whats the most metformin you can take?

[baltbob]

Been type 2 for about a year now. First a1c results were ove 11 and now down around 6.1. Last six months I was having morning fasting numbers between 100-125. However the last month my fasting numbers in the morning are averaging around 150.. There has been no major changes in my diet or excercise progam. I take metformin (1000) twice a day. Exercise regulary and am not overweight. Do you think it may be time to go with more metformin? I see my MD again next month. What is the highest amount of metformin you can take?

[princesslinda]

I did a search, and on medicinenet.com as well as some others, the maximum dosage for metformin is 2550 mg/day, generally divided into 3 doses. I don't think i've ever typed any dication on anyone taking over 1000 mg twice a day (at least in the 3 years i've been on it...probably didn't pay attention before then).

Have you experimented with taking your dinner dose at bedtime to see if it will help the a.m. numbers? I take my metformin around 10 pm....just not on an empty stomach.

[Masher]

I take 3 mets a day breakfast lunch Dinner. for a total of 1500

I tried moving my dinner metformin to when i go to bed seemed to help me this morning. might have been a fluke

[Lloyd]

I've been on 850 3x for almost 15 years.

That's the max dosage.

-Lloyd

[ticktwrter]

I take 1000 met in the morning and 1500 with dinner in the evening

[BigcityRich]

I took 850MG 3 x day for a year before I switched to ER version. I was told ER version is only 750MG. I have taken 750mg 3 x day for over a year.

[alicat61]

Hi,
I take 1000mg 3 times a day and have done so for about 15 years with no problems.

[davef]

Have you experimented with taking your dinner dose at bedtime to see if it will help the a.m. numbers? I take my metformin around 10 pm....just not on an empty stomach.

I'm on 500mg twice a day and when I did the same as Linda, it really did make a difference to my morning numbers.

[xMenace]

There's no real limit per se. The problem is any more than 2000 to 2500 mg will have no additional affect. That much saturates your system, but you need to have insulin for it to help.

When this max doesn't work, it's time for other meds to boost insulin production or insulin injections.

[Hammer]

You didn't mention what your after meal numbers were. Have they remained the same or have they jumped up also? If your numbers are higher in the morning and after eating, then you probably need to change your medications....either add more metformin or add another med.
Myself, I prefer using insulin as it has a much better lowering effect on my numbers, plus the only side effect is weight gain.(sometimes). I also take Byetta which can make you lose weight. For me, my doctor told me I was taking the Byetta at the wrong times.....I took it 30-60 minutes before I ate. He told me I should take it immediately before I ate as it only stays in your system for a short time.(the instructions tell you to take it 30-60 minutes before you eat.) I changed to taking it immediately before eating and I'm losing weight. My numbers seem to be okay taking it that way.
Anyway, good luck on getting your numbers down and keep us posted.

[baltbob]

thanks for all the info. Last night was a perfect example.Took a walk before dinner and was a hundred one hour after I ate . Later I had a apple around nine oclock. I was 163 when I went to bed about ten. Woke up at 164. I am going to start taking evening dose right before I go to bed and see if it helps any till I see the doc in six weeks and see what my new a1c score is. Hope it has not gone up too much.Thanks

[huskerdaughter]

According to my DR. 2000mgs daily is the max. and thats what im on. Just becareful. That much makes me very very sick so i take it just before bed and sleep off the upset tummy and all that goes with it.

[art]

My Doc also told me 2000 per day is max and that's where I'm at.

Art

[Holly]

At my diabetic education class, the nurse gave the figure of 2000 daily as the max. I guess that is the Ontario standard.

[Lloyd]

There is no fixed dosage regimen for the management of hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes with GLUCOPHAGE or GLUCOPHAGE XR or any other pharmacologic agent. Dosage of GLUCOPHAGE or GLUCOPHAGE XR must be individualized on the basis of both effectiveness and tolerance, while not exceeding the maximum recommended daily doses. The maximum recommended daily dose of GLUCOPHAGE is 2550 mg in adults and 2000 mg in pediatric patients (10-16 years of age); the maximum recommended daily dose of GLUCOPHAGE XR in adults is 2000 mg.

Glucophage, Glucophage XR (Metformin Hcl) Drug Information: Uses, Side Effects, Drug Interactions and Warnings at RxList

-Lloyd