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Type 2 Metformin side effects

ataxpc

Member
Messages
16
Location
Near Oxford in UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes, Heart disease and High blood pressure
Good morning fellow sufferers, I've just had yet another sleepless night and I'm getting miffed.
I have been a type 2 Diabetic for more than ten years, at first like a lot of you, I controlled it with a strict regime of diet and excercise, sadly this did not last and I was put on Metformin, (I think this is where all my problems started).
Over the years my Metformin was increased (along with the side effects) and I was started on Insulin injections, my medication is now: 1500mg Metformin daily and Insulin at 58ml twice daily. My B/S are stable at between 5.0 and 6.5.
My side effects that started with Metformin medication include: very, very heavy sweating, joint and muscle pain, excessive gas, diahorrea and feeling tired and feeble all the time, (is it any wonder I can't sleep), all these symptoms have increased in intensity as my medication was increased.
I have spoken to my hard pressed G.P. about this, sadly he was more interested (and not surprisingly) in my heart.
Phew, now for my question, is there an alternative to Metformin?, I have heard that N.I.C.E. have supported three new drugs to support us, has anyone any idea if this is true? and if so what are they called?
I wonder, does anybody else suffer with my kind of side effects? and if so what do you do to ease the discomfort?
Thank you in advance and keep up the good work, this forum is brilliant...
 
ataxpc said:
Yes Atorvastatin
Click to expand...
That could explain the joint and muscle pain.. put statins in the search box at the top of the page and see what has been reported on the forum about those particular nasties...
 
but how can one control cholesterol without statins....my readings were very high when my statins were stopped for two months once
 
SZB2357 said:
but how can one control cholesterol without statins....my readings were very high when my statins were stopped for two months once
Click to expand...
Well the first thing you need to know is whether you should be "controlling" cholesterol at all. For older women a higher reading is considered protective.
 
ataxpc said:
Thanks, I’ll see what else I can take instead, cheers Bob...
Click to expand...
Do you have a full lipid panel? or just a total cholesterol number. As for metformin I only used it for 3 weeks and it made me very ill . I did intermittent fasting and ultra low carb to avoid using it at all. When you were controlling by diet what regime did you follow?
 
I suggest you google 'Atorvastatin side effects' then google your brand of Metformin and its side effects. Put in dosages, too. Cross referencing these should help narrow things down. The patient information is usually more comprehensive on line than in the leaflets that come in the boxes (and the font size on line is easier!).

Of course your GP should be well aware of the common side effects of both as these drugs are very widely prescribed and adverse effects are well known.
 
Hi, I’ll see if I’ve got a lipid count, also it was the Mediterranean 800 calorie diet and frequent non stress exercise, I became very ill doing this so dr took me off, now I have a BMI if 35 and my aches and sweating are getting very bad, cheers...
 
Hi, thanks for the advice, I’ll see what I can find out, cheers Bob...
 
Hmm so a kind of Newcastle Diet but with real foods? I'm surprised that was around 10 years ago.
Have you thought of trying a very low carb diet with some fasting? Has been known to facilitate the cessation of insulin therapy in Type 2s?
 
I took ordinary metformin and Atorvastatin - in five weeks I was verging on suicidal, everything tasted strange, I could not concentrate could not remember what I'd done, forgot all my songs, had dreadful aches and pains, horrible itching all over - and did not dare go out of the house after taking the tablets - we have a professional quality carpet/upholstery cleaner thanks to that. I just stopped taking the tablets. It was just before Christmas 2016 and I did the Christmas shopping twice. We were eating sprouts till February.
 
I was on high levels of Atorvastatin when first diagnosed and got the the point where I couldnt walk up the stairs without shooting pains in my hips, knees and ankles. I changed doctors and the first thing they did was reduce my Atorvastatin down to 10mg a day and within two days things were back to normal. For me I HAVE to take my Metformin straight after eating otherwise the diarrhea hits the next day. My doctor also lowered the morning dose and that seemed to help a lot.

Hope that helps
 
bulkbiker said:
Hmm so a kind of Newcastle Diet but with real foods? I'm surprised that was around 10 years ago.
Have you thought of trying a very low carb diet with some fasting? Has been known to facilitate the cessation of insulin therapy in Type 2s?
Click to expand...
Hi, your right the (Mediterranean) diet as is didn’t exist, however the diet sheet I was given back then was very similar. I have tried a fasting low calorie diet but it’s not for me, my sugars were all over the place, dr advised me to stop it.
I have just got off the phone with my GP I explained about my increased pain and sweating and having listened to the advice given me on here has agreed a cessation of Metformin for a month would certainly show some result, good or bad at least we would be able to assertion which direction I should start going ??? Metformin or statin reduction.
Thanks for your help and advice, cheers...
 
bulkbiker said:
Well the first thing you need to know is whether you should be "controlling" cholesterol at all. For older women a higher reading is considered protective.
Click to expand...

OK, I am very new to this. Please tell me more or could you provide me with a link so that I can find out more? Thanks
 
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