Headache

Pippa62 · 06-04-2003, 09:36 PM

Has anyone heard of this being a side effect of metformin? I upped my dose on Monday evening and yesterday I had a slight headache and all day today I've had one. Its bad enough that its bordering on a migraine. If anyone else experienced this, does this side effect go away eventually? I am also really thirsty and trying to drink as much stuff as I can.

Claire_t27 · 06-05-2003, 04:40 AM

Hi Pippa, I've had the same problem since I started taking Met. I have always suffered with Migraines but I used to only have 2 or 3 a year now I get one every couple of weekends. In fact I have had one every weekend end for the last 3 weeks! I have tried to find a trigger for them but there doesn't seem to be anything. I don't eat or drink anything sugary before I go to bed(I usually get them while I'm asleep so when I wake up they're really painful!) and I don't eat anything like cheese either so the only thing I can think of is that it's Metformin. It's nice to know that it's not just me though!

Ange75 · 06-05-2003, 01:15 PM

I have had more headaches too. And they are kind of different. At first I didn't have them but since I've raised my dose to 1000g I've had these headaches that no matter what I seem to do - just won't go away - which usually I can at least take something to make a difference.

Selina G. Reyes · 06-10-2003, 01:15 PM

I just upped my dose two weeks ago and since then I have had numerous migraines..not headaches but migraines. I was given imitrex but now I am taking fiorinal. I called the doc and told him but he said 1000mg. could not cause them. So what else?? Does anyone know if headaches are a sideffect of met??? If so what are we to do?

Selina

christyz · 06-10-2003, 02:15 PM

I am so sorry you guys are going through this...it sounds painful.

Out of all the side effect info I have read on Met, not one article has ever mentioned migraines. That seems so odd. Is it possible that your migrains are hormone related? Some women get migrains before they get their period, and perhaps now that you are on met you may get PMS more severely (that's certainly been true for me).

Some ladies have hormonally induced migrains before they get their period, because of the pressure that is put on the nerve fibres in the head when they get a surge of prostaglandin. It's certainly possible that now that you both are on Met, that your prostaglandin surge is stronger and affects your differently. Just a theory.

Most Dr's suggest that women with Pre-Menstrual migrains cut out chocolate, MSG and red wine (all of which dialate carotid arteries, causing increased pressure in the head) the week before they menstruate.

I hope that your Dr can shed some light on this, 'cause I hate to think of you guys suffering. Headaches can be so debilitating.

Good Luck!

Claire_t27 · 06-11-2003, 04:52 AM

The only thing that triggers my migraines now is Chinese food. As I've always had migraines I don't eat chocolate and I don't drink alcohol. There seems to be no reason behind my migraines and although this has always been the case they occur more frequently now I am on Metformin(especially the 2000mg dose)

christyz · 06-11-2003, 12:29 PM

It's good that you found that trigger, Claire. Chinese food tends to be very high in MSG, so that is probably why it affects you. Good Luck!

lorideer · 06-12-2003, 12:03 AM

I have severe migrains a lot and wake up with most of mine or they come out of no where. I'm not on Metformin, I take Avandia. I've always associated them with PCOS and had them before I started any medication.