metformin and lactic acidosis

shockme · #1 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 05:37 AM

DCaplinger · #2 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 01:56 PM

Thank you very much for posting this link. I start taking Glucophage tonight, and I have been worried about the possible side effects.

I'd be interested in hearing any other side effects that people here have experienced from this drug.

Regards,

Darian

dpb33300 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 07:14 AM

I found this post on the internet
Diabetes Monitor

Just to summarize:
Other Side Effects. Common side effects of GLUCOPHAGE and GLUCOPHAGE XR include diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach. These side effects generally go away after you take the medicine for a while. Taking your medicine with meals can help reduce these side effects. Tell your doctor if the side effects bother you a lot, last for more than a few weeks, come back after they’ve gone away, or start later in therapy. You may need a lower dose or need to stop taking the medicine for a short period or for good.

About 3 out of every 100 people who take GLUCOPHAGE or GLUCOPHAGE XR have an unpleasant metallic taste when they start taking the medicine. It lasts for a short time.

GLUCOPHAGE and GLUCOPHAGE XR rarely cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by themselves.

However, hypoglycemia can happen if you do not eat enough, if you drink alcohol, or if you take other medicines to lower blood sugar.

Hope this helps

Isometric · #4 (**permalink**) 12-29-2007, 04:45 PM

I haven't read these links, but I have the most experience with glucophage/metformin as opposed to the other drugs I've taken.

I started glucophage right after dx and had great success starting off with a carb-restricted diet (60g or less a meal). I eventually did have side effects that drove me off of it altogether, but I understand that it is one of the most well tolerated drugs available as a whole.

My side effect was - and there's no delicate way to put this - crippling diarrhea. Horrible, caustic, gut-wrenching trips to the bathroom several times a week. When it happened, it was unmitigated misery, and as I said before, led to my discontinuing it's use. Now, you'll notice that I am currently back on it, and surprisingly enough, I'm tolerating it better this time. I have to be sure to take it AFTER I eat and keep myself hydrated, but I'm actually up to and beyond the dose that I had to quit on before. According to three different doctors that I've spoken with, the GI problems are the most common reason that people can't take it, but they are still comparitively rare. They also seem to think that the side effects are dosage related - as in "bigger dose, bigger problem," but I haven't seen that independently confirmed. The maximum dose of metformin/glucophage is 2500mg daily, but my endocrinologist has said that the benefits plateau at 2000mg. I'm currently at about 1250mg, trying to gradually titrate up to 2000.

As far as lactic acidosis is concerned - that is extremely rare. Naturally, they recommend that you not drink alcohol at all while on glucophage/metformin, but I've heard from two nutritionists that "a glass of wine or two" is not a problem. Personally, I choose not to, but if you are wanting to keep something like that in your diet, check it out with your nutritionist or doctor to make sure.