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Metformin

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Leslene

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi i have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and been given metformin. I have to take 1 tablet for 2 weeks and then increase it to 2 a day. I've been taking it for a week now and my vision is blurred i'm suffering dizzy spells and have a constant headache. Does anyone know if these side effects will ease off or just get worse because i'm concerned about my vision. The blurriness seems to be getting worse and worse each day. Any advise would be gratefully received.
 
Hi Leslene, welcome. I used to take Metformin but apart from the, er, gastric side effects didn't have anything else like blurry vision or headaches. I'm sorry you are suffering these, but can't advise apart from going back to your GP. Perhaps others can offer advice?
 
Leslene said:
Hi i have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and been given metformin. I have to take 1 tablet for 2 weeks and then increase it to 2 a day. I've been taking it for a week now and my vision is blurred i'm suffering dizzy spells and have a constant headache. Does anyone know if these side effects will ease off or just get worse because i'm concerned about my vision. The blurriness seems to be getting worse and worse each day. Any advise would be gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Hi Leslene...blurred vision can be one of the less common side effects of taking Metformin...if you read your instructions that came with the medication it will advise you what action to take...in this instance it will tell you to speak to your doctor...believe you need to contact your them and ask for advice...if any side effect is causing you difficulty then you must to speak to a professional who will advise you whether to continue with the medication...given this is an uncommon side effect and you are also experiencing dizziness and a continuous headache I would urge you to call your local surgery as soon as possible and seek their advice...if they are closed and you feel you cannot wait...then ring 111...it is just a phone call that is what they are there for ...and hopefully it will put your mind at rest
 
Leslene said:
Hi i have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and been given metformin. I have to take 1 tablet for 2 weeks and then increase it to 2 a day. I've been taking it for a week now and my vision is blurred i'm suffering dizzy spells and have a constant headache. Does anyone know if these side effects will ease off or just get worse because i'm concerned about my vision. The blurriness seems to be getting worse and worse each day. Any advise would be gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Hi Leslene
Welcome to the forum ,hope you get the answers you badly need .all I can say is when I was first diagnosed I suffered from blurred vision along with other obvious syntoms, for me taking metformin and following medical advice re: healthy diet and exercise all my syntoms were gone inside aprox 10 days .
 
I was started on the same dose end of last November. I didn't have blurry vision I just had a complete change of vision. My longstanding shortsightedness was no more and my okay reading vision was also gone so for 3 weeks I dumped my glasses for driving and TV and bought some ready readers for close work, using mobile phone etc. I had my eyes checked by optician during this time and she told me a change in vision as your BG levels reduce can be normal and she gave my eyes a good check over, took pictures and review etc. but told me to wait at least another month before having my prescription changed. Good advice as after 3 weeks my eyes were back to normal.

Given you have dizziness as well which is listed as a rare side effect you should seek medical advice. Also go see optician. Don't buy new glass, explain your diagnosis (your eye checks are now free) so at least you can check your eyes are healthy.
 
Thank you for all the replies i have been to see gp and he has now given me the slow releasing metforlin. I have to see how this goes and if i'm still suffering then they will look at trying a different medication.

I have to admit at the minute i'm struggling as i'm never ill so to be told i have type 2 diabetes was a shock. I'm still in the learning stage so if i ask what appears to be a silly question please bare with me. I'm a beginner and still trying to come to terms with it all. Thanks again for all advise.
 
I was diagnosed in Feb 2016 type 2. I was put on metformin 500mg one in the morning, rising to 2 a day the second week. However, for want of a better description, after 3 days I had the most awful gastric problems as described as a known side effect on the patient information leaflet. I contacted the surgery and they put me on glicazide which I took for 3 weeks and low and behold I put five pounds on, so since I don't need help in that direction, I asked to be taken off it. I was then put on forxiga dapagliflozin 10mg one a day. However, once again I had problems of the skin kind, horrendous, but I persevered from April until 3 days ago, when I went to see my GP on a different matter and mentioned, wondering if I could try Metformin again to see if it was a coincidence as I've been plagued by intermittent gastric problems which they've not been able to get to the bottom (no pun intended) of since 2011. So I started back on Metformin yesterday.

I take one 500mg with or just after breakfast, and the 2nd with or just after my main evening meal. These are not SR infact I didn't know you could get those until I read the forum. Well the gastric problems have started again this afternoon, but I'm prepared to carry on, and just wondered if the side effect will eventually stop - does anyone know?
 
Some people find the effects lessen if you reduce your Carbohydrate intake aswell.
 
Leslene said:
Thank you for all the replies i have been to see gp and he has now given me the slow releasing metforlin. I have to see how this goes and if i'm still suffering then they will look at trying a different medication.

