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Upset stomach, change of tablet?

T

terrierist

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Aintree
Hi All..

Please be advised that this post maybe a little graphic... I apologise in advance..

I have been diagnosed type 2 for 8-9 years now, and until recently have had good control. My medication has been changed several times throughout. I started out on Gliclazide, but found this sent me hypo, and being a HGV driver, this is not good! My medication was changed to standard metformin, which relieved the hypos and gave me fairly good control, however my bowel movements were very loose, and again being a driver, a little uncomfortable!

At the start of 2012, I started to notice a change in myself, my control wasn't as good, so i returned to my GP and was placed on Metformin Slow release, the dosage was increased from 500 to 1000mg.. My control returned and my upset stomach continued, I asked ny GP about this, and was told that it is a side effect of Metformin..

So 2 Months ago, my control had gone sketchy again, I agreed to try Gliclazide slow release to complement the statin and Metformin, my control is good, I attribute this to not just the tablets, but also the the super advice I receieved on this forum regarding diet.

After that background, please would you consider the following questions?

1) My loose bowel movements are causing me concern, I am seeing full tablets passed through, after speaking with my GP, he informs me that even though the tablet is whole, its medication will have been absorbed into my system, is this correct?

2) My hypos are starting to return, the Gliclazide SR is 30mg x 2 at the start of the day, do you think that I should take one at the start and one at the end? My GP has prescribed Gliclazide in the morning and my whole Metformin dose with my evening meal.

3) should I be looking at a change of medication? The combination of loose bowels (almost water) and hypos creeping in are making life uncomfortable, even with the added benefit of my control improving..

Your thoughts and advice are greatfully received.

Kev
 
hey kev,

just been reading your post and that sounds rather nasty for you. i was on metformin and it always gave me the squits, especially after id eaten anything high in fat. im now on gliclazide 40mg once a day and im fine with that. its not slow release tho. when i was first put on it, the doc prescibed 40mg 2x daily but i couldnt handle it. it made me doolally. i was so hyperactive and wasnt sleeping. i went back to see the doc and he didnt believe me when i told him my symptoms so we ended up having a rather heated discussion.

so the moral to my little tale is this, go back to your doc and tellhim/her that something isnt right and you want to be checked out properly. dont take no for an answer. its not right if whole tablets are passing through. is there any blood present?

wendle x
 
Ello Wendle!

Thanks for the reply, no blood present, Ive been 4 times this morning, starting a new job tomorrow so not wanting to keep disappearing!!

I think a trip back to GP is in order, but he keeps mentioning insulin, which as a driver is the worst thing that could happen, I am sure I would lose my licence..

Just thought, High fat is now part of my diet, trying the LCHF diet... hmmmm
 
good luck with the new job!

im a low carber now too and i honestly dont have any bother nowadays in the bowel department. i reckon mine was due to eating junk, too much processed rubbish. if i were you though id be giving the docs a hard time. but my docs are pants anyway. :lol: on friday i had to actually ask for a hba1c test that shouldve been done in may. says it all doesnt it?

have you been tested for ibs? or perhaps gluten intolerance? you know, you might see a change with the low carbing business. worth a try though eh?

wendle x
 
Hi. Met SR does leave some part of the tablet left in the stools; that is normal. I guess if you have SR versions of each tablet there is not much more you do with those, but do discuss sitagliptin with your GP. It's a fairly new drug and with some exceptions has few down-sides. It does not cause hypos as it's effect reduces as blood sugar comes down to normal. It works by extending the time the pancreas produces insulin by suppressing an enzyme. As glic is causing hypos your pancreas is still producing lots of insulin when it's needed (or when not needed!) so sitagliptin might be a candidate in parallel with a lower glic? I'm not a doctor but do discuss options with your GP.
 
It’s definitely not for me to advise on your particular dosages and treatment, but one further option you might also discuss with your doctor is juggling/experimenting a bit with the timing of the glic – maybe 15g in the morning and 45mg in the evening, rather than 60mg at one go first thing. I find this sort of balance works for me (20mg/60mg in my case) and has significantly reduced the problem of worktime hypos, and if it gets your bgs down you might then feel that you could reduce the metformin dosage a bit and give your poor system a breather. Everyone’s body works differently, but that’s maybe a reason to keep juggling timing and amounts of dosage till you find a combination that works.
 
Sme tablets have a coating which goes right through. i think it's how they slow the release of the medication.
Digestive upset is a well known side effect of Metformin, even though it doesn't affect everybody. I've been on it about 9 years and never had trouble.
if your primary worry is the tummy trouble. I'd go back to the doctor and ask if there's something else you could use without threatening your driving licence.

If it's the decreasing level of control, I'd go low carb, which I have done and for me It works brilliantly. I have non-diabetic BG pretty much all the time.
Driving all day makes exercising difficult, but I'd try to squeeze some in somwhere. It doesn' affect BG all that much, but keeps the system generally fitter. Having watched the marvellous TV series on Stobart Truckers, I realise that eating junk food is a big temptation too. I'd say that for any diabetic, Junk food should be a No no.
Hana
 
just been reading your post and that sounds rather nasty for you.
g.gif
 
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