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05-31-2007, 01:06 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1
| |  stomach upset
Hi Everybody,
Does anyone experience bowel problems with "Metformin"?
I take "Glyburide" with it but it doesn't help and I"m afraid I may need to start injections.........Any advice would be appreciated.
Jo |
05-31-2007, 01:22 PM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 7,244
| | | Hi Jo: Welcome. Sorry to hear about your metformin issues. Gastric symptoms are a common side effect. How long have you been taking the metformin? What dose do you take?
When I first started it, I noticed a little nausea and diarrhea, especially if I ate something "greasy." I've found that for me, eating a low-carb diet helped a great deal. Now I rarely have problems, though on occasion, i'll eat something different and have a bout of diarrhea. I take 500 mg twice a day.
If you've been on the metformin for awhile (takes 3 weeks to get optimal benefits), it may be that you could ask you doc to switch you to the metformin XR (extended-release). This has been found to help with the gastric side effects, as it releases more slowly.
Hang in there. Hopefully things will ease up for you soon.
__________________ T2, diagnosed 8/31/06.
Byetta 5 mcg
HCTZ 12.5 mg every other day for BP
Enalapril 20 mg 1 daily (ace-inhibitor)
Lower carb dieter (approx. 75 total carbs/day, more on weekends), taking chromium, multivitamin and fish oil tablets Initial A1C 8/06: 9.6
11/06: 6.2.
03/07: 5.3
06/07: 5.4
10/07: 5.3
05/08: 6.2 (right after dealing with shingles and bronchitis)  |
05-31-2007, 01:46 PM
| | Banned
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: illinois
Posts: 3,316
| | | welcome jo!haven't had any problems taking metformin.injections aren't a big deal-tiny needles.some times i have to check to make sure the needle's in cuz i don't even feel it!take care,trish |
05-31-2007, 01:58 PM
|  | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 28
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Joz  Hi Everybody,
Does anyone experience bowel problems with "Metformin"?
I take "Glyburide" with it but it doesn't help and I"m afraid I may need to start injections.........Any advice would be appreciated.
Jo | when i first started metformin , yeah it upset my stomach. i also take glyburide, and the doctor has me on 500 mg of metformin at nite and 2 glyburide a day. i've dropped from 3 to 2 glyburide a day and i dont know if its timing or what, but my tummy hasnt been upset since the change
__________________
why be difficult, when with a little effort, you can be impossible? |
05-31-2007, 06:32 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 4,822
| | | HI & Welcome to the forum, Jo. Nice people and tons of information to be found here.
Karen |
06-01-2007, 02:55 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Devon, England
Posts: 759
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Joz Hi Everybody,
Does anyone experience bowel problems with "Metformin"?
I take "Glyburide" with it but it doesn't help and I"m afraid I may need to start injections.........Any advice would be appreciated.
Jo | If you use the Search button you will find a few threads regarding the intestinal side effects related to Metformin.
The summary of people's experience ranges from very little upset to severe diarrhea. The length of time people have to suffer this ranges from a couple of weeks to six or so months. Some people have given up on Metformin and others persevered to the point where they no longer have any side effects.
Intestinal side effects are well known for Metformin and are highlighted in the leaflet that comes with the tablets  . The advice is to start on as low a dose as the doctor will allow, stick with that for three weeks, increase the dose, stick for three weeks, increase the dose etc etc until the dose is reached that the doctor wants you on.
Hope this helps. 
__________________ Peter
63,Type 2, Diagnosed Dec 04 Medication - Metformin 850mg x 3; Pioglitazone (Actos) 30mg x 1; Gliclazide 160mg x 2; plus stuff for hypertension & cholesterol with Aspirin E/C for the cardio/vascular system I have to keep smiling - there's no other choice - but I do growl occasionally  |
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