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Metformin Availability

embayweather

Active Member
Messages
33
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 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
What we called in my line of business "a good example of sloping shoulder work"! I hope you find a practical solution soon.
 
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.
 
Foxxer said:
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.
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I know not necessary helpful to you but I Can now never get BRISTOL labortories make . I struggled for years going to every chemist around to try to get them . AS I found they were the only ones that I could take .that did not make me as ill as others did ?.When I could no longer get them I then managed to get TEVA .. and now only take them . I did eeek them out for a few weeks a while ago when I could not get them .. I am lactose intolerant and only want vegan ? Ones . My doctor told me years ago he can not name a brand ? As metformin are all a generic ? When I was only able to take the Bristol make he wasn’t interested . It seems that the manufacturers of the pills send all the metformin to the warehouses then the warehouses send out what they want to ..some chemist were helpful and tried to ask for certain brands but ultimately it is down to what the warehouse gives out ..obviously down to money as it seems they send out the cheapest ones but bought in bulk ? For the highest profit . IN my opinion it might depend where you live at it seems on the south coast you can not get Bristol labatories ones .
 
embayweather said:
Magnesium stearate and shellac
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In the USA:

Magnesium Stearate​

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 11, 2024.

Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)

What is it?​

Magnesium stearate (Mg(C18H3502)2 or octadecanoic acid) is a solid, white powder at room temperature. It is a FDA-approved inactive ingredient commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a lubricant and release agent in the manufacture of tablet, capsule, and powder dosage forms.

Magnesium stearate is generally recognized as safe by the FDA.[1] Magnesium stearate exists as a salt form and is useful for it's lubricating properties for capsules and tablets in industry. It is used to help prevent pharmaceutical ingredients from adhering to industry equipment.[2] Magnesium stearate may be derived from both plant and animal sources.
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Shallac is made from collecting a natural secretion of a particular beetle. Is that any different than eating honey from bees, for vegetarians who consume honey? Trying to be vegan is a whole different category of priorities.
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