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Metamorfin Advice

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Chrissy G

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I am currently supposed to be taking 4 x Metamorfin each morning. This was increased from 2 approximately 8 months ago. I have been suffering for 6 months with pains, throbbing & pins &needles in my thighs. This moves around from one leg to another. I have lost a lot of muscle mass in both legs and walking has become a real chore. Also, I feel generally very unwell in myself, very tired, lethargic, depressed, stomach ache, lack of appetite etc. I have also lost 5 stone over the last 2 years and still losing. I have ‘googled’ and feel that the Metamorfin could be the cause. Does anyone have any experience similar to mine? I have stopped taking them on a couple of occasions and feel almost instantly better in myself but my GP insisted that I must take them. I’ve got tired of feeling so unwell & haven’t taken any now for 3 days and feel SO much better already. I am monitoring my blood sugars & they are currently averaging at 6.
 
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Chrissy G said:
I am currently supposed to be taking 4 x Metamorfin each morning. This was increased from 2 approximately 8 months ago. I have been suffering for 6 months with pains, throbbing & pins &needles in my thighs. This moves around from one leg to another. I have lost a lot of muscle mass in both legs and walking has become a real chore. Also, I feel generally very unwell in myself, very tired, lethargic, depressed, stomach ache, lack of appetite etc. I have also lost 5 stone over the last 2 years and still losing. I have ‘googled’ and feel that the Metamorfin could be the cause. Does anyone have any experience similar to mine? I have stopped taking them on a couple of occasions and feel almost instantly better in myself but my GP insisted that I must take them. I’ve got tired of feeling so unwell & haven’t taken any now for 3 days and feel SO much better already. I am monitoring my blood sugars & they are currently averaging at 6.
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I’d be insisting on a different GP or referral to a Diabetic specialist Chrissy. That seems a hell of a lot of tablets all at once. Are you on the slow release? It’s Metformin incidentally.
 
Thanks for your response. I’ve seen a specialist & have been and had my nerves tested today in my legs. The specialist knows of my dosage. I have to go back in 6 weeks to see him. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced problems with Metformin in it making them feel so unwell?
 
Chrissy G said:
Thanks for your response. I’ve seen a specialist & have been and had my nerves tested today in my legs. The specialist knows of my dosage. I have to go back in 6 weeks to see him. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced problems with Metformin in it making them feel so unwell?
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I stopped them and advised my GP why. I’m doing it diet only. I’m not advising you to do the same but they’re clearly causing you major issues and you shouldn’t have to keep suffering such bad side effects. There must be alternatives dependent on your levels and control. Good luck.
 
Are you sure it is 4 at morning. I take 4 per day but mine are 2 with breakfast and 2 with dinner. Not sure if this would make any difference to how you feel. But please speak to you care team if they are making you unwell and see if you can try something different
 
I also take 4 but like Lorraine take 2 in the morning and two in the evening- I had similar symptoms on the 'normal' Metformin and got changed to the slow release- which doesn't affect me quite so badly. Is your GP a diabetic specialist? If this is having such an impact on your daily life they should be looking at alternatives. Good Luck and take care x
 
I take four a day too, but two with breakfast and two with my evening meal.
 
Same here - 2 with breakfast - 2 with dinner. I haven't had any side effects, but we're all different. Like everyone says, you shouldn't have to put up with this - good luck!
 
I take 2500g daily - one 1000g at breakfast and lunch and one 500g at dinner along with insulin. I have all the side effects but the weight loss one really benefitted me and I was told when initially put on it over 10 years ago that this would be a benefit to me - and how right the consultant was! Does this outweigh the other side effects for me - not sure and I have queried coming off it but I have been told as I am an "unstable" diabetic and a "quantity unknown" they will leave me on it for the time being:confused:

I would endorse Amigo's advice to get help from a diabetic specialist re: same for your particular situation. (Edit: See you have) I would discuss what other options are available to you at your six week visit.
 
Shiv Gaffney said:
I take 2500g daily - one 1000g at breakfast and lunch and one 500g at dinner along with insulin. I have all the side effects but the weight loss one really benefitted me and I was told when initially put on it over 10 years ago that this would be a benefit to me - and how right the consultant was! Does this outweigh the other side effects for me - not sure and I have queried coming off it but I have been told as I am an "unstable" diabetic and a "quantity unknown" they will leave me on it for the time being:confused:

I would endorse Amigo's advice to get help from a diabetic specialist re: same for your particular situation. (Edit: See you have) I would discuss what other options are available to you at your six week visit.
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Why is it the only side effect I'm NOT getting is the weight loss one---Grrrrrrrr...life is soooo unfair LOL
 
I was on just a single Metformin and a statin - I was really ill and could hardly crawl after a few weeks - I stopped taking them when I realized just how unwell I was, and have felt a lot better, but it took some time for the full restoration - at least, I am functional now.
I have been encouraged to go back on them several times, as no note is ever made of just how bad I got - they would not want to spoil the illusion that those tablets are safe mild and effective, I suppose.
 
Zillah said:
Why is it the only side effect I'm NOT getting is the weight loss one---Grrrrrrrr...life is soooo unfair LOL
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I don't get the weight loss either. I get the stomach issues sometimes, but not all the time, I am wondering if it depends on either what I have eaten or which manufacturer has supplied them.
 
Can't offer any medical advice on this one just my own personal experience - for a while I took Metformin (generic name) but had such severe side effects (all stomach and gastric related) of that my doctor changed me to Glucophage - this was after may requests to do so and this alleviated (not fully but quite a lot) of the side effects and still helped with weight loss (EDITED TO ADD: Also other factors contributed to weight loss such as my hard work i.e. carb counting and exercise (lots of it!) - it wasn't just the medication.) Again this is not a medical opinion just my own personal experience and if your doctor will prescribe you Glucophage (and many won't because it is too expensive (in Ireland anyway) but insistence, persistence, etc.:D is the key here) it may be worth trying this alternative. Good luck...🙂
 
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Glucophage is actually Metformin!

But it's the branded version. Some people do get on better with the branded Metformin rather then a cheaper generic. Sometimes it's due to the additives used in the generics themselves.
 
Yes sorry Mark should have stated that🙂. Initially what I was told was because of mix in the Glucophage (presumably that is the additives as you say) would not be as hard on my stomach; and that's what I found so hence I am one of the ones that it has worked better for.
 
I've been having trouble swallowing the generic Metformin SR. I've been told the branded is smaller.

Haven't managed to convince the GP to prescribe it yet. So the branded are sometimes better in a few ways.
 
Can't remember any difference in size of tablets to be quite honest.
 
I personally feel like I'm swallowing horse tablets😱
 
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