Metformin Availability

[embayweather]

I have been without my metformin for a little over two weeks, because I need vegetarian suitable and mjy pharmacy, cannot source a supplier. I have given the the names of three suppliers but apparently they still cannot get any. I am using insulin without much success currently, despite having got off it a month or so ago, coupled with glyclazde but my sugars vary between low and high teens. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions pease. no good asking a GP because they cannot prescribe a particular brand and neither can their pharmacists.

 

[embayweather]

I have been off metformini for over two week, and together with glyclazide, I have had to return to using insulin. Despite this my sugars remain high. I need to have vegetarian metformin and despite give the names of three manufacturers to the phamacist apparently they cannot get them. Has anyone any ideas how to cope with this? I donot want to be on inulin becasue when this batch runs out I cannot get any more than I can use, so the situation is pretty desperate.

 

[lovinglife]

I have been without my metformin for a little over two weeks, because I need vegetarian suitable and mjy pharmacy, cannot source a supplier. I have given the the names of three suppliers but apparently they still cannot get any. I am using insulin without much success currently, despite having got off it a month or so ago, coupled with glyclazde but my sugars vary between low and high teens. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions pease. no good asking a GP because they cannot prescribe a particular brand and neither can their pharmacists.

I would double check with your GP - my hubby takes a medication (not diabetic) and he can only tolerate one particular brand, it’s in his records to be prescribed that one only and we’ve never had any problems in many many years. Maybe speak directly to the person who deals with the prescriptions. Our GP has a lady who only does the coordinating & ordering of repeats etc. I had a problem with my sons meds being out of line for months, spoke to her and it was sorted in 5 minutes.

 

[embayweather]

Apparnetly there is a nationwide shortage of metformin SR

 

[LonelyFatGuy]

Which of the ingredients in Metformin is not suitable for vegetarians...?

 

[embayweather]

Magnesium stearate and shellac

 

[embayweather]

I have also spoken at length with the pharmacists at the gp surgery who tell me it’s not their problem. It is for the local pharmacists who tell me it’s not their problem either they can only dispense what they are told, which is nothing, so they give me what’s in the shelf.

 

[Outlier]

What we called in my line of business "a good example of sloping shoulder work"! I hope you find a practical solution soon.

 

[Foxxer]

Can I ask for the name of the three suppliers please? I have been advised to start metformin and other than Bristol Labatories I am struggling to find other vegetarian suppliers.