• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Metformin S.R

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
A

annealex1

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Has anyone noticed any difference in the brands of Metformin slow or prolonged release?
I have been on Meijumet prolonged realease for four weeks but today when I went to pick up my prescription the brand was Sukkarto S.R. I have asked the pharmacy to get me some Meijumet in.
 
Hello @annealex1
I have been taking Sukkarto S.R for quite a long time, and haven't experienced any problems with it. This was specifically prescribed by my doctor a couple of years ago, for no apparent reason.
Prior to that I think I used several different brands, dependant on what the pharmacist had in stock.
I haven't noticed any difference in taking any of the brands providing they are S.R (slow release)
 
Over the years I have had many different brands and not noticed any difference in them. I am also on Sukkarto SR and have been for a while, as my CCG recommend,they are larger in size than some I have had in the past. Not heard of the brand you mention.
 
grovesy said:
Over the years I have had many different brands and not noticed any difference in them. I am also on Sukkarto SR and have been for a while, as my CCG recommend,they are larger in size than some I have had in the past. Not heard of the brand you mention.
Click to expand...
Oh thanks. Do you know of any reason the Dr would specify the brand?
 
Toucan said:
Hello @annealex1
I have been taking Sukkarto S.R for quite a long time, and haven't experienced any problems with it. This was specifically prescribed by my doctor a couple of years ago, for no apparent reason.
Prior to that I think I used several different brands, dependant on what the pharmacist had in stock.
I haven't noticed any difference in taking any of the brands providing they are S.R (slow release)
Click to expand...
 
Sukkarto is the only one I’ve heard of too!
 
Previously I’ve had sukkarto but the last prescription was this...image.jpg
image.jpg
 
annealex1 said:
Oh thanks. Do you know of any reason the Dr would specify the brand?
Click to expand...
CCG's seem to suggest sometimes different things, they sometimes do it with meters. The Brands I have had in the past are:Metabet(these were smaller), Bolymin(these were big too!), some others I can't remember names of.
 
I have had countless different brands of [regular] Metformin, it just depends on which one the pharmacy is stocking on any given day. I assume because of whatever is cheapest or stocked by their supplier on any given day.

For some medications the brand does matter, though those tend to be ones which are individual in their effects and more dangerous. It is something I have had to experience with immunosuppressants, where the dosage is based on bodyweight and changing brands can effect toxicity. They also require regular blood tests to monitor the concentration of the drug in the blood.

Metformin in either normal or modified release versions do not have the same risks, so there is no warning for them to be prescribes by brand. A good way to tell whether the brand matters is how the product is named. If the generic name (e.g. Metformin) is more prominent it does not matter, but if the brand name is prominent then the brand does matter.

Obviously you should always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are uncertain both anything, but I do not think the brand should make any difference.
 
Hi. I've probably had 4 or 5 different SR brands over the years and not noticed any difference between them. CCGs recommend GPs prescribe a generic e.g. Metformin Hydrochloride SR so that the chemist can buy in the cheapest or most available brand.
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. I am wondering about the brand here. Do you know why your doctor specified Sukkart S.R?
 
Thanks to everyone for posting. A few years ago I was put on Sukkarto and it made me ill especially as I have IBS. Then I had to try without medication but this May, seeing my HBA1c at 69 and had been that the year before, I asked to try them again but a lower dose of 500. I was given Meijumet and took one a day for two weeks and took it slowly then I increased to two doses and I find I can manage the stomach problems. I did not want to change brands hence my question,
It may be that now I have taken the tips and gone on low carb, high fat that has helped me.
 
annealex1 said:
Thanks to everyone for posting. A few years ago I was put on Sukkarto and it made me ill especially as I have IBS. Then I had to try without medication but this May, seeing my HBA1c at 69 and had been that the year before, I asked to try them again but a lower dose of 500. I was given Meijumet and took one a day for two weeks and took it slowly then I increased to two doses and I find I can manage the stomach problems. I did not want to change brands hence my question,
It may be that now I have taken the tips and gone on low carb, high fat that has helped me.
Click to expand...
Well Metfomin does have a side affect on bowels. You can only ask about having a specific brand.
 
Yes Colin I know but I can't go on like this with high Hba1c. Lets hope I continue to manage everything and get it down in three months.
 
What dose did you take of Sukkarto the first time you took it? The guideline are to start on 500mg per day and then gradually increase it by 500mg roughly every two weeks. For regular Metformin it is usually increased weekly. If you were starting on a larger dose the first time you tried it then I would think that was more is likely the reason for it making you ill, rather than the brand.
 
I am sure @Grannylorraine (so sad that she is no longer san active member of the forum!) also had digestive upset swapping brands and it was believed that it was the coating of the pills which was the problem. If I remember correctly, some are coated in Lactose.... but I could be wrong... Pretty certain it was the coating or a stabilising agent though and not the active ingredient which was the problem and these can vary from brand to brand.
 
rebrascora said:
I am sure @Grannylorraine (so sad that she is no longer san active member of the forum!) also had digestive upset swapping brands and it was believed that it was the coating of the pills which was the problem. If I remember correctly, some are coated in Lactose.... but I could be wrong... Pretty certain it was the coating or a stabilising agent though and not the active ingredient which was the problem and these can vary from brand to brand.
Click to expand...
It was a mess the first time round with a dose of 500 twice a day then doses of 1000 Metformin then changed to Metformin SR and the same. That was approximately two years ago. This time I asked by phone and spoke to another doctor.
 
Becka said:
What dose did you take of Sukkarto the first time you took it? The guideline are to start on 500mg per day and then gradually increase it by 500mg roughly every two weeks. For regular Metformin it is usually increased weekly. If you were starting on a larger dose the first time you tried it then I would think that was more is likely the reason for it making you ill, rather than the brand.
Click to expand...
Thanks Becka
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top