Metformin not working for me & no alternative!

Hi Gingercat

Well, no sleep last night hence being on here at 5.50am!!! :x Decided last night not to take any more of the Glucophage. Tried the Motillium, went to bed with pain between shoulderblades, hubby had spent an hour massaging my back while I laid on my front to try to relieve the wind. Worked until 30 mins after he stopped, rapidy built back up. All night griping pains, distension and in the last 2hrs loud angry grizzling noises, actually feel nauseous too. I have been so deperate I googled how to get rid of wind, lol...........tried all the exercises including rolling on my tum, manually manipulating my belly and being on all fours sticking bum in air :lol: didn't work!

Am putting it on the line this morning when I see my GP, if its not the Gluco I need to know what it is...I have had IBS in past but it wasn't like this and I was always running to the loo and then felt better but passing gas, going to loo makes no difference, its as tho someone is pumping me up like a balloon!!

I already have long term Sciatic pain to cope with and am having Carpal surgery on March 16 on R Wrist, followed by the left 6 weeks later so all in all, what with work being the way they are I certainly don't need this and the Pharmacist being awkward as well.

Actually, I went into a small local Pharmacy for the first time yesterday and she said Bolymin? what's the prob....we can get that so I really need to put some pressure on GP. Can never get to see the DN, she seems constantly booked up, prob is only 3 nurses and they "multi task!"

Anyway Gingercat I have rambled far too long. I am so sorry you are suffering already after one tab, don't know what to say, I know we have to give things time but prob is the symptoms get worse and worse sometimes then goodness knows how log it will take to get stuff out of system.

Keep us updated and I will let you kow how I get on today...

Regards
Chris

alternative to Metformin

Hi all

Just wanted to ask, I have been having conversations on another link about Metformin. I just wondered is there an alternative to Met (am only on 500mg day) for T2 Diabetic that DOES NOT cause GI side effects?

Thanks
Chris

Gingercat and Chrisie, sorry to hear you are both having such a bad time with your Metformin/Glucophage. Do you both see just your practace diabetic nurse or have you been referred to a hospital specialist diabetic clinic?

Some people do have horrific stomach problems with Met/Gluc I am lucky in as much as I am very tolerant of most drugs, I get constipated with codeine but thats about it. But there are many other diabetes drugs that you may find that you are OK with, besides met/gluc is only good for helping to reduce bg by about 1-2mmol/L and thats with a max dose of 2000mg.

With high bg I would think it may be time to look at other meds that may be both better tolerated and better at reducing those bg levels. If you are not under a specialist diabetic team then ask for a referral to one, you will get much better care and information from a specialist. Good luch with whatever course af action you both take

Re: alternative to Metformin

You really nned to talk to your GP or DN about this. Have you tried the Modified or Slow release metformins? They cause less GI problems for a lot of people. I am now on Gliclazide as i couldn't tolerate any form of Metformin.

Hi Sid and Gingercat
Well, saw GP this morning and like a fool I burst in to tears because I felt so ill. He was lovely and he actually went to the practice manager who phoned the Pharmacy dept at Boots and asked why they didn't honour my prescription!!! 20 minutes later I had a new prescription for Bolymin in my hand with the assurance it would be honoured.

He thoroughly examined me and said I was suffering severe spasms in intestinal tract from stomach to bowel and whatever I was trying was not going to shift it. He thinks I have an attack of severe IBS brought on my the Glucophage and a reaction to the med as well.

Anyway, he has given me a prescription for peppermint capsules 30 ins after meals and Mebrevine three times a day 20 mins before eating which relaxes everything, told me to stop Gluco immediately and actually wait 3 days before re-starting the Bolymin, also suggested I eat very small meals for a few days low fat and low carb...yes..low carb to allow tum to recover, also doubled my Ranitidine for 5 days to make sure the reflux settles back again.

I have had two lots of each now and it is all feeling much less tight and although still some pain the edge has come off so I am hoping this will do trick.

