Nobody told me Metformin causes explosive Diarrhea

[Melgar]

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.

I agree @Hopeful34 . I have to make sure there is no gluten or lactose in the fillers. If I am prescribed a new drug I ask the pharmacist to go through the ingredients with me. Personal Sensitivities to food stuffs and ingredients are worth noting.

 

[Rachox]

Or maybe your body has changed, and could cope with it for years, but now can't.

I’ve experienced this too. I took Metformin for six years no problems. I then switched to a GLP 1 med. When this became unavailable I went back on Metformin, but got gastric upset, so switched to a different GLP 1.

 

[NoMoreBeerAnymore]

Thank you to everybody who has made suggestions and given me a bit of support. Metformin is magic, but it can be a nightmare as well. I am going off to see my GP armed with the knowledge of a dozen fellow diabetics. I wont be treated like a farmyard oddity in meetings again with luck !

Take care !

 

[jeano999]

I had to give up Metformin after 2 years of explosive diarrhoea. Fortunately for me it was mainly in the middle of the night but still often didn't make it to the bathroom in time. Tried reducing the dosage, tried slow release. When it started to happen at work I thought enough is enough. My GP agreed to me coming off the pills but offered no alternative. Been 7 years now and no meds. I do however still get the occasional bout of explosive diarrhoea so maybe it is more to do with diet content now that I am low carb.

 

[NoMoreBeerAnymore]

I had to give up Metformin after 2 years of explosive diarrhoea. Fortunately for me it was mainly in the middle of the night but still often didn't make it to the bathroom in time. Tried reducing the dosage, tried slow release. When it started to happen at work I thought enough is enough. My GP agreed to me coming off the pills but offered no alternative. Been 7 years now and no meds. I do however still get the occasional bout of explosive diarrhoea so maybe it is more to do with diet content now that I am low carb.

" Fortunately for me it was mainly in the middle of the night " no that sounds awful, so sorry to hear that. There are lots of people on here that have tried other things, and won. If your control is good without - its OK. If not, the GP needs a prompt as there seems to be lots of alternatives. Please go be a nuisance for me !

 

[jeano999]

" Fortunately for me it was mainly in the middle of the night " no that sounds awful, so sorry to hear that. There are lots of people on here that have tried other things, and won. If your control is good without - its OK. If not, the GP needs a prompt as there seems to be lots of alternatives. Please go be a nuisance for me !

Thanks but after 7 years if low carb/keto/fasting my hb1ac now deemed "normal" at 5.2%. It isn't of course, "normal" as even with my strict regime I still get morning fasting levels in diabetic and pre-diabetic range. GP is happy to have a positive result for his stats. Nurse told me to stop testing - ??? I just know that if I were to eat bread, pasta, rice, cake, potatoes etc. my blood sugar would be much higher.

 

[Vic roach]

Hi,

I got diagnosed last year. I am doing my best to get from a HBA1c of 120 down to 45-50, after working hard its 56, so just about there.

I am finding that metformin is becoming more and more of a problem, it causes my insides to blow up even when eating something quite tiny.

If I stop taking it, the problem goes away. Sometimes, I take a cheeky holiday from the stuff. This is bad behaviour, and I will only have myself to blame.

The latest was at work yesterday when I was in a meeting and I reached across the table to take a bit of paper.


"Houston we have a problem".


I was supposed to be presenting - the strategy I used was to fain a mobile phone call and make for the door.

My thoughts now are: did everybody realise that I had a personal issue? and what the hell caused my bloated discomfort to outburst like it did?

Am I compatible with Metformin, can I get smaller ones (I have half gramme ones) and spread them across the day?


Is it time for a Metformin II that doesnt do this ?

I had diaerea

Hi,

I got diagnosed last year. I am doing my best to get from a HBA1c of 120 down to 45-50, after working hard its 56, so just about there.

I am finding that metformin is becoming more and more of a problem, it causes my insides to blow up even when eating something quite tiny.

If I stop taking it, the problem goes away. Sometimes, I take a cheeky holiday from the stuff. This is bad behaviour, and I will only have myself to blame.

The latest was at work yesterday when I was in a meeting and I reached across the table to take a bit of paper.


"Houston we have a problem".


I was supposed to be presenting - the strategy I used was to fain a mobile phone call and make for the door.

My thoughts now are: did everybody realise that I had a personal issue? and what the hell caused my bloated discomfort to outburst like it did?

Am I compatible with Metformin, can I get smaller ones (I have half gramme ones) and spread them across the day?


Is it time for a Metformin II that doesnt do this ?

For 2 years constant diarrhoea. I had blood tests, poo tests, Colonoscopy no one mentioned it was the Metformin. I was told to take it with food but still no improvement also tried the slow release that made things worst as it was on empty stomach. Doctors don't want to admit it's the Metformin because it's the cheapest medication (£2) for diabetes. Saving money on NHS or not if you add all the test and Colonoscopy. Would have been cheaper to prescribe a more expensive medicine in the long run.

 

[theoldfunker]

OH YES ! been there but problem was solved with slow release Metformin. Not funny at the time and a real problem,
and you learn where all the toilets are when your out and about. I hope it works out for you. You will find loads of answers on the forum and loads of help.

 

[Antje77]

I had diaerea

For 2 years constant diarrhoea. I had blood tests, poo tests, Colonoscopy no one mentioned it was the Metformin. I was told to take it with food but still no improvement also tried the slow release that made things worst as it was on empty stomach. Doctors don't want to admit it's the Metformin because it's the cheapest medication (£2) for diabetes. Saving money on NHS or not if you add all the test and Colonoscopy. Would have been cheaper to prescribe a more expensive medicine in the long run.

Many people take metformin without the side effects.

If you read the patient leaflet that comes with metformin, gut issues are the first on the list. It's really worth reading those leaflets for any medication you are prescribed.

 

[KennyA]

The Handbook of Diabetes says that about a third of all patients on metformin experience nausea, anorexia, or diarrhoea. So around two-thirds have no issues.

I'd expect to see over-reporting - a larger proportion of people talking about metformin problems - on the forum, because people are probably not going to be reporting or looking for a solution to a problem they don't have.