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Metformin

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Newbie6525

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Diagnosed 2 weeks ago, started on 500g metformin, after 3 days switched to slow release as struggling with side effects, and causing ibs problems. After a week started on 500 twice a day, omg, side effects unbearable. Have dropped back to one a day for the last 4 days and no side effects. My question is will taking only one tablet a day be beneficial?, im losing weight and have upped the exercise. I plan to try and increase the dose maybe in another week, but dread the return of the side effects. Any advice would be appreciated
 
Newbie6525 said:
Diagnosed 2 weeks ago, started on 500g metformin, after 3 days switched to slow release as struggling with side effects, and causing ibs problems. After a week started on 500 twice a day, omg, side effects unbearable. Have dropped back to one a day for the last 4 days and no side effects. My question is will taking only one tablet a day be beneficial?, im losing weight and have upped the exercise. I plan to try and increase the dose maybe in another week, but dread the return of the side effects. Any advice would be appreciated
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That is good that your stomach has settled, but metformin is often not the best option if people already have stomach problems as there are alternatives if dietary changes are not sufficient to bring down your blood glucose. Many have found low carb helps with IBS symptoms anyway. You may find some ideas which suit you in this link. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
I was diagnosed in July and lost almost a kilo a week by cutting back carbs to about 120 gms. I was then put on metformin starting one a day increasing to 4. To start it bunged me up but when I reached 3 I had diarrhea more soft not watery. I was put on an SGLT2 a few days later and metformin reduced to two a day. I am on slow release. I'm sure even one dose will help but it depends what your HBA1C was. Many people where they have weight to lose and need to move more have reduced without medication either by reducing calories or carbohydrates. It maybe your surgery will consider new and additional medication and I was put on the SGLT2 when my BG had reduced from 69 to 58 and I had been on metformin for 4 weeks. What was your hba1c? Do you have weight to lose?

Metformin is cheap and effective but your surgery will have other choices if your BG doesn't reduce.
Ah I see you now have a reply.
 
Hi @Newbie6525 Metformin is probably the most popular (and lowest cost to the NHS) medication for diabetics that’s why is usually the first one prescribed to T2 diabetics by GP’s some people get side effects as you have discovered
but it’s not the only one out there there are many other meds that your HCP)s can access to help you
If you need meds, some T2’s control things with Diet & Excercise alone

were you told your Hba1c score when you were diagnosed (this will be a number that will be higher than 48)
 
Newbie6525 said:
Diagnosed 2 weeks ago, started on 500g metformin, after 3 days switched to slow release as struggling with side effects, and causing ibs problems. After a week started on 500 twice a day, omg, side effects unbearable. Have dropped back to one a day for the last 4 days and no side effects. My question is will taking only one tablet a day be beneficial?, im losing weight and have upped the exercise. I plan to try and increase the dose maybe in another week, but dread the return of the side effects. Any advice would be appreciated
Click to expand...
In general the minimum effective dose of Metformin is asserted to be 1500. 500 and 1000 are loading doses leading up to that although some T2s get stuck on 500 and 1000 through medical inertia. 2000 is the standard dose.
 
My HbA1c was 108. I do have weight to lose, am already working on that, and am increasing exercise, wasn’t very active before
 
Newbie6525 said:
My HbA1c was 108. I do have weight to lose, am already working on that, and am increasing exercise, wasn’t very active before
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That is quite high so you may need some additional medication if diet doesn't seem to be sufficient but there are several options other than Metformin which your GP should be able to prescribe. /
 
Hi @Newbie6525 and welcome to the forum - I was put on Metformin for a couple of weeks before they diagnosed me as Type 1 (was pending results) and it did cause some, ahem, interesting digestive problems which is not uncommon at all - as mentioned earlier though there are many other drugs available which may help - definitely worth speaking to your healthcare team - all the best of luck
 
Welcome to the forum @Newbie6525

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and the stomach upset you had from your start on Metformin. Some on the forum have found that the body adjusts to Metformin doses, and any initial digestive upset settles in a few weeks. But others have a more severe reaction, which doesn’t seem to lift at all.

Great to hear your tum has settled on the one tablet. Perhaps consider cautiously ramping up gradually leaving a longer time between increases to allow your body to get used to things?

