Metformin and Swollen Feet and Ankles

[Nwilliams]

Has anybody developed swollen feet and ankles by taking Metformin ?

I took 2 tabs @ 500 mg per day for a very long time with no problems. When increased to 3 tabs @ 500 mg per day my left foot started to puff up a little. When increased to 4 tabs @ 500 mg per day, the left foot and ankle became swollen and the right foot also.

My Doctor has reduced the Metformin to 2 tabs per day @ 500 mg and supplemented it with 1 tab Gliclazide @ 80 mg per day. It is too early to make a judgement, but my feet have almost returned to normal after just over a week. Other people on the web have complained about 2,000 mg of Metformin per day making their feet and ankles swell.

Has anybody else had this trouble ?
from the look of it at present, in my case there is no doubt about it.

My last HbA1c reading over month ago was 63 mmol/mol or 7.9 %. Not a disaster, but could be better.

 

[Nwilliams]

I have swollen ankles and just started taking metformin

 

[Boomer1]

Has anybody developed swollen feet and ankles by taking Metformin ?

I took 2 tabs @ 500 mg per day for a very long time with no problems. When increased to 3 tabs @ 500 mg per day my left foot started to puff up a little. When increased to 4 tabs @ 500 mg per day, the left foot and ankle became swollen and the right foot also.

My Doctor has reduced the Metformin to 2 tabs per day @ 500 mg and supplemented it with 1 tab Gliclazide @ 80 mg per day. It is too early to make a judgement, but my feet have almost returned to normal after just over a week. Other people on the web have complained about 2,000 mg of Metformin per day making their feet and ankles swell.

Has anybody else had this trouble ?
from the look of it at present, in my case there is no doubt about it.

My last HbA1c reading over month ago was 63 mmol/mol or 7.9 %. Not a disaster, but could be better.

I have been on Metformin 1000mg 2 times a day and have major troubles with my left anke. I am lookiing for an attorney to review this.. It creates deteriation of the muscle in the feet and my left ankle. Now have special shoes , had leg brace, and now noticing weakness in rear of left ankle. can't move very quick anymore. I have since stoopped taking metformin but swelling has not regressed.

 

[webboy]

Can I ask , which brands are taking and have been prescribed
I have this problem also it has been going on for over 3 weeks now so I am not taking this any more (very Upset)

500mg from Strides Pharms

 

[KennyA]

I also have had extremely swollen feet and lower legs and have never taken metformin. My oedema went away once I had got my BG back to normal levels.

The issue is that many of us with T2 will have or have had some sort of oedema, it's relatively common, and also many of us have been prescribed metformin. It doesn't mean that the metformin causes oedema. It's more probable (as in my case) that high blood glucose stops the kidneys working efficiently and leads to fluid retention.

Oedema is not listed as a side effect of metformin - the more common side effects are related to digestion.

Side effects of metformin

NHS medicines information on side effects of metformin and what you can do to cope.

www.nhs.uk

 

[TooSweetForMe]

I am on Janumet 50/1000 - 1 pill 2x a day, along with Humalog and Lantus. I am also on various medicines for HBP, cholesterol, allergies, and acid reflux. I started having digestive issues the week after I started the Janumet. NP wouldn't switch to any other meds, said my body would get used to it, so I suffered through it.

I am soon switching PCP's, as where I go now is a clinic for uninsured/underinsured patients and I now have insurance (YAY!). I am planning on asking if there is something else I can take other than the Janumet. Wish me luck!

 

[LivingLightly]

I've been taking Metformin for 17 years but I don't seem to have a problem with retained fluid. If I take soluble cocodamol I have horrendous fluid retention problems, I can gain 5 kgs in a week, so that's 5 litres of fluid. I now know that 8 soluble tablets (max daily dose) has 50% more salt than the RDA. In the past this has also led to higher BP but doesn't seem to be an issue these days.

Thank you for sharing @Grajo

 

[Pockeetoe]

Has anybody developed swollen feet and ankles by taking Metformin ?

I took 2 tabs @ 500 mg per day for a very long time with no problems. When increased to 3 tabs @ 500 mg per day my left foot started to puff up a little. When increased to 4 tabs @ 500 mg per day, the left foot and ankle became swollen and the right foot also.

My Doctor has reduced the Metformin to 2 tabs per day @ 500 mg and supplemented it with 1 tab Gliclazide @ 80 mg per day. It is too early to make a judgement, but my feet have almost returned to normal after just over a week. Other people on the web have complained about 2,000 mg of Metformin per day making their feet and ankles swell.

Has anybody else had this trouble ?
from the look of it at present, in my case there is no doubt about it.

My last HbA1c reading over month ago was 63 mmol/mol or 7.9 %. Not a disaster, but could be better.

I find it amazing how Docs just keep giving out meds when they are doing exactly what they tell you to watch for. Anybody else see a problem here? I was also bumped up from 2 @ 500mg a day to 4. I got sick to my stomach and diarrhea so I went back to 2 a day. Then I slowly put a 3rd one in the middle of the day. Seems ok now but I had to do this on my own. There has got to be a better way.