Am I imagining this?

Lulika · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 11:27 PM

Today I woke up and took my very first Metformin tablet with my carefully planned breakfast.
After about two hours, I began to feel rather strange..perhaps a litle dizzy, spaced out.
I want to blame it on the new medicine but surely this can't affect me after just one dose? Can it?
Perhaps I am imagining I feel this way because I expect to feel different? I understood that it takes a while for Metformin to kick in; has anyone else had any kind of reaction to Metformin and so early on in their treatment? Thanks... =)

morrisma · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 07:34 AM

I have never taken metformin so I cannot comment directly but lots of people here have talked about reactions to the drug. They mostly report that the symptoms pass after their bodies adjust. I'm sure you'll here from them.
Mike

JediSkipdogg · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 07:42 AM

I'm type 1 and never taken Metformin however from what I know it takes a while for it to work, and I'm not talking days, I'm talking a week or two. Now, I don't mean that it is that long acting or delayed, just that long before a true noticable effect is found with it.

I wonder if you have some sort of drug reaction with it. I'd see how you feel after you take it a few more times and let us know if it's the same, gets worse, or better.

Lulika · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:14 AM

Thanks. One thing I do know is that I tend to be super sensitive to drugs, even over the counter ones. I went to bed this afternoon and slept for 3 hours but woke up still a bit disorientated and feel generally stupified.
Also started with the diarrhea...oh boy this is going to be just great!!

Schlep · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lulika

Thanks. One thing I do know is that I tend to be super sensitive to drugs, even over the counter ones. I went to bed this afternoon and slept for 3 hours but woke up still a bit disorientated and feel generally stupified.
Also started with the diarrhea...oh boy this is going to be just great!!

Welcome to metformin, yes the reaction you are getting is something I also have had. I went on the time release metformin for awhile and it did not cause the results you are referring to.

Sometimes after using metformin for awhile some people say the problems go away for others they do not.

If you are getting a bad reaction you should contact your doctor to see how he/she wants to handle it.

I also found that a good hour walk seems to take away some of the reaction, don't know why but it worked for me but everyone is difference. Also check with your pharmacist and see if there is a stomach pill you can take that will not react against the metformin as that also seems to help.

Remember I am not a doctor so you really should check everything with them except for the walking.

Lulika · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:38 AM

Thank you for that advice, I will try to go for a walk tomorrow morning and see if it helps

mea01 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:50 AM

about the only thing i can tell is it causes me to have diarea sometimes.

slipperyelm · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 09:30 AM

Just having changes in your blood sugar can make you feel that way, too. Have you gotten a blood glucose meter yet? If so go ahead and see how you blood glucose is. Has it gone up or down? Either one can make you feel odd. Especially when your body has been accustomed to high BG, you can have some uncomfortable and distressing sensations as your BG comes down.

That is true even if you are able achieve it through controlled diet and exercise alone, without the metformin. At one point in my diabetic life when I had let my BGs get out of control, when I finally did work extra hard to get them back down, I had to do it gradually, because the symptoms like hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) were just too strong even when my BGs were still in a range that was definitely unhealthy, damaging.

Sometimes when I read in this forum of newbies who get their BG levels down by 200 points all in one week, I wonder how the heck they feel. Ultimately it feels great to get the BGs down, but getting there could mean some periods of feeling like **** for me when mine were so high---or even when I didn't need to come down 200 points, but only 80 points.

Metformin's worst side effects are usually problems with the stomach and intestines. Nausea (which can be dizzying), stomach pain, diarrhea, that sort of thing.

Hang in there. We're with you!

MJB · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 10:17 AM

to what slipperyelm said.

You really need a meter. Check out the monitoring forum here as you should be able to get one for free.

davef · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 05:18 PM

Lulika,

I know you have just started on the Metformin, but had you started to change your diet before you went to the Doctor on Friday, have you been cutting out or reducing carbs? I'm just wonder if you levels have started to lower and if that's what you are feeling?