Good luck with your weight loss 🙂
 
Sorry to hear about your issues with Metformin. My consultant is pushing me to try it and as an ileostomate it is these potential side effects that are putting me off giving it a go.

Have you been offered or can you ask to try the slow release version? Some people seem to tolerate this much better than the normal version.
 
I have seen your result. It would be a good idea to buy a blood glucose monitor so you can see if your blood glucose is reducing and to test immediately before eating and two hours after you started. This should be done to see how your body reacts. For example I have full fat yoghurt berries and seeds plus sometimes nuts for breakfast. I don't test now but I keep meaning to try porridge which I liked before my diagnosis in July. If I decided to try porridge I would test. It is likely the plan will be to add more medication. As I indicated earlier by moving more and reducing carbs I started losing weight steadily. I was then put on an SGLT2 which requires you to eat at least 130 grams of carbs and I do now go over this often as I worry. However my last hba1c was 44 and I have lost more weight but it has slowed down. I have lost 2 stone. I'd like to lose another 2 stone.
I still have occasional diarrhea. Had it this weekend. I don't know if it was what I ate or whether medication is affecting me. It was short lived and not watery.
As you have ibs it maybe unrealistic to increase metformin. I suggest you start a diary with food exercise toilet habits weight and any bg readings. You may then spot if particular food or medication has a bad effect. You can then decide about a second tablet of metformin or whether to ask to try something else.
Good luck
 
dannybgoode said:
Sorry to hear about your issues with Metformin. My consultant is pushing me to try it and as an ileostomate it is these potential side effects that are putting me off giving it a go.

Have you been offered or can you ask to try the slow release version? Some people seem to tolerate this much better than the normal version.
Click to expand...
I’m taking the slow release version
 
Newbie6525 said:
I’m taking the slow release version
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I would speak to your GP then. Note this piece by Dr Elizabeth Martin in the Pulse magazine (aimed at GP's).

---
• Metformin. First-choice medication for all people if tolerated; some people experience GI upset (modified release is available). Not advised for IBS, IBD, pancreatic insufficiency or if drinking excess alcohol. Can be either as single therapy or in combination with other drugs. Caution eGFR. Some possible CV benefits.
---

Full article here...

 
Hi @Newbie6525 welcome to the forum.

I was diagnosed with a HbA1c of 86 on my second blood test and when I saw the diabetes nurse I ended up being prescribed Metformin which I decided not to take and carried on with my exercise and moving to a low carb diet (130g or less/day). I had a couple of other meetings with the nurse and under pressure I agreed to start taking the metformin but have never gone beyond one a day. To be honest I don't think the 500mg pill has any real impact on my BG and someone else said that amount is not really that effective.

My next meeting with the diabetes nurse is on 11th Feb, and I am hoping we can agree I can come off the metformin as my HbA1c is now down to 47. I found the diet changes and the exercise has been the bigger impact on my BG and therefore think that for me I made the right choice. I do need to be clear that I was not overweight when diagnosed so I did not have any weight loss issues to address.
 
I have been on 850 x3 daily for several years then was reduced to 850 x2 about 18 months ago then last year September I started to experience regular (daily) bouts of the “trots”. I was referred to a gastroenterologist who suggested I change to slow release metformin but my doctor on receiving the change request told me to stop taking metformin. I did this and my problems have gone away. I take 1mg ozempic weekly and forxiga. My regular meter readings for last2-3 weeks have been 6-7.5 so I am sure that metformin was to blame. I have not been put on any other meds yet.
 
Newbie6525 said:
Diagnosed 2 weeks ago, started on 500g metformin, after 3 days switched to slow release as struggling with side effects, and causing ibs problems. After a week started on 500 twice a day, omg, side effects unbearable. Have dropped back to one a day for the last 4 days and no side effects. My question is will taking only one tablet a day be beneficial?, im losing weight and have upped the exercise. I plan to try and increase the dose maybe in another week, but dread the return of the side effects. Any advice would be appreciated
Click to expand...
I was giving up on life after 5 weeks on Atorvastatin and Metformin. In the end I threw them away and relied on diet alone. I do have to stay low carb - under 40 gm a day but that kept me almost normal - Hba1c went from 91 to 41 in 6 months but it was no problem to stay there year on year.
Whilst your blood glucose levels are low taking something problematic seems unhelpful. I was unable to leave the house back in 2016 just after diagnosis.
 
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