Metformin Woes

[Molly M]

I have built up my Metformin from 1 per day to 4 per day since my diagnosis earlier this month.

My 'explosive' problems started an hour after my very first tablet. They haven't stopped since. I do take them in the middle of my meals. A couple of days I have missed meals to avoid having 'problems' when I have had to go out but I got to the stage a couple of days ago where I was having to take Immodium before leaving the house. I had had enough and called our docs surgery yesterday. After triage, a doc called me back yesterday afternoon and said it was so common and he sent a prescription to our chemist for Metformin SR which I collected this afternoon. Sods law, I haven't had any issues today. Arghh!

My issue is that the SR box says to start building up the SR pills from 1 a day again. I assumed I would just take the full dose as I was already taking that on the 'standard' Metformin.

Would you build up from scratch again over another 4 weeks to get to the full dose? Or would you just start from 4 a day in line with what I have been taking? I am planning to start the SR tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mx

 

[Leadinglights]

I have built up my Metformin from 1 per day to 4 per day since my diagnosis earlier this month.

My 'explosive' problems started an hour after my very first tablet. They haven't stopped since. I do take them in the middle of my meals. A couple of days I have missed meals to avoid having 'problems' when I have had to go out but I got to the stage a couple of days ago where I was having to take Immodium before leaving the house. I had had enough and called our docs surgery yesterday. After triage, a doc called me back yesterday afternoon and said it was so common and he sent a prescription to our chemist for Metformin SR which I collected this afternoon. Sods law, I haven't had any issues today. Arghh!

My issue is that the SR box says to start building up the SR pills from 1 a day again. I assumed I would just take the full dose as I was already taking that on the 'standard' Metformin.

Would you build up from scratch again over another 4 weeks to get to the full dose? Or would you just start from 4 a day in line with what I have been taking? I am planning to start the SR tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Mx

This is from the product information on the internet for Metformin SR:
• Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500mg every 10-15 days, up to a maximum of 2000mg once daily with the evening meal. If glycaemic control is not achieved on Glucophage SR 2000mg once daily, Glucophage SR 1000mg twice daily should be considered, with both doses being given with food. If glycaemic control is still not achieved, patients may be switched to standard metformin tablets to a maximum dose of 3000 mg daily.

• In patients already treated with metformin tablets, the starting dose of Glucophage SR should be equivalent to the daily dose of metformin immediate release tablets. In patients treated with metformin at a dose above 2000 mg daily, switching to Glucophage SR is not recommended.

This still seems a bit confusing so it might be worth checking with your pharmacy. Also check the leaflet that was in your box of meds.
I hope you find them better on your stomach.

 

[Molly M]

This is from the product information on the internet for Metformin SR:
• Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500mg every 10-15 days, up to a maximum of 2000mg once daily with the evening meal. If glycaemic control is not achieved on Glucophage SR 2000mg once daily, Glucophage SR 1000mg twice daily should be considered, with both doses being given with food. If glycaemic control is still not achieved, patients may be switched to standard metformin tablets to a maximum dose of 3000 mg daily.

• In patients already treated with metformin tablets, the starting dose of Glucophage SR should be equivalent to the daily dose of metformin immediate release tablets. In patients treated with metformin at a dose above 2000 mg daily, switching to Glucophage SR is not recommended.

This still seems a bit confusing so it might be worth checking with your pharmacy. Also check the leaflet that was in your box of meds.
I hope you find them better on your stomach.

That's really helpful @Leadinglights thanks so much for taking the time to come back to me. I will give the chemist a ring in the morning. Thanks again.

Mx