How long should I wait before changing meds?

[greg75]

Hi everyone,
I'm currently on Metformin and at the moment I'm taking two a day as only just started them but I'm needing the toilet without warning and with my job there isn't always a toilet nearby.Should I ask my doctor to change my meds or will this be a problem whatever I take?

 

[Leadinglights]

If this is having an impact on your job then I would wait no longer. You cannot predict if you would be better with the slow release version if that is not what you are taking but some people are.
I can't remember how high your HbA1C is but if not too high dietary changes may be an alternative as long as you are serious about making the changes.
Just looked back and yes your HbA1C was pretty high so I can see why the metformin.
Your problem seems to have been going on some time so definitely don't wait any longer.
Have you also made some dietary changes?

 

[greg75]

Hi,yes changed from white bread to wholemeal.Stopped all junk food which means not really eating apart from jacket potatoes

 

[Drummer]

Hi,yes changed from white bread to wholemeal.Stopped all junk food which means not really eating apart from jacket potatoes

Bread and potatoes are something to avoid unless you have already tested and found that you can cope with such high carb foods.
Protein and fats are the essentials, and they are just about carb free.
I stick to foods which are under 11 percent carbs, and go for colourful, tasty options for their vitamin and minerals and flavour.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi,yes changed from white bread to wholemeal.Stopped all junk food which means not really eating apart from jacket potatoes

Your stomach issues could be because you are still eating high carb foods in the bread and jacket potatoes.

 

[Windy]

Sorry to hear that the metformin is doing bad things to your digestive system. I was started on one 500mg pill for a week, then went up to 2 pills after that, but I'd also cut down on my carbs to try and get my blood sugar levels in a bit more control.
Could you try swapping for omelette with mushrooms and a bit of mature cheddar instead of the jacket potato? Almost no carbs in a 2 egg omelette, and it's tasty and filling. And soups, stir fry, roasted med vegetables, with quorn/chicken?

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Your stomach issues could be because you are still eating high carb foods in the bread and jacket potatoes.

Is that a real thing? Bread and jacket potatoes being known to cause a sudden need for the toilet?

The entire population eats them.
Far more likely metformin, and it normally settles down very quickly, or switching to slow release soon sorts it out for most of us..

 

[Leadinglights]

Is that a real thing? Bread and jacket potatoes being known to cause a sudden need for the toilet?

The entire population eats them.
Far more likely metformin, and it normally settles down very quickly, or switching to slow release soon sorts it out for most of us..

I was suggesting that it could be the combination of the metformin and the high carb foods.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I was suggesting that it could be the combination of the metformin and the high carb foods.

Never affected the other 120 million or so taking it with their toast in the morning.

 

[Leadinglights]

Never affected the other 120 million or so taking it with their toast in the morning.

I had read, admittedly anecdotal evidence, that stomach issues had diminished when carbs in the diet were reduced.
Apologies for misleading anyone.

 

[greg75]

I'm only sticking to two Metformin a day one in morning one before bed as my body can't tolerate 4 a day which I've been doing for a couple of months now.

 

[ColinUK]

Have you switched to modified release version of metformin?

If you’re prescribed 4 tablets and are only taking 2 have you at least discussed this with your gp or diabetes nurse?

 

[Leadinglights]

In your other thread you are saying your glucose levels are still very high 140mmol/mol which suggests that the metformin is not working for you at the dose you are taking. That is why you need to be looking at your diet as well.
Modified release may suit you better then you could be taking a more effective dose. But you still will need to look at you diet.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm only sticking to two Metformin a day one in morning one before bed as my body can't tolerate 4 a day which I've been doing for a couple of months now.

Metformin are best taken with food to protect the digestive system as much as possible. I used to take them mid meal because I would sometimes suffer indigestion/acid reflux if I took them just after a meal.
Taking one at bedtime is probably not a good idea, unless you are eating a meal right before you go to bed which is also probably not a good idea.

Wholemeal bread has almost exactly the same amount of carbs as white bread, so unless you have cut back on your bread consumption as well, that change will hardly help at all.

 

[Leadinglights]

Looking back through this thread I see you were eating a lot of high carb foods so I wonder if you have now changed what you are eating to try to reduce this carb load.
Perhaps you could say what sort of meals you are eating.
As suggested in the other thread getting a blood glucose monitor so you can test what foods and meals are pushing up your levels as from what you say they are still high.

 

[Robin]

I had read, admittedly anecdotal evidence, that stomach issues had diminished when carbs in the diet were reduced.
Apologies for misleading anyone.

I’d read that before, too. When I was on Metformin (when misdiagnosed as Type 2) I was doing a low carb diet, and didn’t get any side effects from the Met at all. Anecdotal, I know.

 

[gll]

I got side effects on low carb, taking before, during and after meals.
I ended up getting eye watering stomach cramps and bloating and eventually nausea and felt like I was going to pass out.

I was asked to come off totally for a weekend and reintroduce with a single tablet on the Monday. By Monday afternoon I was back on the phone with tummy cramps and switched to gliclazide and eventually slow release metformin and gliclazide.

Still not handling the slow release well, getting progressively worse bloating. Trying to hang on in there, at the 2 week mark and really can't be bothered with the hours of trying to get to speak to a GP to be told to give it some more time (they say side effects should settle in a couple of weeks).

There are other meds that you can be switched onto and it is common to get issues so your GPs shouldn't make a fuss about letting your try slow release or something else.