Really bad nausea from taking metformin in the mornings??

butterflies80 · 10-06-2008, 10:14 PM

hello
im taking metformin 1700mg been on it for a few months. well im still trying to take it how im supposed to. i told my doctor about the horrible diarrheaa i got from taking it in the morning. he recommended taking like imodium with it. the imodium helped yes, but im still getting really bad nausea from this stuff when i have to take it in the mornings. i almost felt like i was going to pass out or puke at work. im only having problems with it in the mornings at night no. any advice on what i can do to help get rid of the nausea. im also starting clomid 100mg to this month once the period comes and im hopoing i dont get horrible side effects to.. any advice? i dont get why the metformin is making me nauseated in teh mornings

Erin986 · 10-06-2008, 10:42 PM

I have the same problem. I take 1000mg at breakfast and 1000mg at dinner. I generally take my first one at 9. By 11 or noon, I'm so nauseous that I just want to curl up under my desk at work. Any advice would be appreciated!

Snufneee · 10-07-2008, 12:06 AM

Sorry to be so green but what kind of DR do you have to see to get any meds? I always just go to Family Dr for everything. And do you take the meds only to regulate periods?

butterflies80 · 10-07-2008, 12:28 AM

i go to the ob for the meds im on. im borderline diabetic and i have pcos. im on metformin 1700mg and will be starting my first round of clomid 100mg once the next period starts. i just cant stand the nausea the metformin gives me especially in the morning. its really hard for me to function at work without wanting to puke

Erin986 · 10-07-2008, 10:25 AM

Snufnee, your family doctor generally won't do much to diagnose or treat PCOS. You'll want to see an OB. Metformin helps with lots of things. It regulates your cycle, can help if your Insulin resistant (I'm not, but I'm still on it), and can help with lots of the symptoms of PCOS (acne, thinning hair, hair growing in places it shouldn't, ect).

CarmenSandiego · 10-07-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snufneee

Sorry to be so green but what kind of DR do you have to see to get any meds? I always just go to Family Dr for everything. And do you take the meds only to regulate periods?

My endocrinologist has been the one prescribing for me.

novachick · 10-07-2008, 02:29 PM

I used to feel that way around 5pm in the afternoon, just when I hit rush hour traffic. Had to keep a plastic bag in the car just to make myself feel safe (never threw up, though). I remember thinking maybe the Met was either "running out" and my blood sugar was spiking, or because I hadn't eaten, my blood sugar was crashing.

I changed my pill times from 9am to 11am, and from 6pm to 8pm. No more nausea. Try messing with your timing, it helped me---maybe you guys, too.

SN3W14 · 10-07-2008, 06:57 PM

Are you on the extended release version of the med? This helped me a lot. Also like a PP said changing your times around and eating regularly will help also.

butterflies80 · 10-07-2008, 09:57 PM

hi i try to take it about an hour before i go to work and i just cant stand the nausea it will eventually go away but then i still have to worry about the diarhea to im still getting it mostly in the mornings. i take the regular metformin not xr im taking imodium for the diarrhea that does help some. is there any suggestion on what i should be eating for breakfast with this stuff? also should i be testing my blood sugar or even seeing a dietician. o was told i was borderline diabetic? the ob didnt say nothing about blood sugar testing or seeing a dietician. im trying to get pregnant also and will be starting clomid the next time i ahve a period

ckprentice · 10-10-2008, 01:54 AM

I am taking 1500mg Metformin x 3 years. When I first started it I also had nausea and verry mad bowels! I talked to my Doctor about it and my doctor recommended taking all of my Metformin before bedtime. Now I take all of my medicine at once before bed (ask your doctor prior to doing this as some medicines do not react well to each other). The Metformin and the birth control and other medicines combined are sickening!! So ask your doctor if you can take all of your medicine together. If there isn't a chance that your doctor will allow this try dividing your doses up instead of taking 2 pills right when you wake up take one in the am and then one right before lunch and the last of your dose prior to bed. Then go to sleep. If you are consistent about taking your medicine this will pass eventually, you just have to allow your body some time to adjust. Hope that helps! Messenger me with any questions.

