• 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

When to take Metformin

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

donnarob

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello there,

Just wondered if someone could give me some advice?

I take my one dose of Metformin each morning after breakfast. The doctor reduced my dose from 1000mg to 500mg. For the past few days now, I have been woken up with a crampy sort of sore stomach and it passes as soon as I eat something.

My morning readings have been on the high side (8's) but as soon as I get going reverts back to pretty low readings in the low 6's and 5's.

Got up in the middle of the night and thought to test my bg then at 1.45am. It was 7.2. When I awoke this morning at the back of 7am, it was 8.2? Nothing to eat or drink during these times? I'm confused and was thinking of switching my dose to bedtime instead. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Donna 🙂
 
donnarob said:
Hello there,

Just wondered if someone could give me some advice?

I take my one dose of Metformin each morning after breakfast. The doctor reduced my dose from 1000mg to 500mg. For the past few days now, I have been woken up with a crampy sort of sore stomach and it passes as soon as I eat something.

My morning readings have been on the high side (8's) but as soon as I get going reverts back to pretty low readings in the low 6's and 5's.

Got up in the middle of the night and thought to test my bg then at 1.45am. It was 7.2. When I awoke this morning at the back of 7am, it was 8.2? Nothing to eat or drink during these times? I'm confused and was thinking of switching my dose to bedtime instead. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Donna 🙂
Click to expand...

Hi Donna, both on a course I went on and from my consultant the advice has been to take Metformin WITH the meal not afterwards- I always have a mouthful of food first, then tablets, then finish meal. I am not sure what time of day is best as I take it morning and evening. I hope this helps.
 
Hi Donna I would speak to your Dr but I thought that the perceived wisdom was that Metformin should be taken with the evening meal. I think that is because it means that you get the peak effect (early hours of the morning) to coincide with when your liver is at its most active. I believe that the key thing when taking metformin is not to have it on an empty stomach so mid meal or after would be OK.

Theses are just things I have picked up and could be wrong so I would speak to a Dr - or as you are between Drs a pharmacist.

Saying that you should get your stomach problems checked out as it may be compeletly unrelated to the reduction in metformin.

Glad to see you posting - I imagine you are still in shock after the weekend events - I hope that none of your friends or family were directly affected. I expect you have all been indirectly affected.
 
I'm another one who takes the Metformin first and then eats after Taking metfomin without a meal or after a meal gives me a risk of having to run to the toilet!.
 
I take one x 500mg after breakfast and another after lunch. When I started taking them I would eat part of my meal, take the tab, then finish the meal but it tooks months for me to settle down with them and the nurse said to just take them after eating. Things have settled down but I could not tolerate the evening one.

However, I also sometimes wake up with that grumbly/hungry feeling in the stomach which disappears once I eat breakfast so I have never thought of going to doc and getting it checked out. Already on meds for ulcers and know it is not an ulcer pain. Once pain goes, I immediately forget about it which is both good and bad!

Mmmm, perhaps I will take more notice next time and try to memorise so I can explain next time I am at the docs.
 
To avoid Metformin affecting your stomach you should take it before or with a meal and as you are on only one tablet you should take it with your biggest meal (presume evening). Metformin is supposed to build up to a level over a period of 3+days so exactly when you should take it as far as BG goes it doesn't matter, however if it upsets your stomach then take it with your biggest meal.
 
Metformin

Hi

I have today been given slow release Metformin, due to upsets- something to ask about
 
Thanks for the advice,

I have taken my eye off the ball so to speak, stressful times here, just moved house, new job and the awful news from last weekend!

Must try and remember to take my one Metformin during my evening meal, but I tend to be very forgetful!!!

I live in Norway and cannot get slow release Metformin here.

Donna
 
i have a similar issue.. I can tolerate Metformin in the morning even though I cant stomach breakfast but cant touch it at dinner time.
 
My GP told me to take my Metformin while eating breakfast and dinner. I was expecting problems but haven't had any. Hope this helps
 
Normally when in doubt I would suggest reading the Patient Information Leaflet or speaking to a pharmacist.

Not sure if Donna's Norwegian is up to that though. The Patient Information leaflet should be available on line somewhere.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top