Aaron-
Hello! I am not a Doctor or a Pharmacist, speaking from my own experience when I took metformin I was told to take it before each meal. I forgot I would take the pill w/ food. I would like to give you a link to out Drug Information on Metformin. It will list storage information, side effects and much more. Click here, you should also consult with your physician. He or she may have a specific time when you need to take it. I hope it helps answer your question.
Cherise
Community Moderator
my biggest problem is eating in the "mornings" with my metformin. suppertime isent so bad, but im not a morning eater. sometimes i take it alone without food, and i notice no difference in my numbers, nor does it upset my stomach. most times i grab something...anything just to have a bit of food with it.
My Drs. have always told me to take it after eating or at bedtime. To the person who is not a morning eater, my 15 year old high school student cannot take it in the am because she starts school so early and eats in first hour, they actually put her on a time release dose that she takes after dinner. I have had 2 endocrinologists adult and a pediatric one that says to take metformin after a meal.
I have found in my own life that in order to keep my blood sugar from spiking way past 200 with simple things like oatmeal, I need to take my metformin 1-2 hours before I eat breakfast. If I wait and take it only a few minutes before I eat, my blood sugar spikes terribly and I feel very bad for a couple of hours, i.e. shakes, heart pounding. Following the aforementioned regimen will result in my blood sugar actually dropping lower than my fasting blood sugar within 2 hours of eating. I take Metformin 500mg BID. Dinnertime generally isn't a problem, but I still take the Metformin at least 30-45 minutes before I actually start eating to give the medication time to get in the GI tract and start doing its thing. I have run the gamut of trying to time the administration of Metformin, and taking it in this manner works great for me and I feel much better physically and can do more in a day's time. Hope this answer helps. 
You need to take it when you eat your break fast and your dinner unless it is prescribed three times a day
Mine is twice and read the pamphlets that the pharmacist gives you with meds that is what they are for to help you take meds and warn you of side affects
But to avoid upset stomach take it with a meal
If you take it by itself you will be on toilet for about half and hour as it is made to push out sugar in your system(liver) and a pooing you will go
Hi i think metformin is ideally taken 10-15in after meals because it enables the aborption of glucose made from food , i guess time difference between appearnce of metformin in blood vs. time of appearance of gucose in bloodfrom food u ate makes this timing perfect so it is advisable to take it with water 10-15min after meals,this drug is known to cause lactic acidosis which might feel like dizziness or vomitting or uneasiness may be fainting(if severe), best is to time and be regular with medications and your moderate exercise also!Also always check wat drugs cross reacts with metformin somegreatly inc. its toxicity(like some antibioticss)
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