Help ~ Metformin and (mild) pain

[wisteria75]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and just diagnosed as a pre-diabetic about a month ago by my endocrinologist with a fasting blood sugar of 116. She wrote a prescription of 500 mg Metformin 1x per day (at night only) and increase to 2x on week 2 and then 3x on week 3 (due to the stomach and diarrhea problem side effects). So I started them the very next day which was a Saturday night and took again on Sunday night. By Monday morning, I had (mild) pain and body aches which I thought to be very weird. I read all about lactic acidosis and completely panicked. I called my doc and she had me off them immediately. She told me to see if the symptoms go away and we'd go from there.

Well they did go away and about two weeks later (last night) I starting taking the 500 mg 1x. This morning I feel a little bit of mild pain in my hands again. :confused:

My question is has anyone else had similar or same symptoms, and if so, what have you done about it? :questionm

I would really like to continue taking this med because I am extremely overweight and diet and exercise is slowly helping but I need more help.

Thanks to any and all that can help. :D
Renee

[princesslinda]

Hi Renee, welcome! I took metformin 500 mg twice daily at diagnosis and continued it up until I started Byetta last year. My dose was never raised, as I tolerated it well. I noticed only mild gastric distress, which I found to be food related, never any joint pain.

Myalgia (muscular pain) is listed as a possible side effect of metformin.

The symptoms of lactic acidosis consist more of vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain type symptoms.

[davef]

Renee,

Are you checking your blood glucose regularly. Before I was diagnosed and if my numbers are high, I get a tingling but not pain. It's not uncommon for people starting on Metformin to have stomach cramps or nausea.

I'd suggest you speak to your doctor again.