I was started on Metformin last week and a question.

Donegalmike · #1 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 09:38 AM

I was started on Metformin Thursday of last week and would like to know from others also taking it how long does it take to see an effect? A few days? a week?
Many thanks,
Micheál

HeatherP · #2 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 09:41 AM

I think I've heard up to 6 weeks.

liz32 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 12:24 PM

I saw effects in about two weeks, that with a change in diet. Everyone is different and bodies react differently. I can't stomach more than a half a pill in the morning and one in the evening. Others can handle lots more. What amount are you taking? How is your body handling it? Love to hear how someone else does with it.

Donegalmike · #4 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liz32

I saw effects in about two weeks, that with a change in diet. Everyone is different and bodies react differently. I can't stomach more than a half a pill in the morning and one in the evening. Others can handle lots more. What amount are you taking? How is your body handling it? Love to hear how someone else does with it.

Hi Liz,

My doctor has me taking 500m at bedtime and so far I am handling it well. I changed my diet about two weeks ago to having less carbs in it. I am amazed at the number of carbs in things you thought were good for you

I walk or use my Nordic glide at 30 mins 4-5 times a week. I feel pretty good

srgw · #5 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 04:17 PM

Been on Metformin for 1 year 500mg 2x a day. It took about 3 weeks to take effect with diet change. It does have an effect on your digestive system

but does get a lot better after a few weeks.

Steve

New Jersey

SVanderkolff · #6 (**permalink**) 05-24-2005, 06:13 AM

It took about 3 weeks for the it to affect my BS but about 6 weeks for my body to get sortof used to the effect. I am on 2000 mg a day (4 pills) and it still makes me feel a little queasy if I eat to much fat and protien (like a pork chop) .

Steve
Ontario

HypnoToad · #7 (**permalink**) 05-24-2005, 08:46 AM

i was put on metformin about 2 weeks ago, noticing a little change not too much yet i heard it can take a few weeks tho

Peter Lee · #8 (**permalink**) 05-25-2005, 02:23 AM

With me it took about 8 weeks to show anything significant but about 6 months to get used to the side effects to the point where they don't worry me any more.

Good Luck!

mg_2204 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-25-2005, 07:44 AM

... A good 6 weeks for me for a noticeable change. Then I had to get accustomed to lower levels, which wasn't fun. I felt shaky all the time. But it didn't last very long.

Peter Lee · #10 (**permalink**) 05-26-2005, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg_2204

... .............I had to get accustomed to lower levels, which wasn't fun. I felt shaky all the time. But it didn't last very long.

I had a similar reaction. As the sugar came down, I felt rotten and then suddenly one day, I woke up and felt 100% and have been ok since

King · #11 (**permalink**) 05-28-2005, 10:33 PM

How long did it take until you felt normal from your sugars dropping?
I feel drugged myself.

Peter Lee · #12 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King

How long did it take until you felt normal from your sugars dropping?
I feel drugged myself.

It's a bit difficult to be accurate because I started on Metformin, which started to bring the sugar down but the doctors felt it wasn't acting fast enough so we were adding other medicines at the same time.

However, what I can tell you is that from the time we stopped adding medicines (when I felt bad) to the time I felt well was about three months.

Don't get depressed!!

We are all different and just because it took me so long doesn't mean it will take you that long. I am (probably) older and I started from a high level of 23mmole/l (414mg/dl).

All in all it took me from Dec 04 until May 05 to get stable. I understand that this is longer (much in some cases) than some people and about the same for others.

At least you can be reassured that what you are feeling is a normal response to sugar dropping.

Best wishes and good luck.

Gunnie · #13 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 05:10 PM

I have been on Metformin for a few months now. It really kicked my butt when I first started taking it. I was very sick for weeks. Now I can take 500 mg. at a time on an empty stomach! Since I am pre-diabetic, I can't really tell you how well the medicine is helping me because I have also changed the way I eat, but my doctor wants me to continue on the medication, and is very pleased with my last A1C. I think one of the reasons she wants me to continue with the Metformin is because it also helps with another condition I have called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which is not life threatening, but it causes adult acne, excessive facial hair, and ticks (moles). After reading about the POS on my own, it appears that folks that have this condition are also more likely to be diabetic. It's something I have had all my life, but I finally have a doctor who even had a clue I had this condition. Anyway, stay on the Metformin and let him/her know any side effects you have. The stuff can really be hard on your system, but seems to work well for a lot of folks who take it after the first few weeks.

Andy_nut · #14 (**permalink**) 06-14-2005, 05:38 AM

I have just been diagnosed as diabetic and put onto Metformin (2x 500mg per day)

I have not felt myself since being diagnosed, that may have something to do with a little bit of worry on my part and may be to do with the drugs themselves. I think had my first "hypo" episode at the weekend where by my heart was pounding and I was sweating in bed and couldn't sleep. I had been working in the evening and only had a small sandwich and a some fruit for dinner before taking the tablet A glass of apple juice and some bread & jam seemed to srt it out but I was so paranoid I didn't sleep all night.

Thanks to my brilliant (!) local health service I haven't seen a diabetic clinic yet 2 weeks after being diagnosed by my useless doctor, but I am thinking of seeing a diatician privately to try to sort out my eating habits. I am still unsure what to eat and when at the moment.

Andy

Linda57 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-14-2005, 09:39 AM

Welcome Andy, my dad was also diagnosed, given Metformin (500mm x 2 ) and told to come back in FOUR weeks!!

I bought him a meter, and told him all I know about diet, he didnt know where the carbs were, the nurse had just told him to cut down on sugar.

It might be a good idea to subscribe to Diabetes UK, they have some really good publications, one of them is Diabetes for beginners, which my mum uses as a guide all the time.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/home.htm

I am type 2 on Metformin too....no question is a stupid question. - ask away

Linda