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Metformin side effects

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ChrisOT61

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all,
I started on metformin 850mg twice a day after food on Friday. I have experienced some unpleasant stomach cramps and diarrhoea. I know these are listed as common side effects which will hopefully subside but I wondered if others have experienced this and how long it went on for?

Many thanks,
Chris x
 
Hi Chris, you're on a higher dose than me - I've managed to stay on 500mg x2 daily. The side effects decreased dramatically after the first few weeks, but you can ask for a slow-release version if they don't. I find that the windy effect is worse if I have the tablets with a relatively high-carb meal - to the extent that I can hardly live with myself! :D
 
Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I don't know why I have been put on 850mg straight away as, from reading posts, it seems that 500mg is a more common starting dosage. My fasting bs was 8 in the first test and then 7.8 in the second, after which I was diagnosed type 2.
I do have a lot of weight to lose so not sure if that might be a contributing factor to my gps decision on dosage?
After breakfast I have the first tablet and during the morning I have been experiencing the stomach cramps but no diarrhoea. Then after my evening meal when I take the second tablet, I have found that I am struggling to finish the meal even though I am eating much less than normal for me, then I feel a bit nauseous and then shortly after I get the diarrhoea. Overnight I am fine and then the process starts again!
It's early days obviously for me and luckily I am off work at the moment but I am due to start a new post in a new team. I am an occupational therapist with social services and so work out in the community visiting people most days. I am worried that these side effects may impact on my ability to do my job property and certainly don't want to be "caught short" as it were, at a clients house!

Chris x
 
Did you go straight to 2 doses per day? Usually you start off with just one daily for a week and then introduce the second. Less of a shock to the system that way! Try ringing your GP for a chat about it.
 
Have you much weight to loose? When I asked about it I was told people with a lot of wieght to loose go on the higher dose. It acts also a an appetite supresent.

I have founf if I have too many carbs fillowed by my medication I have nuclear fall out for ages afterwards so I have swapped a couple of spuds for extra veg which has helped and cut down on the ammount of bread rice and pasta I have.
 
Yes he just prescribed the 2 x 850mg daily straight away. I was a bit surprised as I expected to be told to try and control it with diet etc to begin with. I will definitely contact the doctor if the side effects continue like this.

Thanks,
Chris x
 
Hi Caroline,
Yes I do have a lot of weight to lose. I have put on 5 stone in as many years. Roughly a stone a year really! I think I have been in denial about how overweight I am and my diet. I don't eat many sweets, cakes or chocolate and haven't had sugar in tea or coffee for about 20 plus years but I do like pastry, potatoes, rice, pasta etc and my portion control is non existent! Since last Friday when I was told I was T2 I have eaten no pasta, pastry and hardly any potatoes. I have been having two slices of wholemeal toast in the mornings and no more bread throughout the day. Normally I would eat much more bread than that.
Last night I had chicken, mashed cauliflower and baked beans for dinner. That probably sounds disgusting but actually it was very tasty but I couldn't even finish the meal and then after I took the metformin I quite quickly had the diarrhoea and cramps! Also got a lot of wind!
I am feeling quite anxious about what I eat!

Chris x
 
Hi Chris, sorry you are having problems with your metformin.
Perhaps ask GP about lowering the dose or changing you to the slow release version (less side effects)
PS welcome to the forum.
 
I find the effects hit me with in 2 hours of a high carb meal so have reduced carbs a lt. You'll find withthe reduction in the ammount you eat and the reduction in the carbs the wight will come off. I have also ben thinking about portion sizre too and have smalle portions.

Don't cut out carbs altogheter as we still need some, but for instance if you ar having meat pie just have it with vege and cut out potatoes pasta and rice with it.

Mashed food also absorbs more quickly, it is easier to digest so to stay fuller for longer try to avoid mashing or liquidizing stuff. The different textures also help make it more interesting
 
I don't really understand why they prescribe the non-SR version of Metformin, the difference in price is only about 13p for 28 tablets but the benefits in terms of reduced side-effects are enormous (they were for me anyway).

