[jenpar1949]

hi
six weeks ago i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.and from feeling reletively well on no medication,I now feel quite ill.Istarted on Metformin half atablet morning and evening .Afterone week the doctor doubled the dose.after a couple days I stated to feel nausious no energy trembly.medication changed to Gliclazide 80grams a day.After 10 to 12 days nausia and feeling rotten again.Medication changed toTolbutamide ,still feeling sick and knackered.When will i feel better and back to living

[jillrapp]

Hi jenpar,

Unfortunately many medications take about 3-5 weeks of continuous use before they really start taking optimal effect. Metformin is one of those. Most people feel a bit sick for the first couple of weeks or so on this med, but the benefits are so good, if you can at all stand it, it's really worth this short misery. I had to change my dosage just yesterday and was sick all night. I know what good the med can do so I will suffer through it. If you can't, just keep working with your doc to find the right thing. Insulin very rarely makes you feel sick so if nothing else works that might be a good choice?

Again, keep in close contact with your Dr. and tell him/her how you're feeling.

What was your A1c? What are your levels running after meals, fasting? Good Luck!

[kgm0612]

Hi Jen & Welcome.

Lots of people have experienced stomach upset when first starting on Metformin, but after a month or so, it should subside.

Karen

[yannah]

I was so sick on Metformin, violent vommitting and diahreah, couldn't even leave the house. I kept it up for 3 weeks cuz I reeeeaaally wanted to be on metformin. But alas, I had to stop taking it and am on Actos, which after 5 weeks is still not helping. I decided to try again with Met ER, going to tell my doctor next week.

[shutterbug]

Hi Jenpar,
welcome to the forums. Meds take a few days to few weeks to kickin. Some of them make you feel sick as well. I'm not sure why your doc has changed the meds within 10-12 days. Talk to your doc again. You need to find the one that you can handle and it can take some time. Just hang in there. I had upset stomach and feverish feeling when I started on metformin and then it went away in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck to you.

[TxBirdNerd]

Hi Jenpar (and Welcome!).

I'm so sorry you have an upset tummy. I tried Metformin several times, with the same results - I once even made it 6 weeks. Then, last month my endo decided to have me try a different brand of Metformin (not the generic). It is Fortamet. He told me that a few people do not experience as much the stomach upset. I was skeptable. However, he proved me wrong. I know that it is Metformin. However, it has a special coating that does not melt away (as evidenced by the warning that you might find the coating in your stool later). This coating has two tiny holes in it, that allows the medicine to seep out slowly. I take 500mg twice daily, and do not have ANY upset.

It is true that many of these medications will take some time to settle into. Ask if you can try Fortamet. If that does not work on its own, ask for a script for phenegran (for neausea) and make sure to take meds at mealtime (when you are back to eating normally). Hopefully you'll be able to find the right med AND make your tummy happy.

Good luck and let us know how it works out

[LaurenS11]

Welcome to the forum...I agree that it usually takes a few weeks to adjust to a new medication. Hang in there, you will feel better shortly!

[enigmalady777]

I have been on metformin for over 10 years, and I can also say that I had the gastric distress and runs for close to a year before those side effects subsided. The stomach upset was not nearly as noticable as the runs!

Everyone is different, and the side effects you experience may subside sooner than it did for others.

If it's really bad, you may want to talk with your doctor about an alternative drug. There are many available.

Good luck!