Metformin query..

[pixiefae]

i have been given Metformin by my Dr with the instructions ..


"take one tablet daily with food to control diabetes, increase gradually too three times a day"


how gradually is gradually? is it a week with one tablet a second week with two before moving on to the third with 3 tablets? or a couple of days with 1, then a couple with 2 a day and the next 3?

i phoned my Dr she was busy and asked the pharmacist who told me to follow Dr's orders?????

i know i'm a pain with the million and one questions but anyone got any advice??

[xMenace]

I don't really know, but a week sounds good. Starting with large doses can ... well, I'm told it's like learning to eat beans.

[Schlep]

[QUOTE=pixiefae;303761]i have been given Metformin by my Dr with the instructions ..


"take one tablet daily with food to control diabetes, increase gradually too three times a day"


how gradually is gradually? is it a week with one tablet a second week with two before moving on to the third with 3 tablets? or a couple of days with 1, then a couple with 2 a day and the next 3?

i phoned my Dr she was busy and asked the pharmacist who told me to follow Dr's orders?????

I think it is usually add one very week but you really should be sure from your doctor.

[susique333]

I started out cracking my pills in half (cant do that if youre on the extended release tablets tho) and then in about a week was up to my current dosage. Had a little tummy rumbles but nothing too bad. Making sure I take it with food is a MUST.

[wiseguy]

If you check out several of the drug information sites you'll find that the general recommendation is that Metformin be increased at the rate of 500 mg per week.

[pixiefae]

thanks guys )

[FocusPharmacy]

Hi,
As a pharmacist, I can say that typically I've seen gradually to mean 1 week. HOWEVER, whenever we get this type of prescription, we ALWAYS check with the physician to see what he/she was thinking. That way, the patient, doctor, and pharmacist are all on the same page.
Good Luck!

[pixiefae]

Hi,
As a pharmacist, I can say that typically I've seen gradually to mean 1 week. HOWEVER, whenever we get this type of prescription, we ALWAYS check with the physician to see what he/she was thinking. That way, the patient, doctor, and pharmacist are all on the same page.
Good Luck!

thanks, i am gonna phone and check tomorrow with my Dr, hopefully if she isn't available one of her partners will be....and also get more test strips, as i have gone through too many already with test's getting errors.....no one told me it was this complicated, or i am just incompetent

[wiseguy]

Hi,
As a pharmacist, I can say that typically I've seen gradually to mean 1 week. HOWEVER, whenever we get this type of prescription, we ALWAYS check with the physician to see what he/she was thinking. That way, the patient, doctor, and pharmacist are all on the same page.
Good Luck!

Just curious, but what if what the doctor is thinking is completely wrong (in your opinion) and against the best interest of the patient. Do you argue the point with the doctor, and if he/she won't listen, do you inform the patient of what you believe?

[davef]

thanks, i am gonna phone and check tomorrow with my Dr, hopefully if she isn't available one of her partners will be....and also get more test strips, as i have gone through too many already with test's getting errors.....no one told me it was this complicated, or i am just incompetent

I think it's a good idea to speak to your Doctor, please bear in mind that it does take a couple of weeks for Metformin to really take effect, so don't expect a drop in your readings over night. It took about 10 days before I saw my numbers start to come down significantly. I started on a total of 1000mg (one 500mg tablet morning and evening), I'm still on the same dose 10 weeks later.

Don't fret about the testing, you will get the hang of it, I felt the same just after being diagnosed. As far as I know in the UK it is the same as Ireland, you get your test strips "free" once they are covered by a prescription. My doctor initial said to test twice a day, but I explained to him I wanted to test at least 4 times a day so that I could check what foods work for me, in the "early days" I tested before each meal, 2 and 4 hours after each meal. Sometime the 4 hours after practically co-incides with before the next meal. What problem are you having with the testing, getting a blood drop, getting blood on to the strip? Which meter have you got?

[pixiefae]

I think it's a good idea to speak to your Doctor, please bear in mind that it does take a couple of weeks for Metformin to really take effect, so don't expect a drop in your readings over night. It took about 10 days before I saw my numbers start to come down significantly. I started on a total of 1000mg (one 500mg tablet morning and evening), I'm still on the same dose 10 weeks later.

Don't fret about the testing, you will get the hang of it, I felt the same just after being diagnosed. As far as I know in the UK it is the same as Ireland, you get your test strips "free" once they are covered by a prescription. My doctor initial said to test twice a day, but I explained to him I wanted to test at least 4 times a day so that I could check what foods work for me, in the "early days" I tested before each meal, 2 and 4 hours after each meal. Sometime the 4 hours after practically co-incides with before the next meal. What problem are you having with the testing, getting a blood drop, getting blood on to the strip? Which meter have you got?

i have a one touch ultra easy, the issue is getting enough blood out, and not getting a error i keep getting errors it seems for no reason and the error code is no help, i have found out i bleed better on my little fingers, but anywhere else seems a nightmare to get any blood out, i have changed the varying depth settings with not much luck, i wonder if my problem is i play the guitar so the pads on my fingers are fairly hard, and i also spend all day typing or using my tablet mouse, both things are making my pricked fingers sore

[Emm]

It's a good idea to start gradually with metformin - in fact I'd have said to start with a half pill for the first 1 - 2 weeks, but one is ok if you're ok!

If you're having any trouble with the timing your doctor suggests (tummy issues are common), I'm sure she wouldn't mind you taking longer - ring her if you're worried. Personally I'd go two weeks before increasing the dosage.

You'll just have to dig in and see how it works for you... perhaps she's left it vague so that you can make your own mind up and increase when you're ready?

[MJB]

i have a one touch ultra easy, the issue is getting enough blood out, and not getting a error i keep getting errors it seems for no reason and the error code is no help, i have found out i bleed better on my little fingers, but anywhere else seems a nightmare to get any blood out, i have changed the varying depth settings with not much luck, i wonder if my problem is i play the guitar so the pads on my fingers are fairly hard, and i also spend all day typing or using my tablet mouse, both things are making my pricked fingers sore

I play guitar and bass. Lance the side of your fingertips not the pads.

[princesslinda]

Since it can take up to 3 weeks to see optimal results from the metformin, i'd wait 3 weeks and then increase the dose by 500 mg....unless your blood sugars are really high.

That being said, at diagnosis, I was started on 500 mg twice daily....and was never increased, as that dose worked well for me.

As for having difficultly getting enough blood....you might consider washing your hands in warm water before testing, or hanging them down by your side for a few minutes to get the blood flowing there. Like the previous poster, I generally test on the sides of my fingers as opposed to the fleshy pads, as the sides aren't as "rough."

[davef]

I'd second the washing your hands in warm water and using the side of your finger. I also find that if you rub/massage the finger your intend using from the base of the finger twowards the finger tip can help. I also find that after pricking the finger that it a blood drop does not appear gently message around the the puncture site will help "encourage" a blood drop to appear.

The fist mistake I made when starting was trying to wipe the blood on the the strip, rather that touch the tip of the strip against to blood drop so that it "sucked" onto the strip. Keep at it, testing is such an important tool in finding out what foods work for you. I have also found that I get blood very easily from my thumbs. If you continue to have problems get a nurse/doctor (or another diabetic) to help you.