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Metformin and alcohol

L

lindainsomerset

Active Member
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27
I have just had to go onto Metformin tablets, starting one a day for a week, then two a day. The information sheet inside tha tablet boxes says no alcohol consumption whilst taking them,but after looking up on internet it then says 'no EXCESSIVE alcohol consumption'. So 2 questions:-
1. Am I allowed to drink wine?
2. What is considered excessive?

I have given up so much food that I love already, wine is all I have left :(

Any clarification much appreciated!
 
I'm on metformin and ok with pints of lager and a cheap pizza on a saturday night I allow myself saturday nights off being diabetic!
 
Metformin completely screwed me with any alcohol whatsoever, so i stopped it and decided to sort myself with diet alone.
So far so good and feeling much the better for doing it.

Andy
 
I'm on metformin and I am a social drinker and mainly drink rose wine. I don't seem to have any adverse effects.
 
Mothman said:
Metformin completely screwed me with any alcohol whatsoever, so i stopped it and decided to sort myself with diet alone.
So far so good and feeling much the better for doing it.

Andy
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What symptoms did you have mixing the two?
 
I saw an endocrinologist who specialises in Diabetes. I asked him this question, as I although I'm not on meds, I probably will be one day. His response to "I've heard you can't drink alcohol with metformin" was "absolute rubbish!" So come the day, I'll take his advice!
 
I'm on Metformin, and although they tell you not to drink alcohol with it, I think they say this for all medications. I drink a good sized glass of wine with lunch and supper as is normal here in Switzerland. I don't have any particular problems and my Endo knows I have wine with my meals and doesn't say anything. The only restriction I impose on myself is not to drink if I've got to drive.
 
Me too, Daisy1! I was cautious about wine to start with, but I'm much more relaxed about it now. I drank a whole bottle of red over the course of last night :oops: .

It doesn't do the weight loss much good, though :cry: . Back on the wagon for a while now :wink: .

Viv 8)
 
There is a specific blood acidosis that is a possible side effect, but I don't know if there have actually been any cases of it.
 
I love this!!!! Thank you all so much, I'm not an alcoholic but after giving up everything else I enjoy, it's nice to know I can indulge every so often. X
 
Hi all, 1st post, so go easy!

I have been reading through the forums for any snippets regarding alcohol and diabetes. Mainly because there has been a definite correlation between the effect alcohol has on me since I have been diagnosed as Type 2. Hangovers are now fearsome and I seem to get drunk very quickly.
To be fair, I rarely drink nowadays, and wonder if this is a contributing factor, but since I've been diagnosed if I have more than 3 or 4 pints, I can expect a lenghty hangover. Rare drinker or not, this seems extreme.
I'm on met now, having recently come off Gliclazide as well as Met. As others have said, I've had to give up everything else I like, now it appears I have to had lager to that list too.
I'd really appreciate people thoughts on this. Maybe it's totally unrelated and I'm just a lightweight now.
 
crouchingpeeky said:
To be fair, I rarely drink nowadays, and wonder if this is a contributing factor, but since I've been diagnosed if I have more than 3 or 4 pints, I can expect a lenghty hangover.
Click to expand...

There's your problem - out of practice. All athletes need to train.
 
douglas99 said:
There is a specific blood acidosis that is a possible side effect, but I don't know if there have actually been any cases of it.
Click to expand...


Lactic Acidosis was a real problem with Metformins predecessor Phenformin which was actually banned, I believe Metformin works in a slightly different way to Phenformin or has a different chemical make up so the risk of Lactic Acidosis is greatly reduced.

Alcohol will however still have a major effect on the liver which will not regulate the bodies glucose while removing toxins (alcohol) so while it is perfectly safe to have a couple of glasses of wine :thumbup: a couple of bottles probably is not a good idea :thumbdown:
 
Haven't had any problems with red wine since taking 2 x 500 Metformin/day. I always make sure I eat whilst drinking, maybe that helps! I would say keep practising :D
 
douglas99 said:
Mothman said:
Metformin completely screwed me with any alcohol whatsoever, so i stopped it and decided to sort myself with diet alone.
So far so good and feeling much the better for doing it.

Andy
Click to expand...

What symptoms did you have mixing the two?
Click to expand...

Doc told me to take my slow release Metformin with my evening meal, then had a pint and within 10 minutes had a hangover which lasted till late afternoon the next day. Decided i didnt want any more of that. Mum has a different sort of metformin with no side effects with alcohol whatsoever. Guess ime unlucky.

Andy
 
I was prescribed Metformin (3 tablets daily) the other month to make my insulin more efficient.
Later a doctor asked how much I drank at a diabetic review, told him it depends but perhaps 10-15 pints a week and he never mentioned anything re metformin problems and alcohol.
 
Grazer said:
crouchingpeeky said:
To be fair, I rarely drink nowadays, and wonder if this is a contributing factor, but since I've been diagnosed if I have more than 3 or 4 pints, I can expect a lenghty hangover.
Click to expand...

There's your problem - out of practice. All athletes need to train.
Click to expand...

Yes come on people, I am well aware of the seriousness of diabetes, but that doesn't mean be miserable, it means learn to cope, and still enjoy life.

I am puzzled as to why this hangover problem only occurred after you had been diagnosed, most T2 are likely to have had diabetes for a significantly length of time before being found in a routine blood or urine test.
 
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