Has anybody gotten chest pains from taking gluchopage?!
Question: My husband was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago and was put on Starlex- and a little over a week ago he was put on gluchophage- and last night the doc told him to double the dose- he started off small. This morning he woke up with severe back pain that went to the chest- he was taken to ER and then admitted tonight- no heart problem showed up with the tests they took- tomorrow they are going to take a stress test just to make sure. I did read today on the internet that some people on gluchopage can have pain that feels like a heart attack but is just a very bad sad effect to the pill. Anyone experience it?
Answers: My husband was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago and was put on Starlex- and a little over a week ago he was put on gluchophage- and last night the doc told him to double the dose- he started off small. This morning he woke up with severe back pain that went to the chest- he was taken to ER and then admitted tonight- no heart problem showed up with the tests they took- tomorrow they are going to take a stress test just to make sure. I did read today on the internet that some people on gluchopage can have pain that feels like a heart attack but is just a very bad sad effect to the pill. Anyone experience it?
When my dose of Metformin-ER (generic for Gluchopage)was increased from one 500 mg. tablet a day to one 500 mg. tablet twice a day, I had terrible pain in my chest and arms, plus diarrhea. I called the doctor, and she decreased my dose back to one 500 mg. of Metformin-ER a day. Since then, the pains in my chest and arms has decreased and my diarrhea stopped. I will keep your husband in my prayers, as it sounds like he's having side-effects to the medicine.
I wish everything goes well with your husband. I am on Glucaphage for many years and last few years its generic. I have not experienced chest pain. Different people experience different symptoms. Now there are a few generic (my insurance will allow only this now) alternatives and may be those don't affect him as much. By the time-release versions are on market, that may help too. Check with the doctor.
The medical person can explain better if sudden switch in medication affect the patient more than others.
I am answering as a patient on same or similar drugs for a long time and am nowhere closer to the medical field.
Good luck.
I'm glad the ER tests showed no heart problems, and I hope all goes well with tomorrow's stress test.
My wife was on the generic form of Glucophage (metformin) for a while, and when she first started taking it there were a few nights when she had trouble breathing. Not really chest pains, but she would wake up and feel as if she was slightly suffocating. The episodes would last about half an hour or so, and then it would go away and she would be fine.
After being on the medicine for a couple of weeks, it stopped happening.
Best of luck to your husband!