post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 12

Brandyrey · 06-16-2005, 03:24 PM

what is a gravol?

ashbehr · 06-19-2005, 11:04 PM

Hi, I've read through every post on this thread and I have an a real problem and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. I take met. 2000mg a day. I noticed that I was just pooping out the whole pill. Maybe that's why I wasn't getting any side affects. I called my doctor and see told me to crush them into a powder and mix it with water(gag) or milk(a little more tolorable). So I did and have felt crazy and horrible. Dairrhea all day everyday, vommiting, sever sleepiness and have even had accidents in my pants. I feel like a child and very out of control. So I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago. I'm very frustrated with my doctor who seems knowlegable about PCOS but really pushes the met even after I telll her all my concerns. I'm scared that I've been taking the met crushed dispite the warning lables all over it not to crush or split (which I told my doc). What should I do? Any suggestions?

24yrs
very active 214Ibs
frustrated and scared

SeattleLady · 06-19-2005, 11:46 PM

ashbehr-

I can't imagine why your doctor would advocate crushing a pill that is not supposed to be crushed. I am assuming you are taking Met XR(extended release). The pill you see passing in your stool is NOT indicating that you are not receiving the medicine. It is a 'ghost pill' that serves to administer the medicine in the extended release format. It is normal to see these passing in your stool regularly. Stop crushing them! I suggest doing some more research online and going to the metformin webstie to get direct information about the prescription you are taking. It does not sound like good medical advice you are receiving.

On dealing with the side effects:
Adding Fiber in the form of legumes and kashi go-lean cereals has helped me tremendously. I still experience a lot of diarrhea and urgency to poop(some because of a recent gall bladder removal), though I know now what me body is telling me and that I can't wait. When I feel any kind of rumble or urge I get to the nearest bathroom(several accidents convinced me of this)
My symptoms are always worse when I eat refined foods or drinks with sweetners. So, as much as possible I avoid those.

Anyhow, I hope this helps and that you are able to go to your doctor armed with information to show that you should NOT be crushing the pills! Good Luck.

StubbysGal · 06-26-2005, 12:05 PM

Hi All!

I am sort of new here..... Although all of these suggestions are wonderful, I have kind of a gross question to ask. I suffer from IBS so the rushing to the bathroom with the horrible cramps is old news to me (not that I like it, but am used to it). But the thing that I can't handle is the odor of my gas!!!! I have tried eating different things to make it change, but nothings worked - does anyone have any suggestions on that???

Thanks!

stormy1974 · 06-26-2005, 10:18 PM

Did anyone else get headaches when on Met? I got headaches, slight muscle cramps and fatigue on it, I was only on it for about 6 weeks though then I stopped taking it on my own. Should I have stayed on?? I did notice the being hydrated was mentioned a few times and I don't drink nearly enough water...could that have been the problem??? ANYONE?!?!?!

Boink · 06-27-2005, 01:04 PM

Hi Stormy1974,

I got terrible, terrible headaches the first two weeks on metformin. I was also drowsy and tired. My doctor said these were symptoms of low blood sugar and to snack on something. Luckily, they've gone away. I have also started eating every three hours, even if it's just a few crackers with peanut butter. :-) Good luck.

Ronel · 07-28-2005, 07:38 AM

I've been taking glucophage since about June'04 and used it for about 6 months and stopped it due to the bad side effects i had.. I constantly felt nauseous and when i ate certain things i would vomit until i couldn't anymore

(sorry if this sounds yuk) and this was effecting me at work aswell. I cant eat a banana or pineapple (fresh fruit) anymore - if i do i get such abdominal pain that it feels like i can die!!

cheesy snacks i cant eat either anymore and sugary stuff aswell (just like most of the side-effects mentioned on this sticky) When i told my gynae in the beginning of the year that i stopped using the glucophage she didn't sound to impressed (i spoke to her over the fone). My GP also told me that i must rather start using glucophage again b/c its the only med that will help me with my problem (pcos & IR) - I told him he doesn't know how it feels!!! then i taking 500mg x2 a day

now my question is: i must go see my gynae again next month for a check up and then we (me & DH) wants to hear from her if we can try to TTC!! do you think i must try and use the glucophage again or must i wait and see what the gynae says???

