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Metformin side effects?

J

John47

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi ,

I started taking Metformin 850mg (morning and afternoon) 4 days ago, after a fasting blood glucose result of 285, having been diet controlled since diagnosis a few years ago. I am currently working in Spain, hence the European result!! Also HbA1c was 8.5. The GP told me to eat meat, fish and vegetables only(no carbs or starch), take metformin before breakfast and before lunch (around 2pm here) and record BG before breakfast and before dinner and see him in 10 days.

My "problem" apart from feeling hungry between meals, is that within 30 minutes of eating lunch I have to literally run to the toilet with diarrhoea and stomach cramps. I am ok again after this although feel a bit nauseated for an hour or so. Is this common when starting Metformin? Also, we have our family arriving tomorrow and planned to spend most of the day at the beach with little granddaughter, taking a packed lunch. Not a chance if I need a toilet urgently so wondered if could change to taking lunchtime metformin before evening meal when we will be back home.

Any advice gratefully received.
 
This is normal that's why it's known as metfartin. In most cases it settles down but not In all cases if it keeps upsetting your stomach you may need to go on to a slow release version. As for moving times there are others on here that can answer you better


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Hi. Yes, stomach problems with Met are very common. Sometimes it settles after a few weeks but the SR version is much kinder.
 
I am not medically trained, I am sure that it won't hurt to take your metformin later, at least you won't be missing a dose. Enjoy your day .
 
Thanks for the information. I will ask the GP about slow-release if the symptoms persist!!
 
I take Metformin I had it changed to SR after having bad stomach problems I find if I take it in the middle of a meal it lessens the effect of the bad stomach .The insert in the box says to take with meals or just after I dont think it would do any harm to take it later in the day and enjoy the time with your family
CAROL
 
Thanks Carol. I will take it with my evening meal, at least for the four days our family are here with us Interestingly, my morning bg readings are higher than the pre-evening meal ones. All new to me just now, in UK I was always told I didn't need to monitor my levels as I was having my HbA1c checked twice a year!!
 
Hi. You often start with a low Metformin dose of 500 mg per day and then add 500 mg each week up to a dose of totally 1 500 to 2 500 mg per day. The maximum dose is 3 000 mg, but the additional effect is low and sometimes 2 000 mg is considered maximum. You shouldn’t increase faster or higher than your stomach can take.
 
I think most of us have been told we dont need to test but logic tells us that to know how what we eat affects our BGs can help us to keep levels low I have a confrontation ! sorry confrontation with my GP at regular intervals where we debate why I want strips and why he says I dont need to test We usually com to a compromise where he says I can have some on prescription providing I make them last a long long long time
CAROL
 
Oh god I soooo remember my first few months though I had cancer , yeh met is nasty evil pills lol but mines settled down took two years but it's settled feel for you Hun realy do but do you take gastrol tabs that may help


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Hi Guys
I often woke during the night with cold sweats, extreme cramps and runs... I thought I should be taking it with lunch & dinner... is it ok to take with breakfast and lunch instead? So maybe I get a good nights sleep without fear of the cramps...
I had stopped taking it but have started back on a smaller dose (500mg as opposed to 850mg) have had a few problems... but hoping it will fizzle out
May try breakfast and lunch now... see how it goes
 
Hi Guys, I'm new here but find this site brilliant for finding out stuff I don't already know, but what I do know is that Metformin isn't right for everybody, I've been a diabetic for about 16 years and on Insulin for about 10, I was put on Met prior to the Insulin and couldn't tolerate it, the advise I was given at the time was to keep trying and it will get better, 6 weeks later I was still going to the loo and struggling to get out of bed!!, finally the doc agreed that for some people the side effects don't go away even after trying the SR, my advise is that if you are suffering for a long time get the doc to change your meds, there are loads of different one's out there and sometimes it's just trial and error.
 
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