post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 11

Gemmeus · 01-19-2005, 02:11 AM

I posted this on another thread here, but I figured this is a good place for it too.

My first week on Met I would drag myself out of bed, literally. I felt like my whole body with being weighed down with stones. I was moody, irritable, I couldn't concentrate in class and had a hard time with the course-work which just made it worse. I was constantly tired and all I wanted to do, ever, was sleep.

I figured this depression had to do with the met but didn't want to stop it.

My mom, seeing my sorry state, gave me Regeon. A herbal sedative marketed in Israel containing passion flower extract, traces of other things, but most importantly ... hops.

Yes Hops, the stuff they put in beer to make it flavorful (I think), apparently has some natural relaxing properties which work wonders on this particular nasty side effect.

I'm going to continue taking it, and at one point (after finals) shall go consult my lovely physician and get some blood tests done to see if it's affected anything else.

But I've lost about 3 kilo's in one month without exercising (no time, shall after finals) and my sugar cravings are completely gone. I feel like I have control of my appetite again instead of it controlling me. Which is very nice. So I don't think it significantly hampers the met's work, if at all.

jennieileen · 01-24-2005, 11:08 AM

I take Fortamet which is supposed to have less side effects. I haven't had too many problems with it so far, so if you have a horrible time with the metformin, you could try talking to your doctor about the Fortamet. The side effects are still a possibility but they are not supposed to be as severe if you do get them, and you are supposed to be less likely to get them.

vegangurl21 · 02-08-2005, 11:42 PM

My doctor just started me on metformin today, so today was my first pill. And ever since about an hour after taking it, I just suddenly became extremely tired. And for the rest of the day, I've just been dragging. I sure hope that goes away after a couple weeks or so.

KYBluegrass · 02-09-2005, 04:49 PM

Feeling tired can be a side effect of met. The truth of the matter is that met can interfere with the uptake of B12, which is your "energy vitamin". Taking a good multi-vitamin has helped me with those tired spells.

LagunaBlue · 02-20-2005, 03:54 PM

Hey

I've been taking Metformin since 10/29. My Doc put me on 500mg for a whole month with no side-effects. He then upped my dosage to 1500mg when the side-effects showed up...namely gastrointestinal upset....the poops with a side of cramping...yuck!!

I tried moving my dosage around, but that didn't help. I went back to him and asked for Fortamet, but it's not in the formulary and my special request was rejected.

I finally decided to try yogurt (not my favorite food). I ate a 6 ounce cup for breakfast a couple days a week. That fixed me. I haven't had any yogurt in a couple of days and I"m still fine.

I didn't have to alter anything. I eat what I want, when I want. I guess the initial gastric upset must also cause one to purge their good bacteria as well...leading to an endless cycle.

Anyway, the yogurt worked for me...it might work for you.

The yogurt has also worked as a good mini-meal to take the met with if I'm not that hungry.

shadowia · 04-08-2005, 05:01 PM

i have been taking met for 2 months now. i have been reading and i like some of the ideas i will try some tips. next month I go up to 1500mg of met and i am also taking yasmin.

young_but_strong · 04-08-2005, 10:11 PM

Hey all!

I'm 15 years old (It's not that bad...I'll be 16 in early May

) and I was diagnosed the first day of December 2004.

I started with Metphormin, and I'm still going on it. I think it's been okay so far--I've finally built up to my 2000mg maximum. However, it took a while. I kept having to go back to the previous step due to the side effects. The only ones I expereinced were the diharrea and the ever evil gas--not the pass gas kind of gas, the one that circles through your stomach and gives you sudden, sharp, PAINFUL cramps.

It was awful, but I found that these things helped:

*LOTS of fresh water
*Leafy, healthy foods; no greasy/sugary stutf
*a warm bath....

The side-effects are gone now, but I stilll notice that I'm WAY more tired than I used to be. Is this a cause of Met., or is it just all the extra stress of life?.... *ponders*

Any help would be grand!

