After doing so well for the last 4 years I have been put back on diabetes meds. My doctor has prescribed Metaformin. I was first taking 1000mg a day. It didn't bother my stomach so much. But now I am taking 1000mg 2x a day and I feel so sick. I'm always feeling nauseous, slight headaches, and at times light headed. Has this happened to anyone with Metaformin?
Amy
Hi! Laura
It does take time to adjust to the Metaformin. I started taking a Metaformin combo pill sometime in November. Since I am watching my sugars more closely than before there have been times where my sugars have been in the low 70's. A few times it has gone down to the 60's. This happened the last time I was on meds. I eventually gradually stopped taking the meds. Which I wasn't on any meds for 4 years. I am hoping I can go back to that. Just diet, exercise and just watching my sugar intake. That is my goal. Well along with losing some darn weight. That's a journey in itself.
Amy, I just completed two months on Metaformin 2 x a day 500mg. My blood sugar has not decreased and I am now experiencing chills in both my feet.
I just got back from the Doctor and he did not think that metaformin could cause this. Have you experienced anything like this or any other side effects?
Hi! Joel
I never experienced chills in my feet but I did get a lot of headaches and felt very nauseous all the time. I have since changed my doctor and am now on a Metaformin combo pill. I believe its call Janumet. Did your doctor say what could be causing the chills in your feet? If he couldn't give you a reason why it's happening get a second opinion. I know that Metaformin takes awhile to kick in and start working but if your sugar levels are still very high. Talk to your doctor again he might have to adjust your medication. Do some research on Metaformin side effects. That helped me.
YES!
I was taking 1 glipizide 10mg and 1-metaformin 850 Morning AND evening. By 9:30-10:00 AM I had consumed about 8 extra strength Rolaids. ~~ same about 2:30-3:00 PM.. By 9:00-!0:00PM I experienced VIOLENT diharria. NEEDLESS to say my blood sugar readings were GREAT!!!!
SO, I dropped off the Metaformin 850 things became normal again. My Doctor
who prescibed the Metaformin gave me a prescription for Fostamin 500. I have been taking it for about a week and it does'nt produce the bad side effects as did Metaformin 850. I don't get the low blood sugar readings as I did with Metaformin 850
though. My readings are within my expected range of 70-120.
The cost for 60 Fostamin 500 is $101.00 the cost of metaformin 850 is $4.00.
I am now with amaryl (2 mg daily) and glucopaghe (2@500 mg daily). I startted 0.5 mg amaryl daily 4 years ago.
So far I had no problem. All under control. But as I work with heavy equipment with alot of noise, I found trouble with my ear, ringing as in a very silent place. The worst is sometime I feel vertigo in the morning. I intend to decrease the meds intake.
I TAKE 2X A DAY 1000. IT MAKES ME BREAK OUT IN A SWEAT AFTER THE 2ND DOSE BEFORE DINNER AND VERY TIRED. ALSO NO ENERGY.
I was put on 500mg of metaformin. I tablet wiped me out. Ehausted. Cut it in half, same problem. Cut one in quarters. Took the second quarter the second night and felt the same way. All I could do was sleep. I was physically and mentaly drained and disfunctional.
I am taking a natural product presently. My A1c was 6.2 which endochronoligists use for the range. How ever I read that the Americam Diabetic Assc. is 7.0 My opinion is nither one has the answer.
I am a type I diabetic who takes Metformin. When I first began taking it, I also experienced symptoms of lightheadedness, so much so that the doctor had me do a heart workup to see if there was any autonomic nerve problem. Fortunately, that came out clean, and after my lightheaded symptoms cleared after I stopped taking the Metformin, I knew that was the cause of my symptoms. So I figured I would try again, since the problems were more annoying than severe, in the hopes they would go away. And they did. I have been taking 1000mg in the morning and 1000mg at night for more than 10 years without a problem. I guess it's not normal for type I diabetics to be on metformin as well as insulin, but it was suggested to me by a doctor, and I am happy. The metformin reduces my insulin needs by about 10units per day, and I think insulin is pretty toxic stuff for the body. People who live very old have good insulin sensitivity, and I think it's possible that their age is a result of less insulin exposure throughout their lives.
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Metformin can cause GI symptoms when first prescribed, or when the dose is increased.
Call your physician, and arrange to cut back the dose for a while, then increase more gradually next time!
Hope this helps.
My doctor increased the dosage because the lower dosage wasn't helping. Sugar levels were still very high. How long does it normally take for the side effects to go away? Or is it better to try a different medication? I used to take Amaryl 4 years ago. I never had a problem with it but the doctor didn't want to put me on them because her other patients are on metaformin.