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Nobody told me Metformin causes explosive Diarrhea

Believe me I ran pubs & bars for many a year and I can concur with @Jaylee observations
 
SIRD sounds serious. Beer does add a dimension (in Germany they call it liquid bread, so I tend to avoid). A1c of 40's sounds great. I did everything I was told to do, A1c of 56. Plummeting income after Covid means I am working 7 days to make ends meet. I think that is how I got to my A1c of 120 last year.
 
Perhaps I should make clear that my decision to stop taking the Metformin and Atorvastatin was due to contemplating suicide on several occasions in December 2016 - to the extent that I had decided not to do it just before Christmas as that was when my grandmother died and it affected the family for years afterwards.
Once I did stop I monitored my blood glucose levels and watched them continuing to fall - and my ability to think clearly returned too, but it was a long way back to normal memory function.
 
Wow. You did the right thing for and in the knowledge these two tablets are "tools" to get your BG levels and cholesterol back on a leash, decided not to take them and found that you personally (and I suspect with support from your GP) could do without them. I can eat absolutely nothing, my blood still attracts wasps without Metformin.
 
NoMoreBeerAnymore said:
I will ask my GP if I can stop taking my Atorvastatin for a couple of days to see if this evil stops. I will also not drink 0% beer because it is still beer.
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I won't drink 0% beer because why would I? It's not the alcohol content that's the issue for me.

There is an increasing number of zero or near-zero carb beers around. If it's carb your gut flora reacts to (happens to me sometimes, particularly with porters) you might try one of those to see what happens. Substantially more expensive than supermarket beer, probably works out around pub prices once you factor postage in.
 
lovinglife said:
Believe me I ran pubs & bars for many a year and I can concur with @Jaylee observations
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I actually stopped beer in my mid 20s. (30 years ago.)
To my mind at the time, I didn’t want the “beer gut?” It also messed with my BG levels on the carb content.
I do drink spirits with zero sugar mixers.

Lol, it’s not only my experience with the “lads” at work, I mentioned.
Spent 16 years on and off with a beer drinking rock band tripping round Europe..
Sharing hotel rooms.
Backstage loos sharing with other bands on the circuit weren’t exactly “glamorous” either..
It’s also a running gag in my “professional” circles.

@AloeSvea , I see your point on the M pill & the effects are widely documented.
I mentioned “beer” if used?
Because removing beer from the equation by process of elimination, doesn’t contravene forum rules regarding changing or omitting prescribed meds.

I’ve also no experience with either metformin or statins…

Best wishes.
 
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In my experience over the last half century or so my GPs have been as much use as a chocolate teapot in providing any sort of support. My blood glucose normalised so quickly I was no longer diabetic by the second test at 80 days, so all the clinic has done is an annual blood test, foot and blood pressure check.
 
When I was first diagnosed I was immediately put on 'regular' metformin and the result was severe 'gastric distress'. I was switched to the prolonged release version (currently Sukkarto SR 1000mg x2 daily with meals) and this has worked well for me. I take one tablet with breakfast and one with supper. On the odd ocassion where they've had to pause the drug, my levels have been very high so it's obviously helping the insulin do its thing. Good luck.
 
Hi
I had similar symptoms and consulted my diabetes team who immediately changed my prescription to a slow release version. The change made an instant impact on my GI discomfort and is no bearable and more manageable.
GF
 
I feel your pain. I used to have exactly the same issue which really affected my social life. This lasted for nearly 2 years and I kept going back to the doctors but nothing changed. We then got a new diabetic nurse. I discussed the issue with her. She immediately changed my tablets to the slow release version of metformin. Within a few days the issue had gone and I am no longer worried about being out and about and can take trips with confidence.
 
I have been on Metformin for a year and a half. My bowels have got worse and worse. I assumed it was due to my Diverticular disease, but maybe it's not. I think I need a chat with the Diabetic Nurse at my GP practice.
 
I had the same problems (explosive) the first few weeks, but a low carb diet (on the advice of complex needs nurse) consisting primarily of eggs sorted me out. 3 years later things have settled down and I dont know if its the metformin, but my sugar thingy is 47. Stick with it and good luck!
 

"Nobody told me Metformin causes explosive Diarrhea"​

I'm surprised nobody told you because it is common, especially when you first start taking it.
I'm sure it will be mentioned on the Patient Information leaflet which I'm sure you read?
EDIT: I just looked. It's in "Very common side effects".
I had a bit of diahrroea when I started on it but it soon passed

If it continues tell your doctor who will probably prescribe something else
 
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Definitely ask for Metformin SR [Slow Release]. I had the same issue with the NON SR when I first started taking them. Now not an issue and definitely take straight after eating.
 

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Cheers Stephen, sounds like good advice. I will take them a sample so they can decide what do.
 
sjs1959 said:
Definitely ask for Metformin SR [Slow Release]. I had the same issue with the NON SR when I first started taking them. Now not an issue and definitely take straight after eating.
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I think SR is probably best for me. I will try my doctor and see if he will let me change. I got a carrier bag full of Metformin (I get a review every 6 months and they save time) my HB1C was 120 and its down to 56 with Metformin and careful. Other tablets in my collection also might be doing things.
 
Sugar thingy (I suspect A1C) sounds just nice. I am still at 56 which is a little bit above what it should be. A low carb diet and low cal diet would be great, plus I need out of my office job.
 
Everybody who had this "problem" is saying the same thing, and that is comforting. I am going to phone for appointment, so give it a few weeks I hope to pitch to my GP and get some the SR and by summer holidays I can travel and have a fine time (usual caveats apply - ie. no candy floss).
 
beesinthebelfry said:
I have been on Metformin for a year and a half. My bowels have got worse and worse. I assumed it was due to my Diverticular disease, but maybe it's not. I think I need a chat with the Diabetic Nurse at my GP practice.
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Ahhh. This happened to me. Started with a bloaty feeling, now my insides are crazy. This happens to a few, I am booked in now for a chat. With summer coming, this was going to be a real party-pooper, there are different Metformins made for those with sensitive insides. I never knew that, before I started asking for help on here. So with luck, I can go down the beach and not cause a personal pollution hot-spot.
 
Was diagnosed with T2DM in September 2022 whilst working in Ireland, with HbA1c well over 100. Was immediately prescribed metformin, Atorvastatin and Ramipril, for blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure respectively. Metformin did not suit my bowels and after a month, I saw an endocrinologist in Dublin who stopped metformin and put me on Sitagliptin and Empagliflozin instead. Result, no more toilet carnage.

I have cut out sugar and carbs as best I can, but I'm not particularly anal about carbs, still eat rice, spuds and pasta once or twice a week. I do avoid sugars and snack on pork scratchings and peanuts instead of choccy bars. I drink whisky and water and have the occasional beer once or twice a week. My HbA1c was 38 a year ago and is now 41. My doctor has now stopped the Sitagliptin and subbed the Atorvastatin 10mg for Rosuvastatin 5mg as I suspected Atorvastatin was giving me skin problems. I have also gone from Ramipril 5mg to 2.5mg as my BP is now 115 / 75.

I am now convinced that exercise is key. I'm working as a home delivery driver for a large supermarket and my weight has gone from 17st 3 to 16st 2 in eight months. I get 13k steps a day in when I work. I'm 69 and look forward to being 79, if I'm spared... I wouldn't go back to my sedentary computing job for any money. My doctor is considering cutting Ramipril as well, contingent on my BP remaining stable. I look forward to being on no pills at all but as Meatloaf might have said, two out of four ain't bad!
 
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