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Metformin

M

Modom

Member
I have just come back from my GP. I have had a mild urinary infection, she told me that she intends that I have 4 x 500 Metformin a day. This she believes is the 'gold standard' of Diabetes care.
Despite my urine having no sugar, my BG leves all under 7, my BP down to normal levels, lost a stone.
I was only diagnosed last moth, so early days, but I'm alarmed and told her so.
As far as I can see most of you seem to be on 3 Metformin.
Any suggestions as to how to deal with this?
 
Hi and welcome

I was diagnosed T2 n April '11 and was initially put on 4 x 500MG metformin, at each subsequent review my dosage has been reduced and I'm now on a 'holding dose' of 2 x 500mg

IF I continue to improve my practice nurse if hopeful that I can come off them entirely at my next review in December

Perhaps 'Gold Standard' means starting on 4 x 500

I expect that someone will be along later to add more information

Cheers
 
DylansDad said:
Hi and welcome

I was diagnosed T2 n April '11 and was initially put on 4 x 500MG metformin, at each subsequent review my dosage has been reduced and I'm now on a 'holding dose' of 2 x 500mg

IF I continue to improve my practice nurse if hopeful that I can come off them entirely at my next review in December

Perhaps 'Gold Standard' means starting on 4 x 500

I expect that someone will be along later to add more information

Cheers
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for that, it has cheered me. Sometimes I feel very low, battling against the NICE guidlines.
Diolch
 
Re: Metformin SR a Mystery?

On picking up my Script for Metformin SR 500 today, I was asked by the pharmacist why I was taking it 3 times a day. As the SR form is designed to be taken once or twice a day and no more. I am gobsmacked! Whatever next? She is goin gto query this with my GP. I'm looking forward to his answer. Especially as they want me to take it 4 times a day....
 
Ask if you can have a 3-month trial of controlling by "diet only" to see how you go on, before you take any meds. She can't force you to take it.

My levels have never been very high, but I asked for metformin because I had 10 stone to lose :shock: . It can help to suppress the appetite; also it gives some protection against stroke and heart disease, and I refuse to take statins. It's a safe drug.

However, 4 a day is the very highest dose allowed in this country. I'm on 3. It shouldn't do you any harm, but I don't see why she thinks you need that much, unless you have a lot of weight still to lose and she's trying to help with that! :wink:

Have a read round about it. Most people have some sort of gastric upset when they first take it (diarrhoea etc) so the usual way is to ease on to it, 1 tablet in week 1, 2 in week 2, working up to 4 a day slowly. Some people can't take the standard one at all 'cos of the upset, and have the slow release (SR) version instead. I had some trouble to begin with, but it soon disappeared, and I'm fine now. I still drink alcohol :D .

It's your choice; ask her to explain why she wants you to take it, and why so much, and ask to be given that 3 months trial. As I said, she can't force you!

Viv :D
 
Thank you for that. I have a couple of stone to lose now, so maybe I'll take it as a trial.
I'm more mystified by the pharmacists comments.
Chris :)
 
Hi. The Met leaflet normally talks about taking the tablets once or twice a day and by default suggests up to 4 x 500mg once a day if it's the SR version. In general drug companies tend to avoid 3 x a day for drugs as they know this can be a nuisance for patients. It won't do you any harm, but I think you'll find 2 x day is fine assuming you have the right total per day. Look at the leaflet.
 
I was diagnosed in January and I'm on 4 x 500mg per day too.
I hadn't found anyone else on that much either so its nice to know i'm not the only one.
But can anyone tell me why they would put you on 4 a day?
 
I started on x3 500's a day then went on to x2 750's and now am on x2 1000's per day. I have been diagnostic for 10yrs or more with level around 7 +/- for most of that time. I do x1 80mg Glicacide twice a day to keep the count around the 7 mark. Exercise more than diet has always worked best for me. I know we T2's have to watch what we eat but, regular exercise will allow a near normal diet in my personal experience.
 
Modom said:
I have just come back from my GP. I have had a mild urinary infection, she told me that she intends that I have 4 x 500 Metformin a day. This she believes is the 'gold standard' of Diabetes care.
Despite my urine having no sugar, my BG leves all under 7, my BP down to normal levels, lost a stone.
I was only diagnosed last moth, so early days, but I'm alarmed and told her so.
As far as I can see most of you seem to be on 3 Metformin.
Any suggestions as to how to deal with this?
Click to expand...
 
anne1938, did you miss a bit out ?

Now, I've been on the dreaded metformin 2 x 1000 mg for years, about a week ago I decide to stop the metformin to observe the results, and do you know it hasn't made a scrap of difference to my 4 times a day readings !

Just checked and I stopped Metformin on the 13th Sept, so I will continue unless there is a deterioration in levels.