When I think of the anal chaos I went through for the sake of a few pence it makes me rather annoyed 😡
 
itsallgood said:
I don't really understand why they prescribe the non-SR version of Metformin, the difference in price is only about 13p for 28 tablets but the benefits in terms of reduced side-effects are enormous (they were for me anyway).

When I think of the anal chaos I went through for the sake of a few pence it makes me rather annoyed 😡
Click to expand...
It's probably a hangover from the cost before the patent expiry date of the slow-release version. Some of us don't suffer too badly after the first few weeks of hell.
 
My doc gave me slow release from go....just check if it says SR METFORMIN on your medicines ....normally they will give you slow release from go as it does take a few weeks to get used to, for me I still get upset tummy but I think it does not help with other tabs 🙂
 
Been on the normal metformin for 13 years, and it still can get very windy 😱 I have mentioned it very recently to the docs yet again, and got the usual sort of approach of them ignoring it, might have to state the obvious and ask to try the slow release version.
 
Hi,
My metformin is the regular kind not slow release. Today was a weird one. I had scrambled eggs with tomatoes for breakfast then took my metformin. Then for lunch I had 2 slices of Burgen soy and linseed bread with a smidgen of butter and some ham. Less than an hour later I had the most awful tummy cramps and diarrhoea for a couple of hours. I pretty much decided I couldnt take the metformin any longer even though its only been 4 days!
Then I had chicken with aromatic balti sauce and a couple of tablespoons of brown rice for dinner. Couldnt actually finish the dinner and left some rice.
I decided to take the metformin and see what happened.
Well, its after midnight now and, apart from some slight tummy discomfort, nothing....
We shall see what happens tomorrow!!
Nite all,
Chris xx
 
Chris, this sounds a lot like what I was going through on just 500mg twice a day of the standard version. The doctor wanted to up the dose to 1000mg twice a day and I said forget it, no way can my guts take any more. Straight away he just switched it to the slow release version - problem solved.

There's no need to suffer over it, just have a word with the doc.
 
May I ask how everyone takes slow release metformin, i was told to have 3 with my evening meal. today the doc looked it up in a book (!) and said it may be an idea to have one in the morning and 2 in the evening .
I too suffer from the wind aspect, very annoying :D
 
Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear you are struggling with Metformin but its not uncommon and I certainly from my experience had the same effects as you but they do get easier once your body adjusts however the wind is still a problem and also occasionaly get stomach cramps etc.🙂
 
My husband had his Metformin dose increased from 500mg to 850mg a few weeks ago. He said that he felt awful, generally unwell, had lots of discomfort in his stomach and was rushing off to the loo frequently. He was nearing the point of returning to the doctor to discuss going back on the 500mg but the symtoms have gradually decreased and he's back to 'normal'.

Interesting about the wind. My husband is very windy at times. I moan, tell him he's digusting and to leave the room; he takes no notice of course! He says that he can't help it so perhaps he can't. I'll have to try to be more tollerant.

Interesting what Caroline said about it being an appetite suppresant. I've noticed particularly since his dose was increased that he doesn't eat so much.
 
cakemaker said:
My husband had his Metformin dose increased from 500mg to 850mg a few weeks ago. He said that he felt awful, generally unwell, had lots of discomfort in his stomach and was rushing off to the loo frequently. He was nearing the point of returning to the doctor to discuss going back on the 500mg but the symtoms have gradually decreased and he's back to 'normal'.

Interesting about the wind. My husband is very windy at times. I moan, tell him he's digusting and to leave the room; he takes no notice of course! He says that he can't help it so perhaps he can't. I'll have to try to be more tollerant.

Interesting what Caroline said about it being an appetite suppresant. I've noticed particularly since his dose was increased that he doesn't eat so much.
Click to expand...

Hi Cakemaker,

I can relate to your husband as my wife often tells me im disgusting and to leave the room when having wind problems and I just reply "METFORMIN"
 
AnnW said:
May I ask how everyone takes slow release metformin, i was told to have 3 with my evening meal. today the doc looked it up in a book (!) and said it may be an idea to have one in the morning and 2 in the evening .
I too suffer from the wind aspect, very annoying :D
Click to expand...

Hi Ann,
the patient leaflet instructions have changed. It always used to be take with evening meal, now it says you can split the dose. 🙂
 
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