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Slow release metformin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kat100
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Kat100

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Hi ...another question ..my second of the week ...

Really could not cope with embarrassing problems which my metformin seems to be causing me ...gastro problems ..since I started it almost ..but I just kept on trying ...
My kind GP changed my normal ones from 1500mg a day to one table 1000mg once a day ....slow release ..to see if it works better on my poor stomach .

I have started this tonight ....the reduction of 500mg I forgot to discuss :rolleyes:...I am guessing it is because it is slow release ...
Yes I have had a google and I have got to have a hba1c in December to see if is working ...

So I was wondering if anyone has any feedback to,share from personal experience if you have changed to the slow release tablet ...

Thank you ...Kat
 
Hello Kat I changed to the slow release and found it much better. But I take500 in the morning and 500 after dinner:)
 
mo53 said:
Hello Kat I changed to the slow release and found it much better. But I take500 in the morning and 500 after dinner:)
Click to expand...
Hi mo ...
Thank you for replying ...I am grateful ...shall we say things were getting very embarrassing .....in public !
I am glad to be trying the slow release version ...
I wondered why mine were all put together in the evening ...I noticed you have am and pm ....interesting ...
But I will try them out and see ....
The reduction scarred me when I thought about it ..
But perhaps I was on to much for my hba numbers ....time well tell ....
Thank you again ...Kat
 
Hello Kat see how it goes and if its still a problem you could always try splitting it like mine. Good luck:)
 
Hi mo , Thank ,you I will , it is just one 1000mg tab at the moment ...
I will give it time ....
I am guessing I need less because of the slow release of the drug ....that could be a good thing as well ...
Thank,you ....Kat x
 
I've always been on SR so can't compare and I've never had a minutes problem over 10 years. Metformin dosage isn't critical as it only has a small effect on blood sugar. Views on splitting SR dosage during the day vary but being SR it isn't critical in practice but as usual follow the leaflet's guidance or the GPs. Check with the chemist if needed.
 
I was on Diabex (2 x 1000) per day and slow release. It still took a while for stomach rumbling to reduce and now its' disappeared altogether and I'm down to one tablet in the evening.

The doctor told me it didn't matter whether I took 1 x 1000 or 2 x 500 and one tablet is designed for slow release across 24 hours as would be 2.

I hope to be off them altogether by end of this year. It's my experience that they certainly blunt appetite but that's no problem as far as I'm concerned as long as I don't lose too much weight. At 6 foot, I reckon my current weight of 78 is ideal.
 
Hi I had the same problem as you and a friend told me to go see my doctor and ask to be put on slow release, almost over night the problem stopped over night. at the time if I had a steak for dinner I would get half way through it and I would have to leave the table and again when the meal was finished in fact most meals were the same but after starting the slow release tablets I could again enjoy a meal without having to visit the toilet , so I hope these work for you :)
 
I was experiencing the most dreadful wind on starting metformin. I eventually found that stopping my regular 2 slices of Bergen bread
cured the problem.
 
I've been on SR Metformin for about 9 years and have had bowel problems all along. I've been investigated for bowel cancer - just in case and they found a malignant polyp, so just as well really. I get checked every so often and although there are plenty of polyps, no more are malignant so far. I still have bowel problems but I must say that it's finally getting a bit easier after the last colonoscopy - still problems though but after 9 years I'm used to it. I think Metformin must affect everybody differently so there's plenty of advice and support from so many different people on this forum. However, if all else fails, there are products which might make a difference - for example, I take loperamide hydrochloride when needed and it helps a lot.
 
Kat100 said:
Hi ...another question ..my second of the week ...

Really could not cope with embarrassing problems which my metformin seems to be causing me ...gastro problems ..since I started it almost ..but I just kept on trying ...
My kind GP changed my normal ones from 1500mg a day to one table 1000mg once a day ....slow release ..to see if it works better on my poor stomach .

I have started this tonight ....the reduction of 500mg I forgot to discuss :rolleyes:...I am guessing it is because it is slow release ...
Yes I have had a google and I have got to have a hba1c in December to see if is working ...

So I was wondering if anyone has any feedback to,share from personal experience if you have changed to the slow release tablet ...