Superchip GLA
 
Hi, I was put on 1 x 500mg per day, was meant to go on 2 after 1 week, I refused, changed my diet. Last week my DN and I were talking about coming off all together as I have great control.
 
I was diagnosed over a year ago and have been on 2x 1g Metformin per day. My sugar levels are far more stable now and taking 2g of Metformin per day will not do any damage to you. It is designed to regulate your blood sugar levels and stop you having any hyperglycaemic or hypoglycaemic problems.
 
I posted here that on the 13th of September that I withdrew my use of Metformin as an experiment to assess the effect.

Still NO Metformin, levels are absolutely fine ! Haven't detected any difference.

Can still indulge in a goodly amount of decent red, but no more dashing to the loo !

Just had lunch, deep fried half a chicken and a bottle of Montipulciano d'Abbruzzo.

Marvellous !

P.S don't forget that everything in the supermarket is ' low fat ' except the shoppers !
 
Re: Metformin SR a Mystery?

Modom said:
On picking up my Script for Metformin SR 500 today, I was asked by the pharmacist why I was taking it 3 times a day. As the SR form is designed to be taken once or twice a day and no more. I am gobsmacked! Whatever next? She is goin gto query this with my GP. I'm looking forward to his answer. Especially as they want me to take it 4 times a day....
Click to expand...


I'm on Metformin SR and as it's slow release it's really designed to be taken once a day, the body then releases it slowly to cover a 24 hour period. I take 2000mg a day, that's 2 tablets but my GP told me I must take them both at the same time with my evening meal, although I have heard that some people have been advised to take one in the morning and one in the evening.

I can't understand why a SR med would need to be taken 4tds.
 
I gues it depends HOW slowly it releases; not all slow release meds do it over 24 hours. It is confusing though. My chemist label says twice a day, the form inside says once a day. Can't see why you'd need 4x a day even on 2000mgs. I tend to have it twice a day, (i'm on 500 mgs x2) with brekky and dinner. Taking it more often but in same daily amounts can't do any harm as far as I can see.
 
Grazer said:
I gues it depends HOW slowly it releases; not all slow release meds do it over 24 hours. It is confusing though. My chemist label says twice a day, the form inside says once a day. Can't see why you'd need 4x a day even on 2000mgs. I tend to have it twice a day, (i'm on 500 mgs x2) with brekky and dinner. Taking it more often but in same daily amounts can't do any harm as far as I can see.
Click to expand...


Yes, the instructions seem to vary from GP to GP for some reason. All I know is that my GP stressed that I should take the whole dosage of 2000mg at the same time. Perhaps there was a reason for that in my case I don't know. I'm not good at taking meds so tbh I prefer taking the lot at once, I'd probably forget a dose otherwise. :)
 
GraceK said:
I'm not good at taking meds so tbh I prefer taking the lot at once, I'd probably forget a dose otherwise.
Click to expand...

I think that's the main eason to be honest - to stop people forgetting the odd dose here and there.
 
Hi Chris,
I've been a T1 for 30+ years, and am starting on Metformin tomorrow, working up to the same dose you were prescribed of 4x500mg in the method Viv described increasing by 1 tablet per week. Although i take insulin injections i had discussed Metformin with my hospital specialist some time ago. I thought it may interest you to know that as all people (not just diabetics) become more resistant to insulin (either their own or synthetic solutions) as they get older, and this is far more pronounced in Diabetics, particularly T2s,
Metformin is often prescribed as a support for the body to help your own/your injectable insulin stay as effective as possible for as long as possible. This is the reason it has been prescribed to me, as i have long term Diabetes and (hopefully!) a lot more life to live.

I suspect that your being put on Metformin hasn't much to with your urinary infection. Infections of all sorts are more common in Diabetics i'm afraid, all you can do is try to keep a good amount of non-sugary fluids up each day to jeep your system flushed through.
I aven't researched Metformin's positive side effects as yet, but i know that it's possible to be prescribed drugs for their secondary good effect as well their primary. For example, i'm given Ramipril to keep my blood pressure low. Although i don't have an worryingly high BP (the higher nd of normal range), the lower it is for a Diabetic the better, but it also has the secondary benefit of protecting the kidneys so my doc thinks it worthwhile for a long term T1 like me, and so i wonder if this may help explain why it has been prescribed to you.

The 'Gold Standard' term applies to the dosage that research shows to be most effective in studies, but this is given as a benchmark of where to aim at for a doctor as there is no definative dose that suits every individual like you would have in Paracetampl, say.

Sorry that's a bit long-winded, but i hope you, or someone else, can be helped by this.

I noticed that your initial posting was some time ago now, so i wonder how you are getting on now?


Best wishes, Anni :)
 
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