StudentNurseGirl · 10-10-2008, 02:25 AM

I haven't had a lot of nausea yet- though I have felt a few waves of it... right now i feel odd- not particularly nauseous- but i felt a bit hungry a bit ago- I ate at about 5, and took my metformin at 7 when I remembered... and haven't eaten since... makes me wonder if I need to nibble something... idk.
My dose is building from 500mg to 2000mg I think... idk. 500mg the first week, 1000mg this week.. and then the next two weeks it ramps up again- til I'm taking 2 tablets twice a day... whew!
in the morning I have a pile of 5 pills to take... (2 spiro, a metformin, errin, and chlor-timeton allergy) I hate taking pills. lol.

Joshulol · 10-10-2008, 02:06 PM

I think this is caused by low blood sugar. Try eating more in the morning when you take it. You may need to add an additional carb item to whatever breakfast you are eating. I normally have a protien shake made with blueberries and yogurt each morning. When I eat this now I feel nauseated, shaky, and sometimes light headed. Now I have to have the protien shake and also eat a slice of bread with cream cheese and some preserves on it. Then I feel just fine.

Hope this helps!

CarmenSandiego · 10-12-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshulol

I think this is caused by low blood sugar.

I tend to agree with this...

I find I CANNOT handle Met at all in the mornings (lingering nausea and ultimately vomiting)...found out my fasting glucose was 68 so I imagine that could be the cause.

socalcyster · 10-13-2008, 08:59 PM

I see a DO (osteopathic doctor) and it is great. The great thing about a DO is that they are trained in looking at the whole body, not just the symtoms so I think that they are particularly great for PCOS girls. Here is some info on DOs vs. MDs:

DOs and MDs are alike in many ways:

Applicants to both DO and MD colleges typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science courses.

Both DOs and MDs complete four years of basic medical education.

After medical school, both DOs and MDs can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine—such as psychiatry, surgery, obstetrics, or sports medicine—after completing a residency program (typically two to six years of additional training).

Both DOs and MDs must pass comparable state licensing examinations.

DOs and MDs both practice in fully accredited and licensed hospitals and medical centers.

Both are medical doctors; MD is specifically Doctor of Medicine and DO is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

What Makes DOs Different?

DOs can perform surgery, child delivery, treat patients, and prescribe medications in hospitals and clinic settings.
DOs look at the "total person." Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive care. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they look at the whole body.
DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of the nerves, muscles, and bones. This training gives DOs a better understanding of how an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another part of the body; therefore, DOs have a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage.
DOs use what is called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a technique in which the DOs use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, giving special attention to the joints, bones, muscles, and nerves. Manipulations improve circulation, which in turn, creates a normal nerve and blood supply, enabling the body to heal itself.

novachick · 10-14-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socalcyster

I see a DO (osteopathic doctor) and it is great. The great thing about a DO is that they are trained in looking at the whole body, not just the symtoms so I think that they are particularly great for PCOS girls. Here is some info on DOs vs. MDs:

Meh, on the flip side, I've hated every DO I've ever seen. I recognize that they are "supposed" to be just the same as MDs, but all the ones I've been unfortunate enough to encounter have been grossly incompetent. I might be just having really bad luck, but it's been enough examples (err, somewhere around 7 docs) for me to decide to steer clear. If I'd had one good one, I'd probably feel different, but that's not happened.

Obviously, that's not the experience of everyone, but wooo-eeee, GROSSLY incompetent. As in, the type of incompetence that the next doc you visit sees/hears what they did and freaks out, and then tells you not to go back to them. I wonder what the difference in training/residency/etc is that makes the ones I've seen so BAD at being a doctor.

Not to mention that whenever those "fat-burning wonder drugs" show up on TV, the small print always states that the "docs" touting them are residents (ugh!) and DOs (sigh). It's almost NEVER an MD on the commercials. That's another thing that turned me off them. I know it's a weird little thing, but it was just more fuel for the fire, for me.