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Metformin & Diarrhoea

I'm on SR 1000 with evening meal.Most of the time I 'm fine.Though have started reacting to onions..
 
My first week on Metformin, so on one tablet a day. First day no problem, second day...diarrhoea. Now after a couple of uneventful days it has returned. I can't live like this, not daring to venture far from the toilet. Going back to the doctor tomorrow. I was beginning to think my system had adjusted, dare not even think what it will be like on three tablets a day!
 
colinRmhall said:
Changed medication to the SR version of Metformin....hopefully I can eat again now.
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Hi Colin,
I started on the SR version from the beginning, as I also have IBS. It took me a full four months to get used to them. I had diarrhea and bad stomach cramps every day, but my symptoms were greatly reduced when I was very strict about taking them with a *full* glass of water, in the middle of my meals. I'd eat half my breakfast, swallow the pill with a full glass of water, then eat the rest. For me, it seemed to help. I also reduced my carbs, which also seemed to help. If I ate an overly-carby meal, my symptoms would be worse. Just a suggestion. :) Now I can take them whenever, with a lot of liquid or hardly any and everything is fine.
 
Fallgal said:
Hi Colin,
I started on the SR version from the beginning, as I also have IBS. It took me a full four months to get used to them. I had diarrhea and bad stomach cramps every day, but my symptoms were greatly reduced when I was very strict about taking them with a *full* glass of water, in the middle of my meals. I'd eat half my breakfast, swallow the pill with a full glass of water, then eat the rest. For me, it seemed to help. I also reduced my carbs, which also seemed to help. If I ate an overly-carby meal, my symptoms would be worse. Just a suggestion. :) Now I can take them whenever, with a lot of liquid or hardly any and everything is fine.
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I AM NOT going four months with diorreah and a bad stomach !!! No way no how not going to happen !!
 
Colin, I am sorry. I did not mean to upset you. As I said, I have IBS, so realize that I already had severe stomach problems before starting the Metformin SR. You may well be over this in another week, like *many* people are.
 
I have been on metformin sr since the end of Jan this year (newly diagnosed t2) I started off with 1 tablet for 10 days which was increased to 1 twice a day. My dose was finally upped last week to 1 tablet in the morning and 2 in the evening. I have never suffered with constipation but have since being in these tablets. Since upping the dose I have felt very unwell to the point I can't stomach to eat or drink so I have stopped taking the metformin as there's no point when I can't keep anything down. I constantly feel sick I can't open my bowels and I have a constant build up of acid :-(
 
Fallgal said:
Colin, I am sorry. I did not mean to upset you. As I said, I have IBS, so realize that I already had severe stomach problems before starting the Metformin SR. You may well be over this in another week, like *many* people are.
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I wasn't upset Fallgal I was just expressing my determination not suffer unduly at the hands of the medical profession. If my body won't tolerate Metformin I expect to be put on something it will, and not just be left to suffer. If necessary I'll do it by diet alone.
 
I was put on metformin when first diagnosed and boy did it go through me like a ferrari. I tried and tried to stick with it but in the end just stop taking it. (not the best idea) Anyway, after a talk with the doc she put me on 2 gliclazide of a morning and 2 glucophage SR of an evening. Absolutely no toilet issues at all.
 
colinRmhall said:
I wasn't upset Fallgal I was just expressing my determination not suffer unduly at the hands of the medical profession. If my body won't tolerate Metformin I expect to be put on something it will, and not just be left to suffer. If necessary I'll do it by diet alone.
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I've tried Metformin SR on four separate occasions Colin and it just does NOT suit me .I was running to the loo 20 times a day .Yes it lowered my BG a bit but the price was too high.I don't know why they keep insisting I try it .I'm now taking Sitagliptin and Novamix insulin but they aren't doing much sadly .If Metformin doesn't suit you then it just doesn't and it's a very common problem .Insist on something else.
 
Hi everyone I have been on Metformin 500 mg twice a day for 5 yearS and had no problems. However my diabetic nurse upped them to 1000 mg twice a day I have only been on this new dose for 2 days and feel really unwell with diarrhoea and flu like symptoms. Has anyone else had this with increased dosage? Thank you
 
I've been on metformin for just under a year and glizazide for 3 mths. My bs goes to 2.8 2.9. At about 4pm. So I make sure I keep an apple for about 3.45 keeps me on till I get home and have my t. Doctor took me of from 4 glizazide to 3 because of the hypos as it was going to far down. But it was not going down enough only going to 10 so I put myself back on to 4. So now feeling much better not having headarces or feeling dizzy now.
 
I have been on metformin since being diagnosed as Type 2 back in late 2000.

Apart from when I first started taking metformin, I have had no problems however, for the couple of years I have suffered from what I can only call intermittent IBS type symptoms. I go from constipated to the runs frequently. It's mostly the runs.
Is it possible after such a long time to start having issues with metformin?

I take 4 tablets a day, 2 in the morning and 2 with evening meal.
 
I was diagnosed as t2 last week and started metformin 850mg on Monday. My GP started me on one a day for 2 weeks then I'm going to be on 2 a day. I was hoping that was to get me used to it and avoid the diarrhoea but yesterday I had a bit but wasn't too bothered by it, I have diverticulosis so am used to "unusual" bowel behaviour but today it has been a lot worse. It has got me down a bit, worrying that it will be an ongoing side effect, especially as with a fasting bg of 22 I clearly need medication to get it down, so coming off it isn't really an option.
 
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