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Nobody told me Metformin causes explosive Diarrhea

You sound very similar to me, similar weight and was fed the same cocktail - I got the same outcome. I am going to take your lead and see if my doctor here will swap my metformin for something else. There has been a comment on this section that Avorstatin and Metformin combination is brutal on the inner plumbing. As a northern Scot I am fond of Porridge, Le Pomme Frits and a medicinal dram. I do like beer, but it's liquid bread so I avoid. My blood pressure has been 160/100 but it is a lot lot better now I am on that Ramipril and a beta blocker, its a 140/90. Slàinte Mhath
 
Metformin is a godsend, my A1C was 120 before. Like most things in life, has to be a downside for every upside.
 
I had the same problem, so has another friend who thought she must have cancer of the stomach. I insisted I was given Metformin prolonged release and it is much better. I get the occasional attacks, but nothing like it used to be. If I’m going somewhere special I take a couple of anti diarrhoea tablets. Don’t buy the expensive ones the cheap ones are just as good.
 
My Dublin endocrinologist, bless him, said "Why take another tablet to cure a problem the first one caused?" and changed my meds. I did my part and changed my lifestyle.
 
i had to come off metformin for that very issue! i couldn't tolerate them i was ok at first on 1 but my doctor increased them to 3 that was it for 3 weeks it was dire ive never taken another since an wont! evil **** tablets they are!
 
Had to come off of Metformin. Chronic upset stomach. Gave it a good go though.
 
I found this when I first started Metformin. I was put on modified release metformin and that helped a lot.
 
I am sorry to hear of your current issue - it's one of the worst side effects as I personally found out too!
I was initially given 500mg slow release for a while, with no issues. My GP upped the dosage to 1000mg to be taken with breakfast - that's when my problems started. Like yourself, difficult times. It took me a few weeks to work out it was the metformin causing the issues as I was on various pills but eventually worked out it was the metformin causing my issues.
It was then I started to take 500mg with breakfast then 500mg with evening meal and.... problem sorted!
Then only problem was that my diabeties was getting worse so I was put on 1000mg in a morning and 1000mg with evening meal but I do not get the 'blow up' symptoms any more!
Sadly, my diabeties is still quite bad but I still drink beer every day which I know is a problem.
Good luck with your issue and hope you can resolve this very soon!
 
Thank you. This is a very sensible suggestion. To keep moderators happy I will of course consult my GP before taking anything that might makes matters worse.
 
Ah.. thanks for that. Its something to try out which might do the trick (and will be glad when I find that sweet spot). You need to check for yourself, but somebody on this web forum said they make low-carb beery beverages (I say that, not going to be Black Isle Red Kite heavy, or Happy Chappy light ale, both of which are made with Scottish whisky making malt barley and English Hops. i.e. liquid bread).
 
reteps said:
My Dublin endocrinologist, bless him, said "Why take another tablet to cure a problem the first one caused?" and changed my meds. I did my part and changed my lifestyle.
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I am on the bog standard NHS, we are herded into the waiting room, literally just told to "lose weight", "take these tablets" and "come back in 6 months".
 
Saxonia said:
I found this when I first started Metformin. I was put on modified release metformin and that helped a lot.
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I am waiting for an appointment so I can say that to my GP. Although I am probably going to be in trouble because I am weaning myself off some highly addictive meds (Duloxetine and Gabapentin), after being told not to. I cannot suggest to anybody else this is a good idea, its just my own pig-headedness.
 
Well I gave up on metformin too, couldn’t bare it. My digestive system does NOT like it and changed to Empagliflozin, didn’t make any difference before or after meal.
 
In 2019 I was prescribed Metformin to try and reduce my blood sugar for a biopsy, but I, too, found it made me ill, with vomiting added to the diarrhoea. I stopped taking it, but managed to get the biopsy done anyway, though the following year I needed surgery so again was told to reduce my blood sugars, though this time they gave me Janumet 50/1000, which is a combination of Metformin and Sitagliptin, and this worked, and I still take it today (in generic form) with my Insulin to control my blood sugars.
 
My husband had been on it for years, the normal tablet, when what seemed like suddenly he had diarrhea on a daily basis for around three months. We realized it was because his sugar level was near normal, so the GP just told him to stop taking Metformin and the diarrhea stopped
 
IslanderUK said:
Hi, I have been on 2 x 1000mg of Metformin before my main meal since 2007 and have not suffered any diarrhea
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It looks like for some people it has no side-effects whatsoever, and it does it's job perfect. I am going to try taking it before my meals, and see that helps. Good suggestion. I always take mine with dinner or just after it with tea or water. But I took it for a year with no major bother. I must be doing something different now vs back then.
 
NoMoreBeerAnymore said:
But I took it for a year with no major bother. I must be doing something different now vs back then.
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Not necessarily. It could be the brand of Metformin that isn't agreeing with you. Different brands have different 'fillers' that maybe your body can't tolerate. Or maybe the company has changed something in the make up of the tablet. Or maybe your body has changed, and could cope with it for years, but now can't. I've experienced all these scenarios many times unfortunately.
 
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