I have been on it for a week now and have been miserable the whole time . I am taking 500mg a day and about 2-3 hours after I take it I get sick for about 4 hours and then very tired. i have also been having cramps in my arms and legs. I am 41 and if this is what the meds are like forget it.
2006-07-10 15:48:06 · 12 answers · asked by tagetso 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
one of the worst side effetcs of metformin is GI Upset. it tends to cause problems such as abdominal cramping, excessive gas, abdominal upset, nausea/vomiting, and other types of stomach irritation such as indigestion. ALOT of people start on metformin and are just so uncomfortable that they stop taking it. if you have been started on metformin for diabetes, it is possible to try another med, like glyburide or glipizide or avandia...but metformin really is a good drug. usually, once someone starts metformin, they end up initially kind of sick, but once the body gets used to the drug the side effects simmer down. i would suggest not getting off the drug just yet - give your body time to adjust. if you are just too miserable, talk to your doctor and try another drugs.
2006-07-10 15:54:38 · answer #1 · answered by stascia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
generic immediate release metformin often causes GI effects in patients. Call your doctor's office and tell them about this. ask for extended release metformin instead. Most people can take this form with no or far less side effects. this was originally Glucophage-XR Also, always take it "with" a meal, as their is less incidence of effects when taken with food. You may be one of the few people who just cannot take any form of metformin, but don't assume so until you try the extended release form. If so, there are other oral meds to try for DM control. Also, if you need to increase the dosage at some point, do so gradually, allowing several days between additional dosages. Good luck.
2006-07-10 15:58:32 · answer #2 · answered by canary 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That medication can cause diarrhea if the final does is not slowly worked up to! Ask your doc if it's ok to start w/ 125 or 250 mg at a time, then after two weeks, go up to 500. Tell them the GI symptoms you are having.
If you are one of the few who cannot tolerate metformin, you may need to get on Avandia. It works similarly w/o the diarrhea. But it costs more as there is no generic. :-(
As for the cramps, I"m wondering if you may be getting dehydrated...? So call your doc first thing tomorrow!
2006-07-17 16:33:55 · answer #3 · answered by Sugar Pie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG, I know exactly what you're talking about..I think. See, I was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago when I was 13. I'm not type 1 or 2..they said I'm inbetween. Anyway, I take insulin and metformin. At first, they had me taking 2 pills a day, and that made me have terrible morning sickness, so then they told me to just take one pill a day, and the sickness stopped..
2006-07-11 19:25:39 · answer #4 · answered by Kassie Leann 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why have you been waiting with these reactions? You should have contacted your doctor within two or three days after getting these reactions. While some reaction to Metformin is normal, I'm taking 1000 mg twice a day for the 1 1/2 years, it took me just three days to get use to it. More than that means a call to your doctor. That's why they get paid... to help you. CALL immediately.
2006-07-11 02:28:01 · answer #5 · answered by Morphious 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take metformin- not diabetic though- and whenever I take it I have really bad acid reflux type of thing and am REALLY tired- which is bad because I am on a swim team- and I haven't been taking it for about a week and I have had soooo much energy- but I think you should talk to your doctor- I am going to
2006-07-11 03:28:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are very serious symptons that indicate a dangerous underlying problem...SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION NOW.....the gastric upsets are terribly natural. I take 1500 mg a day, but spread out through the day...it is helping and keeping me uner 120 BGL consistently, though I also take Starlix 30 min. before every meal.
Seriously...see your DR !!!
2006-07-11 03:16:09 · answer #7 · answered by rrrevils 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have called your dr. about 5 days ago. Call him now, and tell him about the symptoms you are having. You might be allergic to the medicine. He will probably want to put you on something else.
2006-07-10 16:01:48 · answer #8 · answered by bettyboop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had same problem w/this drug my doctor took me off it and put me on glucovance and a new med called prandin they work great together and my sugars have been 85-140 even after a meal. sometimes you have to learn by researching w/your doc andon your own. good luck.
2006-07-18 09:56:43 · answer #9 · answered by swater 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please call your doctor. Lactic Acidosis is a greatly feared side effect of Metformin, please make sure you are not experiancing this side effect! Simple lab tests can rule this out as the problem you are experiancing.
2006-07-10 17:04:19 · answer #10 · answered by PreviouslyChap 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