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Metformin and reduced kidney function

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Falkirk Bairn

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Type 2
Hi. I've been on Metformin for over a year. I had a routine blood test on Friday to check my kidney function. This showed that my kidney function had considerably reduced over the course of the past 12 months. My GP is of the opinion that Metformin is the cause of this and has advised me to stop taking it immediately. He has started me on another drug, Alogliptin. Anyone else aware of issues with Metformin and reduced kidney function?
 
Hello, and welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear about the problems with metformin. Personally I have not come across any relationship of this to kidney function, but there is a lot of knowledge on this web site, so I hope someone else will be able to help. Do you know if the metformin was being effective in helping to control your blood sugars?
 
@Falkirk Bairn , welcome to the forum.
Back in 2016 I had to come off of Metformin due to poor kidney function, I had been on them since dx (diagnosis) back in 1994. My CKD (chronic kidney disease) was caused due to long term undiagnosed diabetes rather than the Metformin as I had absolutely no symptoms. It is known that Metformin can be hard on the kidneys , Hopefully once the Metformin is out of your system your kidney function will start to improve . My kidney function takes a dive when on certain meds or and improves once I am off them .
Once we are dx with diabetes they keep an eye on our kidney function so I hope your reduced kidney function has been caught very early and they make a good recovery.
 
Falkirk Bairn said:
Hi. I've been on Metformin for over a year. I had a routine blood test on Friday to check my kidney function. This showed that my kidney function had considerably reduced over the course of the past 12 months. My GP is of the opinion that Metformin is the cause of this and has advised me to stop taking it immediately. He has started me on another drug, Alogliptin. Anyone else aware of issues with Metformin and reduced kidney function?
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Nobody here is really qualified to give an opinion on this - and even if they were they couldn't say anything without knowing a lot more of yr medical history, in particular your kidney measures - but in your position I'd probably press your doc to give more details on this - why does he/she think Metformin is to blame, why not something else?
 
I go back for another blood test in three weeks time. It'll be interesting to see if there's any change in my results.
 
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