Tresa · 07-28-2005, 01:52 PM

have you asked about reduce the amount of gluc you are taking? I asked to be rudeced back to 3 - 500 mg a day and I feel so much better, but know I am getting ready for IVF and RE wants me to take an extra 500mg a day - (4 - 500 mg a day) I am nervous, but I have experienced the same thing.

Hope this helps!

Ronel · 07-29-2005, 05:37 AM

When i complained about the side effects the dietician (my gynae referred me to a diabetic dietician for the IR) said i must halve (250mg x2 a day) it for a while and then increased it with time... but the side effects stayed the same!! and i'm like that i can't handle to feel sick and miserable most of the time!!

I'll be going on leave for 4 weeks in a weeks time then i'll try it again at least I'll be at home when I'm feeling bad!!!

kukie940 · 08-03-2005, 10:25 PM

does taking the larger dose of metformin at night help anyone?

Thanks!
Britt

moxie · 08-05-2005, 08:19 PM

Hi all. I started Metformin about 3 weeks ago and and when I started on the 1500mg dose I noticed that my breast were sore and I am getting pretty bad menstrual cramping. Nothing that I can't cope with, but they aren't going away that quickly. I am getting the obvious stomach upset, nausea and just feeling kind of "crappy, but I was expecting that anyway. I would be dumbfounded to thing that this would be a sign of ovulation as I have only been on the "big" dose for about 1 week, and I am not getting my period. Is it my hormones just changing now and this might be a side-efffect?
Any info would be appreciated! Thanks and good luck to ALL on Metformin!!

31 female
300 Mg Effexor XR for Borderline Personality Disorder
Albuterol PRN
1500Mg Metformin

stacy k. · 08-11-2005, 12:02 AM

i am new on met......having fatigue........sweating.........occasional nausea....
i take 2000mgs per day.....when does the energy come back???
help???

austinmandi · 08-24-2005, 01:13 PM

i have been on met for 10 weeks now and the results are truly incredible. I would first suggest starting dose at 500mg for the first week, 1000mg the second week and so on until you get to the dose your dr prescribed. This gives your body a chance to adjust to the side effects. A wonderful tip I found on this thread was to "sandwich" the met between your meal - meaning to eat half your food, take the pill, then eat the other half of your meal. The first few days on met I had horrible side effects like nausea, cramps...you know what I'm talking about. But from the very first time I tried the "sandwich" method the side effects disappeared and I have not had another problem. And the food that I eat with the met does not seem to matter with this method. I also suggest taking the majority of your dose before bedtime since that seems to help as well. About a week after starting met I was feeling really crappy and depressed and emotional. I didn't know what was going on. I really thought I was pg. Come to find out I had o'd for the first time in years so I wasn't familiar with the way my body acts during this time! I had a period 2 weeks later (the first in months) and have been regular since. I have also lost 11 lbs which makes me want to eat better and exercise. Just make sure to eat regularly since the met has a tendency to decrease appetite and if your blood sugar gets too low you'll get headaches and feel awful. If the side effects don't get better, talk to your dr about switching to Glucophage XR (met is the generic form of Glucophage) It is the extended release form of met that slowly disperses in your body and tends to help side effects. There are also other types of insulin desensitizers like Actos and Avandia that have less side effects than met. Just don't give up!! The side effects will go away if you are consistent with your dosing. And the effects are wonderful. Even chocolate doesn't taste as good as it used to

Hope this helps ladies.

blusoul · 09-23-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pie

Has anyone not had any side affects or can I
pretty much count on it?

Thanks...

Pie

When I started taking Met I was on 500mg dose I had no side affects what so ever. I was blessed but now I started taking them again but this time my doc has me on 1700mg starting off and I don't think I can deal with the s/e
I was sick all night and nothing stayed in my stomach I could not sleep and I has sever indegestion.

KayJ · 09-29-2005, 12:32 PM

I've been put on 1000 mg twice a day. I tell you, this thing makes my stomach upset. I get the runs and terrible gas. I've had a few bouts of vomitting and had to leave work more than once because of feelings of nausea and the like. I noticed also, that at times, I would get a feeling like I have something stuck in my throat when I take them. When I would eat it felt like the food gets stuck midway. Its gotten to the point that I'm actually afraid to take the tablets.

Thanks for the tips. I think where I went wrong was with the fact that I took them on an empty stomach each time.