Thank you ...Kat
Click to expand...
I still have diarrhoea with the slow release
 
cookiesT2 said:
I still have diarrhoea with the slow release
Click to expand...
Hello cookies Thank you for responding , I am into day four of the slow release ....
Stomach gas was awful on the metformin , I can only hope for some improvement on the SR ...not much change so far , but I have to try for a couple of months ...really embarrassed by it ....did you take a reduced dose on SR ....
I know this drug is not for everyone ....I am however feeling a bit better in myself on slow release 1000gm it was 1500g on the non slow release ...
But the stomach problems are there ....THSNK you again ...Kat
 
Annb said:
I've been on SR Metformin for about 9 years and have had bowel problems all along. I've been investigated for bowel cancer - just in case and they found a malignant polyp, so just as well really. I get checked every so often and although there are plenty of polyps, no more are malignant so far. I still have bowel problems but I must say that it's finally getting a bit easier after the last colonoscopy - still problems though but after 9 years I'm used to it. I think Metformin must affect everybody differently so there's plenty of advice and support from so many different people on this forum. However, if all else fails, there are products which might make a difference - for example, I take loperamide hydrochloride when needed and it helps a lot.
Click to expand...
THSNK you Ann....your information has given me something to think about ...I have had a capsule endoscopy ...re my stomach ....
Loperamide sounds like a good idea ...THSNK you ...Kat
 
Kat100 said:
Hello cookies Thank you for responding , I am into day four of the slow release ....
Stomach gas was awful on the metformin , I can only hope for some improvement on the SR ...not much change so far , but I have to try for a couple of months ...really embarrassed by it ....did you take a reduced dose on SR ....
I know this drug is not for everyone ....I am however feeling a bit better in myself on slow release 1000gm it was 1500g on the non slow release ...
But the stomach problems are there ....THSNK you again ...Kat
Click to expand...
no change of dosage 500 morning and night. It's doing my head in as you say it's so embarrassing times I dare not leave the house if there isn't going to be a toilet near by.I've actually had accidents I'm 52 for god sake not two. I'm determined to get it changed otherwise my life is over how can you function normally like that.
 
jasaorr said:
I was experiencing the most dreadful wind on starting metformin. I eventually found that stopping my regular 2 slices of Bergen bread
cured the problem.
Click to expand...
Hi jasaorr THSNK you for your reply , I have to take some bread not a lot because my veggie diet always has a lot of fibre in it ...
Hard to get the balance right .....just hate the stomach wind ...do have IBS ....and the flare ups are awful ....
Glad you cured the problem ...I have had the problem for two years this November , hence the change to slow release ....will give it ago ...
 
Kat100 said:
THSNK you Ann....your information has given me something to think about ...I have had a capsule endoscopy ...re my stomach ....
Loperamide sounds like a good idea ...THSNK you ...Kat
Click to expand...

Kat - As your last couple of HbA1cs have been in the non-diabetic ranges, has consideration been given to trying diet alone, and a follow up HbA1c in 6-8 weeks, to ensure it's staying on track?
 
cookiesT2 said:
no change of dosage 500 morning and night. It's doing my head in as you say it's so embarrassing times I dare not leave the house if there isn't going to be a toilet near by.I've actually had accidents I'm 52 for god sake not two. I'm determined to get it changed otherwise my life is over how can you function normally like that.
Click to expand...
Hi cookie I am 53 and it is awful ....you have my full support ...it is embarrassing ...needing the loo and the stomach wind ...
I have read that metformin is the better drug ..but when it gets to going out and about ...it is not so good ...yes at our ages we need to function we have a quality of life to live ....take care ...Kat
 
Kat100 said:
Hi cookie I am 53 and it is awful ....you have my full support ...it is embarrassing ...needing the loo and the stomach wind ...
I have read that metformin is the better drug ..but when it gets to going out and about ...it is not so good ...yes at our ages we need to function we have a quality of life to live ....take care ...Kat
Click to expand...
that's what I was told too about it being the best but at the moment I feel like coming off it. someone advised me to claim disability for incontinence but I want no diarrhoea not benefits. although at my age not working would be blissful lol
 
AndBreathe said:
Kat - As your last couple of HbA1cs have been in the non-diabetic ranges, has consideration been given to trying diet alone, and a follow up HbA1c in 6-8 weeks, to ensure it's staying on track?
Click to expand...
Hi AndBreath ...you have read my mind ....how did you do that ....
I was to scarred to say my last two hba1c tests were in the non diabetic ranges ....after they were so high, they are now so low....much better of course ....
Now my dietiten thinks medication will be stopped at some point ...so yes...
My review with GP is December .....I thought by reducing the amount was a way forward ....all for discussion in December ....
Next hba1c is in December ...
Thank you for raising this ...it was on my mind ....I am guessing the SR won't be hitting me quite so hard ...very grateful for thinking of me...you have made a very valid point .....Thank you again ...Kat
 
shunter_2 said:
Hi I had the same problem as you and a friend told me to go see my doctor and ask to be put on slow release, almost over night the problem stopped over night. at the time if I had a steak for dinner I would get half way through it and I would have to leave the table and again when the meal was finished in fact most meals were the same but after starting the slow release tablets I could again enjoy a meal without having to visit the toilet , so I hope these work for you :)
Click to expand...
Hi shunter ....Thank you for replying ....yes it is to do with meals ....it never seems to stop , it might now on the SR ...
Thank you for sharing ....Kat x I don't feel as if I am the only one now ...
 
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