Metformin and linagliptin (trajenta)

[vaikar]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed as diabetic during my first pregnancy 3 and half years ago (gestational then). At that time I used to take 4 metformin 500 mg tablets a day and did not have much issues except occasional diarrhea. After that pregnancy my diabetes was gone but came back soon after an year as type 2. My family has a strong history of Diabetes so I knew I would get it some day. 2 years ago, I was again prescribed Metformin and 4 tabs a day again. After 8 months of use of it, I started having very bad side effects, like Severe stomach paid all day even if I drink water or eat anything, severe gastric problem, dizziness, Severe Diarrhea and tiredness or weakness. It was so bad that if i go to toilet, I will be there ever and would have no energy to even get up and the dizziness would kill me. Worse than Hypo. The doctors said it was food poisoning first, then ulcers, hyperacidosis but none of the medication worked. I was frustrated with GP and hospital and it was so bad that I almost lost interest in my life as I did not even know what was causing this. Finally one doctor at GP mentioned that sometimes metformin could cause it. So I stopped metformin for 2 days and all my symptoms were gone by 3rd day. So the doc asked me to change to metformin extended/slow release and that too only 2 tablets a day. That improved my health for few months, but afer 3 months of its use, even the slow release became an issue. The same symptoms repeated. Then before I went to GP, I realised I was pregnant again. During my second pregnancy, the diab doctors asked me to try metformin again and see if it works as last pregnancy it worked. Surprisingly during my pregnancy I had none of the symptoms of the side effects of Metformin.

After my second child was born the symptoms returned even with Slow release. So the doctor now put me on linagliptin (Trajenta) 1 tab a day. I just started it today, but really worried, as this tab also lists the same side effects plus more. My sugars weren't that great too. My question is did anyone had the same issues as me and did they try linagliptin? did it help with Linagliptin? OR has anyone tried a better medicine that would control sugars and still not have these side effects?

Regards,
VK

 

[Daibell]

HI. Sorry to hear of your problems. Linagliptin is one of several drugs in the 'gliptin' family. They are all very similar. I was on Sitagliptin (Januvia) for a few years. Based on my experience and this forum these drugs don't cause many problems although a very few can have serious side effects; see the drug leaflet. The gliptins work by extending the time the pancreas produces insulin after a meal. Many diabetics, including myself previously, are put onto Gliclazide which stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin but this drug is only really relevant if your pancreas is not doing it's job. If you are overweight and hence insulin resistant then it is not normally of much value; metformin is of help then. I'm afraid there is no miracle drug so perhaps more discussion with the GP is the thing to do and suggest Gliclazide is considered if you are normal weight. I suggested it to my diabetes specialist GP and he said 'yes, that's a good idea' and I was on it for many years but eventually it failed as my pancreas failed. BTW I'm only an amateur on the subject so as always discuss options with the GP.