<3

Hobbit81 · 04-13-2005, 05:53 PM

I have been on metformin for 2 months now. I take 1000mg a day, my doctor though never told me I should start on it slowly. The GI effects were bad to begin with, and when I got sick and ate more sugary foods to keep some kind of nutrients in my body (milk shakes, because i threw everything else up.), Now I am going to attempt to see what is causeing the other random (in my mind anyways) GI insidents. I describe it to my fiance as my butt throwing up because its just an involuntary empting. I have gone on a low Glycemic Index diet since December and Metformin in Feb, and with the two I have lost 20 pounds and several inches, and this is with out going to work out regularly, so even with the occasional running to the bathroom, I am going to stay on the med, I have lost weight and for the first time in my life I am on a cycle very close to 28 days WITHOUT the pill. Metformin has changed my life in so many ways, I feel better about myself and also physically feel better, alot of the crazy side effects that we get from our dumb insulin problem have almost totally gone away, and its only been 2 months! I used to call the Pill a miracle drug, because it got rid of the mood swings and cramps, but it is no longer a miracle drug (havent taken it since October) Metformin is my new drug of choice!

Gemmeus · 04-21-2005, 03:44 AM

I've actually discovered that due to the Met I'm taking I've actually become lactose intolerant so watch your dairy intake.

Gemmeus · 04-21-2005, 03:47 AM

Fatigue is something that a lot of met users experience. The advice seems to be

1, Take B12 suppliments or better yet B-Complex.
2, Wait it out, sometimes it goes away after a few weeks.

but I've found that the only thing that works for me is

3, Exercise. Start off slowly, find something you like, and stick with it.

LaurAnnHere · 04-21-2005, 04:04 AM

See if your doctor can change you to Avandia. I never got over the side effects of glucophage and it got to where I would throw up just shortly after taking it. I never was sure if I was keeping any down or not. I had no problems taking Avandia and it helped me just as well as glucophage (well, better since I could always keep it down).

CysterDi · 04-26-2005, 01:04 AM

I just started taking Metformin last Monday, along with Spironolactone(blood pressure pills, to reduce hair growth), & Ovcon(BCP's). Oh yeah and I started taking Adipex(weight loss pills) on Wednesday. Anyway, the only side effects I can notice are being really tired all the time, extreme stomach aches on and off, & the worst one is this horrible taste in my mouth. It doesn't matter what I eat or drink it's still there. I'm almost to the point where I want to vomit because it is so horrible. Anyone else have this side effect or do you think it could be from one of the other meds? Any tips you can share on how to handle this?

Thanks In Advanced,
*Diana

GGBUNNY · 04-26-2005, 03:23 AM

the side effects listed for the met er says you can get a metallic taste in your mouth. that may be what your tasting. i have been on 500 mg a day for 1 wk and today started 1000 mg. the only things i have noticed is a little bowel upset, a little nausea and no appatite. I don't want to eat anything. I have been carrying immodium ad around and I am already trying to start AF. I have also noticed taking my pill with a protein snack, like nuts and cheese or yogurt has helped.

MaryJean · 05-12-2005, 03:41 PM

I have been taking met a week today. My side effects are extreme exhaustion, but it seems to be lessening every day, also extreme cotton mouth...I have found that vegetable juice works wonders for that for me. I have the bloating, but no real GI problems yet. I have also found that when I start to get nausiated, I will eat something like a small sandwich and the nausea subsides almost immediately. I am taking 500 mg twice a day. Although i am dealing fine i am kinda weary about upping the dosage to 1500mg, which my doc is going to do in about 2 more weeks as long as all is ok.

-Bubba- · 05-13-2005, 07:59 PM

Hi Everyone,

I read almost every reply on this thread the other day because the gastrointestinal side effects I was experiencing were too much to handle. Well, I tried no carbs; didn't work. I tried low, low sugar; didn't work. I tried eating small portions; didn't work. So there was one post that actually made sense to me. Back when I was first ttc (before I knew I had PCOS) my doctor suggested I take prenatals but I stopped because they were making me constipated (sorry, TMI) So it makes sense to me that if the Met is making me constantly run to the bathroom that the prenatals will have kind of a counter effect. It worked! I'm 4 days now with no emergency trips to the bathroom or "uh oh's" as my dh calls them. Just one normal trip to the bathroom a day. Hope this helps....