Went to Boots and got the Bolymin

Sid, I see practice DN but not often and I was okay all this time until my brand of Met started getting mucked about. Mind you, I don't know how I would get on if it was increased, hence my question about other options. Have appt for HBAIC test next week then see her week after so wil see what happens.

Thanks for all your support, it is a lonely old road sometimes isn't it !

Gingercat, hope you feel better soon, don't leave it as long as I did if you feel really bad hon. x

Love Chris

Glad to hear that things are improving for you Chris and good luck with your HbAc1

I was the same chris when i started on tem tablets, doc just said too me that are hard on your stomach and will take about six months to settle in. Hopefully you will get a better answer when ya see him cause i know how ya feel

What is "Bolyman"? I didn't know there was an alternative to Glucophage XR/SR?

Never mind - just found Bolamyn...

HI folks

Thanks for all your support, am feeling much better today, my tum is settling nicely and I am so relieved to be rid of the worst of the pain.
Sorry, it is BOLAMYN, spelt wrong before, it's slow release.

Hey Gingercat how you feeling today?

Thanks Sid, fingers crossed for HBAIC think I may have lost some ground but will see.

Regards
Chris

Hi Gingercat, how you feeling now, any better?

I am going to re-start my Bolamyn tomorrow (oh err) mustn't get anxious or I will look a real fool if my tum plays up again having thankfully just got it to right which is such a relief.

Having my HBAIC test this Thurs then to make an appt the week after to get results, think they will be poor somehow. :roll: Seem to be running high lately. Think I have taken my eye off the ball.

Take care,
Chrissie

I've had a bad week (five hours in loo etc) and wondering if i'm starting to have an intolerance to Metformin again

Chris I had exactly the same side effects as yourself on just 500mg/day.
I started on "Standard" Metformin and then Glucophage SR but I could not tolerate either.
I must have gone for about four weeks with hardly any sleep due to very severe acid reflux,abdominal pain and copius amounts of evil smelling gas.
Unless it really is a matter of life and death I will NEVER take any form of Metformin again!
Good Luck
Edward

Oh God

Why oh why did I fight to get the Bolamyn back :?: , have been back on it three days and all the gut problems have come back again. :x My stomach is aching so bad (low down) I have been to the loo but it feels like you do when you still need to go, I am full of gas and the Mebrevine don't seem to be helping. Fot the few days I was on nothing my belly was so much better I felt wonderful !!!

I don't get it, I was on this for months before with no probs.

Surely this can't be right? I am so stressed about it and because I am waiting for my first hand op on 16th and went back to work this week and they have been pigs to me :cry:

I just know my next HBAIC (due this week) is going to be terrible and I m terrified they will bounce up the MET. I really feel like packing it all in and going med free and sod it all.

I mean, are there NO anti diabetic meds which don't upset the guts?

I really feel desperate.

Chrissie

3 days is no time at all. Many who haven't been able to tolerate a drug initially have 'toughed' it out for a week or so and found that the symptoms subside. You have to give a drug time for your body to get used to it.

You sound like you are stressing yourself out over this and that in itself is not good as it can cause stomach problems.

There are many anti-Diabetic drugs available and you should discuss this with your GP as there are alternatives if Metformin or anything containing Met is not tolerated.

Hello,

Sorry, I know I sound off my proverbial rocker !! I was just shocked to think that a medication I tolerated so well before may have kicked in like this,
I suppose prob is it could just be IBS as I am so stressed at the moment it is awful. My work colleagues have been dreadful to me because I have been off a while due to very bad Carpal probs (and I type all day). I am only back 3 half days this and next week on phased return and I am having both wrists done, first one on 16th other 6 weeks later. They know I may be off 12 weeks according to the consultant.
My elderly mum is poorly and seems to have agreed to have some work done by some door stop cowboys and I am trying to sort that. The last three days have been a nightmare so I suppose I am automatically blaming the med when it might not be that.
My hubby is no support at all and I feel lonely!
Sorry to rant......thanks for the advice, I will see what next few days brings.

Thanks for the ear

Chris