Metformin side- effects question

Patsyod · Nov 5, 2012

Hi,
I have recently been diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic and have been having a few problems with the Metformin prescribed. I was initially taking a single 500mg tablet twice a day, this was making me feel nauseous and gave me diarrhoea, I stuck it out for a month with no improvements and my doctor put me on the slow-release tablets. This cured my nausea but I am still experiencing the diarrhoea and now have a rash on the back of my arm just above the elbow, this is in the form of 6-7 "bite sized" lumps moving up (or down) my arm in single file. I have also been experiencing a very dry mouth at night as my nose is becoming blocked.

l Just wondered if anyone else has experienced any or all of these symptoms?

thanks,

Pat

BaliRob · Nov 5, 2012

Stomach should be ok by now - talk with doc. However, Metformin commonly causes dry metallic taste for quite a long time - sometimes a few years. In your case I would try just a little longer because Metformin is kind to most of us. Goo luck

Patsyod · Nov 9, 2012

BaliRob said:
Stomach should be ok by now - talk with doc. However, Metformin commonly causes dry metallic taste for quite a long time - sometimes a few years. In your case I would try just a little longer because Metformin is kind to most of us. Goo luck

Thanks for the info Rob, I have spoken with the doc and have decided to stick with the Metformin, funnily enough the stomach is a lot better now. Just have to get used to the dry mouth for a while eh!

mrndnn · Nov 11, 2012

I find keeping a bottle of mineral water at my bedside helps with the dry mouth. Metallic taste etc passed after a little while. Good luck

Osidge · Nov 11, 2012

Patsyod

I am pleased that some of your side effects are improving. How is the rash? I have never heard of that as a side effect of Metformin.

Take care

Doug

BaliRob · Nov 12, 2012

Dear Pat,

Sorry have not been back to this post for a few days. I am delighted to see that Metformin now agrees with you. In my further experience came the time for my dosage to be increased from 2 x 500mg daily to an additional mid-day 1 x 500mg. Now this was after 8 years continuous usage and I then started to find problems adjusting to the additional 500mg and gave up perhaps too early I don't know. So this is what you may experience down the road. I am reluctant to come off Metformin because is is a good BS stabiliser and when, a few months ago, I stopped Metformin for a week my BS went from 7's to 11's. So, whilst under control circumstances Metformin cannot reduce BS by more than a factor of two, coming off is a vastly different picture. I was hoping that I could take a recognised different control in parallel with the Metformin - many members can get good control like this. However, like me now, in cases of CKD my info above is academic in my case because the use of Metformin is not considered safe especially below Stage 3 which I am.

I sum up by saying if, like me, your are one of the lucky ones without complications and are Type 2 using Metformin and diet control, you should have a relatively peaceful time living with Diabetes.

Regards,

Rob

Patsyod · Nov 15, 2012

Thanks Doug,

evidently the "rash" was actually a series of bites, they are still there but do not itch now.

regards,

Pat

Osidge said:
Patsyod

I am pleased that some of your side effects are improving. How is the rash? I have never heard of that as a side effect of Metformin.

Take care

Doug

Patsyod · Nov 15, 2012

Hi Rob,

thanks for your valuable advice, tummy has settled right down now even after increasing the dose from 500mg to 1000mg, I am now on the slow-release tablets which I take once a day and they seem to agree with me much more. Glad I listened to you and the other members of this forum!

regards,

Pat

BaliRob said:
Dear Pat,

Sorry have not been back to this post for a few days. I am delighted to see that Metformin now agrees with you. In my further experience came the time for my dosage to be increased from 2 x 500mg daily to an additional mid-day 1 x 500mg. Now this was after 8 years continuous usage and I then started to find problems adjusting to the additional 500mg and gave up perhaps too early I don't know. So this is what you may experience down the road. I am reluctant to come off Metformin because is is a good BS stabiliser and when, a few months ago, I stopped Metformin for a week my BS went from 7's to 11's. So, whilst under control circumstances Metformin cannot reduce BS by more than a factor of two, coming off is a vastly different picture. I was hoping that I could take a recognised different control in parallel with the Metformin - many members can get good control like this. However, like me now, in cases of CKD my info above is academic in my case because the use of Metformin is not considered safe especially below Stage 3 which I am.

I sum up by saying if, like me, your are one of the lucky ones without complications and are Type 2 using Metformin and diet control, you should have a relatively peaceful time living with Diabetes.

Regards,

Rob

Thanks Doug,

evidently the "rash" was actually a series of bites, they are still there but do not itch now.

regards,

Pat

Osidge said:
Patsyod

I am pleased that some of your side effects are improving. How is the rash? I have never heard of that as a side effect of Metformin.

Take care

Doug

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