questions and Answers' in this section where they may be some answers already.

Personally I too was on max dose 3g Metformin daily and also max dose 320mg Gliclazide daily for some time before I found out what was causing my high Bg levels and finally managed to get off all of them completely.

Since then the dose allowed for Metformin has been dropped to 2g daily for safety reasons as some people were getting serious problems with the higher dose, ending up in Hospital ! :( Now I never had a problem on that dose but that is not to say that some can and might do. The Dr is constrained by the prescribing guidelines and would be very foolish if he went outside of those guidelines just because a Patient thought they should. The Dr has to consider his Professional status and career.

It isn't just a 'practice limit' it is a nationwide limit.

Gliclazide does have the unfortunate side effect of promoting weight gain, although it is also very effective at lowering Bg levels.

Both of these drugs are much more effective when used in conjunction with a 'reduction' of carbohydrates and some moderate exercise each day.
 
I've been on 3 x 850 mg for three years now, which adds up to 2550 mg or 2.55 g. How long has the limit been 2 g Ken? I don't seem to have had any side effects but what would they be?
 
I'm on the standard generic 850 mg Metformin Hydrochloride three times a day. Brand does vary depending on what the pharmacy give me but the current ones day Almus on the packet.
 
Hi Denise.
From memory I think it changed in the BNF 59 so it is possibly a couple of years now. The dose of 2g is the USUAL dose however that may differ from that printed in the PIL (Patient Information Leaflet) and also what your GP or Consultant may prescribe. I was on 3g daily for some time and I'm still OK.

I think .........

You could always ask when you next see the GP as that is all the information I have to hand.
 
I did wonder as I couldn't see anyone on the forum on as much Metformin as this.

Have just read the PIL and it says 'In most cases symptoms can be eventually controlled with three 500 mg tablets or two 850 mg tablets each day in divided doses. The maximum daily doses are six 500 mg tablets or three 850 mg tablets'. The leaflet says it was last revised in February 2010.

I'm due to see an Endo in March so will ask then, but my kidney and liver tests came back ok recently.
 
Back
Top