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Metformin toilet troubles and Immodium ?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
When are you taking the Metformin tablet(s)?
Many of us found taking them mid meal with a substantial amount of food was helpful to mitigate some of the digestive upset and it does usually settle down after a week or so, provided the dose is increased slowly, starting from 1 a day and building up to the maximum if necessary over the course of several weeks, to give your body a chance to cope with it's effects. I didn't personally try Immodium as I wasn't too inconvenienced by it..... it was more the colic spasms which made you want to pass wind but too scared to unless at home in case it was more than just wind! Not comfortable or convenient when you are out horse riding I can tell you! 🙄. I'm not really a fan of taking tablets to deal with the side effects of other tablets unless absolutely necessary, but if you do try the Immodium, let us know how you get on. Probably best to speak to a pharmacist before taking that step though just in case there are any contra indications.

If it doesn't settle down, do get in touch with your GP or nurse and explain the problem and ask if you can try the slow/modified release version of Metformin which is usually easier on the gut.
 
If it's not settled down after perhaps a couple of weeks at most then ask for the modified release ones.
 
That’s what I was like before I sent the GP a message saying it was unbearable.
Took a few days to settle down once the switch was made.
 
ColinUK said:
That’s what I was like before I sent the GP a message saying it was unbearable.
Took a few days to settle down once the switch was made.
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Thanks Colin, it's good to know it's a common problem . I am on lithium for bipolar and I have to be very careful not to get dehydrated . Is there any difference in effectiveness and dosage between the normal and slow release tablets ?
 
Taffyboyslim said:
Thanks Colin, it's good to know it's a common problem . I am on lithium for bipolar and I have to be very careful not to get dehydrated . Is there any difference in effectiveness and dosage between the normal and slow release tablets ?
Click to expand...
None whatsoever. It’s a marginally more expensive drug and not everyone gets the side effects so that’s why the other gets prescribed first.
 
ColinUK said:
None whatsoever. It’s a marginally more expensive drug and not everyone gets the side effects so that’s why the other gets prescribed first.
Click to expand...
Thank you Colin, it comes in the same 500 mg tablets ? What sort of doseage is the usual effective range for either forms of the tablets in order to get your sugars down ?
 
That’s a question for your GP really.

I don’t think metformin lowers your numbers by itself but rather does something else which increases or decreases sensitivity to the glucose. But I can’t recall the methodology it uses to be honest.

I take one 500mg tablet once a day. Same as I did on the other version.
 
metformin does a couple of things
1) helps your body to use the insulin you make yourself better
2) tells your liver to chill out on dumping some of the glucose back in to your system

I couldn't tolerate either but different side effects and I'm pretty sensitive to them.
First issue I was told to stop them for 3 days and reintroduce them again and see if it was tolerated (nope)
switched to gliclazide for a month
asked to try slow release metformin (on top of glic) but had issues again (gave it a full 3 weeks to see if it settled)

Its very likely they will agree to give you slow release and very likely they will want you to be free of standard tablets for a few days so the side effects clear up and the drug is out your system before introducing the slow release. 😉

It wouldn't be unreasonable to give 111 a call and ask their advice on continuing over the weekend.

Please do make sure you are drinking plenty to make up for lost fluids.

Let us know how you get on with it all, really do understand how rubbish you must feel x
 
My GP didn’t even need an appointment to prescribe the modified ones but just replied to an email with the prescription. Advice was just to stop taking the others and start with the new ASAP but everyone’s different so take the advice of your GP or pharmacist.
 
It might be better to use rehydration fluid like diorlyte to maintain your electrolyte balance as that in itself can make you feel unwell.
It might be worth calling 111 or your emergency doctors number to ask about just stopping the metformin.
 
gll said:
metformin does a couple of things
1) helps your body to use the insulin you make yourself better
2) tells your liver to chill out on dumping some of the glucose back in to your system

I couldn't tolerate either but different side effects and I'm pretty sensitive to them.
First issue I was told to stop them for 3 days and reintroduce them again and see if it was tolerated (nope)
switched to gliclazide for a month
asked to try slow release metformin (on top of glic) but had issues again (gave it a full 3 weeks to see if it settled)

Its very likely they will agree to give you slow release and very likely they will want you to be free of standard tablets for a few days so the side effects clear up and the drug is out your system before introducing the slow release. 😉

It wouldn't be unreasonable to give 111 a call and ask their advice on continuing over the weekend.

Please do make sure you are drinking plenty to make up for lost fluids.

Let us know how you get on with it all, really do understand how rubbish you must feel x
Click to expand...
It's a pain in the......arse
 
ColinUK said:
My GP didn’t even need an appointment to prescribe the modified ones but just replied to an email with the prescription. Advice was just to stop taking the others and start with the new ASAP but everyone’s different so take the advice of your GP or pharmacist.
Click to expand...
I have e mailed the gp practice thanks Colin
 
Hope the SR version helps and the symptoms subside pronto. Met is no fun for members who get a significant reaction :(
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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