Two Questions about Metformin...please read!

lookinbetter · 07-07-2004, 01:08 AM

Hello everyone...I am so pleased to have found such a great place full of so much support!

I've been seaching through the message board over the past few days as I have started on Metformin 500 mg 2x a day for two weeks and 500 mg 3x a day thereafter.

I feel basically good although I've only been on it for 1 week. I do get nauseous about 11/2 to 2 hours after taking it, but within an hour I feel a little better. I consider myself very lucky, considering the ill effects I've read others are having! You all are in my nightly prayers!

Ok...onto the questions:

Question #1 is about lactic acidosis- I know it is rare, and I don't have any health risks concerning the heart, liver, kidneys, or lungs, and I don't drink often, however, I AM concerned with the statement listed under risks in this forum stating "rapid ascent to high altitude." I am assuming that would include flying in an airplane. My husband and I are planning a trip to Florida in August and this statement threw up an immediate red flag to me. I've searched the Internet and have found nothing anywhere else including this as a risk...do any of you know more about this? Please respond if you do. Thank You!

Question #2 is about vitamins- I was prescribed a prenatal vitamin today and looked up it's content on the Internet...it has NO vitamin B12, 1 mg folic acid, 125mg of calcium, and no magnesium, potassium, or vitamin K...the rest is at least DRV. I'm worried about this and was wondering if anyone could suggest which supplements and amounts I may need. I have read many other posts, but value your experiences and expertise, so I'd really appreciate your input on my particular case. Thanks, in advance!

~Katie

christyz · 07-07-2004, 04:08 PM

Hi Katie:

I'm the one that gathered the info and links for the FAQ thread and that one article you refer to was the only place I could find the altitude thing mentioned too. But in the interest of giving women too much info rather than not enough, I posted it. My own Dr and I spoke about this, and he said that Met is the most commonly perscribed diabetic drug and these people are bound to be flying. Since there have been no cases of metformin patients who fly having any problems, it's assumed to be pretty safe as this point (as he puts it, "I'm pretty sure the risk of crashing is probably still higher than Lactic Acidosis"...good point. LOL) Plus the latest research is showing the LA cases are no higher in metformin patients than in the rest of the population (see the FAQ thread), so you have very little to worry about. Speak to your physician to quell your fears, but I wouldn't worry.

In terms of supplements, the amount of supplementation we need isn't set in stone. Basically my Dr started me on a tablets with B12, calcium and folic acid and checks my levels every 6 months to make sure that they are adequate. As long as they are normal, I can continue this way. I take a tablets called STRESSTABS Z-BEC and since the day I started it, I don't think I have missed a tablet, because I feel so much more energetic on them. They definetly made me feel better on the met.

Hope this helps.

lookinbetter · 07-07-2004, 06:45 PM

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! :-)

lookinbetter · 07-08-2004, 12:17 AM

Anymore vitamin advice out there? I'm off to the store right now to look at calcium supplements and B12. Please let me know what you all are taking to keep/stay/get healthy. Thanks!

~Katie

Jassie · 07-08-2004, 03:27 PM

Im' so pleased to have read this thread.. I had read elsewhere in the forum that a vitamin supplement would be a good idea and I already had a large bottle of Multi vitamins which I started taking once a day with my metformin..dashed off to get the bottle to read the info and the bottle says basically if trying to get pregnant or if you have diabetes you shouldnt use them! Ooops, guess I will have to look for a more suitable version, at least I found out early!

lookinbetter · 07-08-2004, 08:07 PM

WOW, Jassie! I'm glad to hear that you read that now! I am taking a prenatal vitamin...Citracal and I just bought a calcium supplement 600 mg Caltrate AND I got a B12 vitamin, too, since my prenatal has NO B12!

My mom is a nurse and she said NO multi-vitamin will have all we need...if it did...it would be way to big to swallow!

My prenatal also has NO magnesium, potassium, Vitamin K, biotin or chomium...I wonder if this matters? I probably don't want chomium since it has something to do with blood sugars...I think biotin does, too...maybe this is way my Dr. prescribed this brand to me...does biotin and chomium counteract metformin, maybe? I don't know, I'm just gonna take my prenatal, calcium, B12, and metformin and see how it works for me!

Good Luck!

~Katie

Jassie · 07-08-2004, 09:32 PM

Ive now found a pre natal pretty much the same as yours and no warnings on it about diabetes either phew! Im going to take that for the next 6 weeks or so but have an appointment with my Doctor after Ive been on the full dose of metformin for 6 weeks, so while Im there I'll ask which one he recommends or if the one I have covers everything