Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 Hey Gang: I was hoping someone on this list could answer a question for me. I was diagnosed about 2 years ago with type 2. I have pretty much ignored it since then. My first doc put me on metoformin 500 mg twice a day. I took it occasionaly but not very consistantly. About 6 months ago I developed an open sore on my side. So I went to a new doctor he doubled the dosage of the metofornin. He was unfortunaly very homophobic so I have stopped seeing him. At the moment I am inbetween doc's. All that preamble to ask a question about my meds. At 500 mg the metoformin had no real side effects except to take away my interest in food. I never seemed to want to eat. At the 1000 mg level I am having a lot of stomach complaints and am running to the bathroom constantly. Is that normal for the drug at higher doses? I was also wondering if it should be taken with food, before eating, or after eating? Neither of my docs knew much about the drug or the disease, so I got very little instruciton on its uses or side effects. Any help you all can provide would be apreciated. thank you lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The 500 mg really doesn't do much. It is an introductory amount so your body will gradually get used to it. It is typical to start with that amount and then increase it. Apparently it takes about a full month to see any differences in BG. So when you were taking it off and on and not consistent, that's probably why nothing happened. There wasn't enough time for it to build up to actually work. Now that you are on a higher dose, yes it is common for the side affects you describe. Normally it is prescribed to take it with food. I had an old dr who told me to take it at bedtime which was a huge mistake. Try it with food. Look for an insert that came with you rmeds for all side affects and info. Sometimes pharmacies don't include that. If that's the case, ask for one. It seems if neither of those drs know much about the drug or the disease you should look for an endocrinologist who does. Too much time can be wasted this way with a dr who doesn't know about how to treat you properly or answer questions. You need someone you can go to that you feel comfortable with and can give you treatment and answers. Treating one with dignity no matter what is important to our well being as much as the medicine prescribed I think we have all been thru this with drs for one reason or another. A lot of us have gone thru various drs til we found one we felt was working for us not against us. It's sad too many drs prescribe meds and no instruction. Did they even refer you to diabetic education? >At 500 mg the metoformin >had no real side effects except to take away my interest in food. I never >seemed to want to eat. At the 1000 mg level I am having a lot of stomach >complaints and am running to the bathroom constantly. Is that normal for >the drug at higher doses? I was also wondering if it should be taken with >food, before eating, or after eating? Neither of my docs knew much about >the drug or the disease, so I got very little instruciton on its uses or >side effects. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 Lou, I take Glucophage, which I understand is the same thing as metformin (someone will correct me if I am wrong). My directions are to take it with meal. I was told the other day to up it to 1000 mg and she told me that it often causes upset stomach (and it is). I don't know what other side effects it has. I know that I am not losing any more weight since I started taking it and I am not eating nearly as much as I used to, so I wonder about its effect on weight. Darlene > > > All that preamble to ask a question about my meds. At 500 mg the metoformin > had no real side effects except to take away my interest in food. I never > seemed to want to eat. At the 1000 mg level I am having a lot of stomach > complaints and am running to the bathroom constantly. Is that normal for > the drug at higher doses? I was also wondering if it should be taken with > food, before eating, or after eating? Neither of my docs knew much about > the drug or the disease, so I got very little instruciton on its uses or > side effects. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 Hi, I can tell you that the metformin can cause some diarrhea, or loos e stools, and also some nausea at first. Take the correct dose EVERY day and it will go away after a few weeks. Your body needs to adjust to it. Also, this diabetes is not a joke! Take it seriously and you can help ward off some of the bad things that happen as a result of it. I have 2 half-bro's. Both are T2's. One has lost eyesight in one eye, has developed kidney problems, has to stay home a lot because his foot neurapathy is so bad, and he hates his life. Of course, he takes his meds sometimes, not all the time, says they don't work, as he still has high BS IF he remembers to test.Still eats large portions, still has his wife buy ice cream, pie, cookies, potatoes, etc. The other one eats sensibly, takes his meds, rides an exercise bike, and is doing well. He can live a good life, as he takes care of himself and swears he won't get housebound from lack of self-control as the other brother has done.They are the same age range, but do everything the opposite. So, I am choosing to follow the example of the brother who will be taking a tour of Norway and Sweden this summer, haha! It is OUR choice! Find a good doctor, ask your pharmacist questions about your meds, you can just call them and ask ! Ask for support here! We are all in this together. YESTERDAY is gone. We can't change whatever we did yesterday. Don't feel bad because you didn't take it too seriously before. You have done the best thing you can do NOW. You are looking for support and answers, and we applaud you! Tucson Kitty Question about meds Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The other thing if it hasn't been mentioned is to take it with low carb yogurt or kefir - I've heard that helps. Sandy RE: Question about meds Hi Lou - Metformin can cause stomach problems when first starting the med, but they should go away. You should take it with meals and a glass of water to lessen nausea (and your prescription bottle should have said this). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The other thing if it hasn't been mentioned is to take it with low carb yogurt or kefir - I've heard that helps. Sandy RE: Question about meds Hi Lou - Metformin can cause stomach problems when first starting the med, but they should go away. You should take it with meals and a glass of water to lessen nausea (and your prescription bottle should have said this). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The other thing if it hasn't been mentioned is to take it with low carb yogurt or kefir - I've heard that helps. Sandy RE: Question about meds Hi Lou - Metformin can cause stomach problems when first starting the med, but they should go away. You should take it with meals and a glass of water to lessen nausea (and your prescription bottle should have said this). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The running to the bathroom should taper off soon.As long as you take just like you should.Everytime you stop and restart it it well give you the same side effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The running to the bathroom should taper off soon.As long as you take just like you should.Everytime you stop and restart it it well give you the same side effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 The running to the bathroom should taper off soon.As long as you take just like you should.Everytime you stop and restart it it well give you the same side effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 I want to thank everyone for their replies. I feel a little better. If I could bug you all with one more question...what supplements does everyone take. At the moment I am take a multi, c,e,chromium, calcium, low dose aspirin. Not sure if any of them will really help. thanx lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 I want to thank everyone for their replies. I feel a little better. If I could bug you all with one more question...what supplements does everyone take. At the moment I am take a multi, c,e,chromium, calcium, low dose aspirin. Not sure if any of them will really help. thanx lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 I want to thank everyone for their replies. I feel a little better. If I could bug you all with one more question...what supplements does everyone take. At the moment I am take a multi, c,e,chromium, calcium, low dose aspirin. Not sure if any of them will really help. thanx lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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