I'm on Metformin, but have not experienced what you describe, as Slipperyelm mention, the side effects I have had (only 2-3 times) would be intestina; lots of wind, cramps follow by diarrhea.

I know for me it took about 2 weeks to see any real effect of the Metformin. That said I now can feel when my BG hits about 4.2 and it's one of those "funny" feelings, slightly light headed without being dizzy, once it drops below 4 I even get a feeling in my arms, it's just hard to explain, I think Linda refered to it as being jumpy, which struck a chord we me.

I know you only saw the Doctor on Friday and have since decided to get a meter, at the risk of being repetitive, do get one soon as then when get get any unusual feelings you can test to try establish if the feeling coincides with raise/drop in BG levels (or has nothing to do with them at all).

Your Doctor seems fairly approachable, so do talk to her about this, I can only offer advice based on my experience.

princesslinda · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 06:48 PM

I remember feeling "odd" just after being diagnosed and starting metformin....I think after your body has been used to higher than normal blood sugars for awhile, it feels abnormal when they begin to normalize, because for your body, normal is actually high.

I noticed lower blood sugars almost immediately on metformin (I also immediately started low carb diet and exercise)...and it did make me feel a little lethargic.

Take heart, your body will just as easily adjust to normal levels as it did to the elevated levels. Hang in there. Hopefully the diarrhea will pass quickly.

As the above posters have said, get that monitor so you'll know whats going on blood-sugar wise when you feel "funny."

Lulika · #12 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 03:07 AM

Thank you for all your input and responses....its wonderful.Today I feel just the same...lethargic and fatigued and achey. I cant really concentrate on anything and feel as if I am not really "here"..its hard to explain.
I hadnt thought about my body getting used to a lower BG..that might explain alot.I havent had any stomach problems today so thats good.
Dave, I had not started to reduce carbs or eat healthier before my diagnosis, so I really started on all that since last Monday. It might just be my body getting used to years of abuse.
I am definately getting a meter this week, so I can test for when I feel like this. It will be interesting to see what my numbers are.
I am sitting here feeling like death warmed up...but you are really helping everyone, thank you!!

ant hill · #13 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 04:14 AM

Hello Lulika , We have never conversed before and so welcome to this fab place on the web!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lulika

Thank you for all your input and responses....its wonderful.Today I feel just the same...lethargic and fatigued and achey. I cant really concentrate on anything and feel as if I am not really "here"..its hard to explain.

We are here to help and I see this will take some time.

Quote:

I am definately getting a meter this week, so I can test for when I feel like this. It will be interesting to see what my numbers are.

Yes Lulika, Our lives revolves around the BG meter. I don't know what I was when I was at the barre as I think low most of the time.

Quote:

I am sitting here feeling like death warmed up...but you are really helping everyone, thank you!!

Hey you are welcome. We will make you happy and dance again.

Lulika · #14 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 04:20 AM

Aaww thanks Ant Hill, its great to finally chat to you too!
Thanks for the reply

muddy · #15 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 10:37 PM

I still have times with diarhea with the metformin. I take 1000 mg. twice a day. I'm not sure why people say it takes awhile. Mine worked imediately. This was my problem.. they told me it would not lower me too much. IT did. I did not eat enough to warrant the high dose. So, now I try and eat a little more carb than none that I was eating. Plus, I have been disoriented and checked and it was low. Have you checked and seen if you are low.. and low for some is more for others. My BS level at 80 is almost like I am in a coma.. my head has dull ache and I am dizzy. I just saw a study where people had died in some testing and they decided that some people do not need their sugar levels at what they are calling "normal" and their bodies could not take the low sugar and were not meant for it.
So, I try and just stay around 100 and learn what to eat and not eat. the around 80 gives me a frightful feeling and I hate it. I'm not a person who liked breakfast but if I am taking these meds I have to eat it.