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New to forum just started metformin Side effects??

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gordie123abc

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Hi there I just started on metformin on monday and i have had terrible smelly wind is this usual. I was reluctant to take it but GP very unhappy about hb1ca thingy it was 9% is that high? Ive to take 1 this week, then 2 next week then 3 the week after.
 
Yes it's normal, and it might die down after a week or so, once your body is used to the metformin. If you still have side effects after a few weeks, ask your doctor about the slow release version of metformin, this can help a lot with the side effects.

Yes 9% is too high, with levels that high you might have had diabetes for a while, so best to get it sorted now.

Good luck! And look here for some tips/advice: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes%2Dfo ... 20&t=17088
 
Hi Gordie and welcome to the forum I don't know whether they told you how important it is but you must take Metformin with a meal - not before or after and this could help with the side effects. If they persist after a while you could ask your doctor/nurse to prescribe you the SR or long acting version which gives less side effects. This could help to lower your levels. You need to test also to see what food you can and can't eat without it affecting your levels too much. Ask if they will give you a meter and strips. If not you may get a free meter by calling the manufacturers, saying you will be testing a lot then they may give you a meter as they want you to buy their strips and not someone else's. As for the strips if you have to buy them yourself most people here get them from either Ebay or Abbotts (google them) Good luck!.

There is a long thread on Metformin here which you might like to take a look at. Here is the link:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=15673
 
You need to give it some time to work
As you say you will not be on your max dose until week three
as daisy said take it with your food.

I had problems with it as well (runs)
I stuck with it and gave it a chance for my guts to settle down
for me this was around 6 weeks to settle down and back to near normal

I take mine half way into my meal found that works best for me


HB1c9 is high this is an average reading so you had higher readings at some point
 
Hi

I was lucky and my GP put me straight onto the slow-release version and I've never had any problems whatsoever apart from the failrly common metallic taste side effect with food which lasted around 6 months and did put me off eating for a while
 
I have just had three weeks of PURE HELL with Standard Metformin
Side effects include -
VERY SEVERE GASTRIC REFLUX especially at night - Some nights I had no sleep at all
VERY SEVERE abdominal pain
Copius amounts of gas both ends which were VERY smelly!
Dreadful taste in my mouth with every release of gas!

I tried every way of taking the stuff but nothing worked.
METFORMIN is the work of the devil.
I reported all the effects to my diabetic nurse who told me to STOP taking the pills IMMEDIATELY!
I was told to take AT least ONE week without the drug and then try the SLOW RELEASE VERSION.

I am NOT optomistic about any version of Metformin

You may be one of the lucky ones who are not affected - I certainly was'nt

Good LUCK!

Edward
 
For everybody's information here is the advice written by the forum monitors concerning Metformin. This includes the side effects:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=12124
 
efelstead said:
METFORMIN is the work of the devil.
Click to expand...
Yes but it won't harm you, unlike every other diabetes medication which has nasty side effects eg pioglitazone - bone thinning, weight gain, glicazide - weight gain, insulin - death. Also high blood sugar - blindness, death, amputation, etc etc.
So given the chance, I would take metformin, even though it made me very sick every month or so.
 
I have been on Metformin for nearly four years. At first it was the standard pill which had a horrific effect on me. not only the usual stomach problems but problems wih my balance, I felt that I was walking at an angle and about to fall to one side. I was not even aware that tthere was a slow or modified release version. Then I heard the pharmacist talking about it to a cusomer.
IIt was against Practice policy o prescribe slow release but evenually I managed to persuade a
symapathetic GP to prescribe i for me.
The symptoms were grealy reduced but coninued o be troublesome occasionally and this is still the case . The only way i can be sure of not suffering any stomach effects is by eating more carbs than I want or need. However it certainly has improved although it has taken a long time.
I expec his varies very much from individual to individual,
I have to agree with HLW. I should be thrilled if Metformin alone could keep my BG stable.
There are much worse things!
 
I'm a Type One so take both insulin and Metformin. I've witnessed no personal side effects apart from stomach pain, but that is because I'm blonde and forgetful so don't always remember to take it with meals!

Interesting to see the Glucophage SR seems to have less effects - this is the one I'm on, 500mg twice a day.

OP - They are common side effects. However, if it doesn't settle down and gets unbearable, maybe visit your GP, diabetic Consultant or Nurse (whoever is your main diabetic care provider) and see what they suggest
 
Because of Colitis which I have had for years, I was put on the slow release version of Metformin.

Apart from wind and the metallic taste which lasted for a few weeks all seems well. The only issue is I have to take more Warfrin as its dropped my INR levels. If all goes well, I will come off Warfrin in May after treatment for a DVT.
 
For info

In controlled, medium-term or long-term clinical studies: immediate release metformin reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
A similar action has NOT been demonstrated with the prolonged release formulation, possibly due to the evening administration, and an increase in triglycerides may occur. :roll:

quote from
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/med..., 750mg and 1000mg prolonged release tablets/


I have always taken the normal Metformin at the start yes it did give me
a fast track route to the WC (the runs)


With time this went ,,however I always had the Metformin
GOT TO GO NOW!! GET OUT OF MY WAY NOW !!!MOVE MOVE!!
always at the same time of day (not the runs)

Funny thing since I have been taking Morphine No problem at all :mrgreen:
Top Tip you will never ever get the runs with Morphine :lol:
No !!you cant get it on ebay

Drugs you gotta to love Umm or hate Umm :shock:
 
I have really bad side effects. Gruesome uncontrollable diarrhea, did I see someone said persevere, I dont carry a portable loo around with me! Cannot leave the house. Stopped taking it twice in the last two weeks just could not carry on, you should at least be able to live some sort of normal life, not sit on the toilet most of the day. I am seeing the nurse next thursday and will be asking for the slow release one, as presunably you have to take it somehow, disgusting drug that it is, they really need to sort it out, why on earth are the manufacturers not doing significant work to improve the amount of side effects. Sharon. :x
 
Hi Sdgray

The reason for SR Met is to help overcome the problems with vanilla Met. Problem is that it costs a bit more and GPs just don't seem to care about the effects of vanilla Met on some people; do ask for it. There are several different SR suppliers so there is some competition out there now
 
Hi, new to this forum, my husband is a Type 2, on 5 x 500mg Metformin a day, he gets eggy burps and wind (both ends), he had pancreatitus (gallstone related) which led to him being diabetic, doctor says he is type 2 because his Dad has it, however Dad got it aged 65, husband 39! he has lost - wait for it! 13 stone in just over 22 months and is still losing, going for a CT scan to see if pancreas is causing it. However his glucose levels go from 2.4 in the morning to sometimes 21 at night, and that's eating properly, has a regimented GI diet, due to the excessive weight loss, eats his carbs, no **** food! monitors everything, but getting to the point of no end here, cant seem to regulate his levels, and his weight. Had to buy more new trousers size 30inch waist, at this rate he will disappear. I wondered if he could be a Type 1 diabetic and its been missed? any ideas would be great. oh he is only 41 now just in case anyone needed to know - thanks
 
Hi. At 39 it's certainly worth bearing in mind that one of the Type 1 variants is a possibility. As your husband has seen great weight loss it may take time for his sugar to stabilise anyway. I went from 10.5 to 10 stone very quickly around diagnosis but it then stabilised. You were lucky to be able to get 30" waist trousers; that's my size and I have to search for them in this world of increasing waist sizes!
 
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