I have to admit at the minute i'm struggling as i'm never ill so to be told i have type 2 diabetes was a shock. I'm still in the learning stage so if i ask what appears to be a silly question please bare with me. I'm a beginner and still trying to come to terms with it all. Thanks again for all advise.
Click to expand...

Hi Leslene ,Welcome . It does take a while to get over the shock. I hope the slow release Metformin has no unwanted side effects,
On here their is no such thing as a silly question ! I can't say the same about our answers though :D. All joking aside you ask away and we'll do our best
 
Hi again Leslene. In the pinned section at the top of the newbies say hello here forum , scroll down to the T2 section, you'll find interesting info plus links to books and if your gp won't provide one, (a glucose meter that is the cheapest one to self fund that we know of) most don't unless we're on meds that can cause hypo's (low blood sugar)
To be honest testing ourselves is the only way we can find out which carbs affect us badly.
Here is The link to the thread mentioned above. "Useful links for people new to diabetes"
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/
 
Annette&Bertie said:
I was diagnosed in Feb 2016 type 2. I was put on metformin 500mg one in the morning, rising to 2 a day the second week. However, for want of a better description, after 3 days I had the most awful gastric problems as described as a known side effect on the patient information leaflet. I contacted the surgery and they put me on glicazide which I took for 3 weeks and low and behold I put five pounds on, so since I don't need help in that direction, I asked to be taken off it. I was then put on forxiga dapagliflozin 10mg one a day. However, once again I had problems of the skin kind, horrendous, but I persevered from April until 3 days ago, when I went to see my GP on a different matter and mentioned, wondering if I could try Metformin again to see if it was a coincidence as I've been plagued by intermittent gastric problems which they've not been able to get to the bottom (no pun intended) of since 2011. So I started back on Metformin yesterday.

I take one 500mg with or just after breakfast, and the 2nd with or just after my main evening meal. These are not SR infact I didn't know you could get those until I read the forum. Well the gastric problems have started again this afternoon, but I'm prepared to carry on, and just wondered if the side effect will eventually stop - does anyone know?
Click to expand...
Hi Annette...I have been taking Metformin since July 2016...when I first started I had exactly the same problems...horrendous...however after the first two weeks the side effects began to subside...now I am fine with them...there is the occasional day where the problems can arise...that does depend on what I have been eating...how long have you been taking them for this time?...it's not clear from your post...I believe it can take your system a while to get used to them...if the Metformin exacerbates the gastric problems you already have...then I would return to your GP and ask for the extended release version.
 
grovesy said:
Some people find the effects lessen if you reduce your Carbohydrate intake aswell.
Click to expand...
thanks grovesy I will try that tomorrow, I've taken immodium instants to see how it goes. I wanted to be able to take Metformin because I know it's one of the best for type 2 and usually works well, and as you know some people don't get many side effects, guess we're all differemnt.
 
Bubbsie said:
Hi Annette...I have been taking Metformin since July 2016...when I first started I had exactly the same problems...horrendous...however after the first two weeks the side effects began to subside...now I am fine with them...there is the occasional day where the problems can arise...that does depend on what I have been eating...how long have you been taking them for this time?...it's not clear from your post...I believe it can take your system a while to get used to them...if the Metformin exacerbates the gastric problems you already have...then I would return to your GP and ask for the extended release version.
Click to expand...

Hi Bubbsie, this is only my 2nd day on Metformin, and if I remember correctly when I was on them last March, I also only lasted less than a week. So I think I'll try to stick to them and if after another week it's the same problem, I may ask for the SR ones, thanks.
 
I have remembered I have seen the occasional poster say they have been better changing to a different brand. I do take the Slow Release version and I think in the past I have counted I have had 3-4 differnt brands. Though for the last 2 years I have been prescribed a specific brand, though I did not ask for this. I suspect my CCG have recommended this brand be prescribed.
 
I had the stomach issues on and off during the first two or three weeks, luckily for me I was always at home and it was not everyday. I know my mother-in-law suffered as well when she first took them. I hope it settles down.
 
I was told last year when they put me on them, because often this is the first med when newly diagnosed, that this was the expected side effect, and it is also supposed to be a good drug with other health benefits which is why I'd like to persevere. Luckily these days I am at home all the time.
 
(Temporary) changes in vision are a common side-effect of D in the early stages. They are due to the excess sugar distorting your lenses (IIRC), and usually go away once your sugar levels are under control.
 
I was prepared for the Met side effects and bought myself a Radar key as I like to go out walking and usually the loo without a queue, or sometimes the only loo is the disabled one. Thankfully I've never had cause to use it but if your are nervous going out due to bathroom issues it might be worth you buying one. https://crm.disabilityrightsuk.org/radar-nks-key

One side effect I do get from Met is a roughish coating on my teeth. I reduced to one a day to see if it improved and it did but I'm persevering with 2 a day as prescribed until my first review. I just keep a toothbrush and paste in my desk in work and clean my teeth throughout the day.
 
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