Type 2 on metformin?!
Question: for the past couple months ive been complaining of feeling lightheaded and dizzy, hot/cold chills, horrible migranes, and then when i try to take alieve for the headaches i get sick to my stomach. all of these things are listed on the website for this medication as side effects and the lightheaded thing as a severe side effect.
i have been on this medication for over a month. some people have said i should have my doctor switch it. others say it could take several months to adjust to the meds. im not sure what to believe. everyday im feeling like i have the flu and it wont go away.
i just want to know others peoples experience on this medication. good or bad? are there any newly diagnosed diabetics that had trouble adjusting to the meds?
Answers: for the past couple months ive been complaining of feeling lightheaded and dizzy, hot/cold chills, horrible migranes, and then when i try to take alieve for the headaches i get sick to my stomach. all of these things are listed on the website for this medication as side effects and the lightheaded thing as a severe side effect.
i have been on this medication for over a month. some people have said i should have my doctor switch it. others say it could take several months to adjust to the meds. im not sure what to believe. everyday im feeling like i have the flu and it wont go away.
i just want to know others peoples experience on this medication. good or bad? are there any newly diagnosed diabetics that had trouble adjusting to the meds?
Generics are made by different companies. Glucophage the original med is made by one company and now others make the generics.
Generics all have the same active ingredients, but different fillers. You may be allergic to the filler in your generic Metformin formula.
When the formula was changed by my insurance company and I had to have a different generic than the one I was taking, I got so very sick, extreme nausea, acidic stomach, headaches, etc. I refused to take that one and found a drugstore that offered one from a different company. I am back happy again.
Check what the filler ingredients in your generic Metformin formula are and see if you can find a different drugstore with a different formula.
This is a very good drug, works great for keeping the glucose numbers down, but the side effects of some of the "inert" filler ingredients don't agree with all of us.
there are other meds you can take like clomifene, but go to your doctor asap, you shouldnt be on metformin if you're suffering the severe side-effects.
my mom had trouble with metformin. ask your doctor about glipizide (generic for glucotrol). it's really affordable and works great. both my mom and i take it.
I was on Metformin for two years and had side effects and my doctor says the side effects were worth it because it was a good drug and FINALLY, I got wise and received a 2nd opinion and it had already messed up my digestive system and that doctor said I couldn't take it and put me on Amaryl and in one week I was better and I will not ever take that medication again. There is a life after Metformin. The second doctor told me that alot of people can't take that medicine. The generic of amaryl l is glimepiride and it is a great drug....less side effects.
When I took Metformin, I had diarrhea for several months. Maybe some nausea, it wasn't bad enough for me to remember apparently. Stick with it, the drug is a good one to manage your diabetes. It can take several months of adjustment to get your readings where they should be. Your side effects will go away....
When first diagnosed I was on metformin..every week or so i would have the runs - always in the night around 02.00 hrs. Other times I could break wind for Britain - even the cat would not sleep with me. doctors prescribe it because it is cheap and effective but it does work - if you stick it out and it is proven to have the least problematical side effects. I pushed to go onto insulin...BIG MISTAKE, but I was getting very little help from the UK either on the NHS or with Private endocrinologists. I had many side effects - bad ones including Charcot Foot. I am lucky as I have private means but I sought help abroad....in Italy..and what a different positive attitude that country has to Diabetes and its treatment. I came off insulin - but please note they put be back on metformin but they also watched and monitored everything I ate - and together we stopped all the metformin side effects and the wind. I am now on a tablet called Glibomet5 - which is a metformin mix. One thing I was taught by the Italians was to fight diabetes mentally and with a positive attitude and not to think of it as a terminal disease which it is...but an ongoing war of many battles, some of which we win and some we loose. After two years of Italian treatment I have never felt better than I do now..because they checked me out and still do - all over - eyes kidneys heart, sexual activity - urology, feet legs, vascular, scans xrays..all in 4 days once a year and every three months I get a minor check and a proper discussion where they listen to me. It killed off all the demons that had built up in my head. Thanks to Ryanair its not so expensive, and finally I know what to do and what to watch out for.
When I complained that I did not want to take metformin - we tried other tablets...all had side effects - some have been recorded by US Drug agency for increased chance of heart attack etc, but it was really explained to me that Metformin although a simple and old drug was one of the best - stick with it - watch your food - try and work out what effects you. One thing I also learnt is that not all diabetics are the same...some can eat pasta - I can't. everyone of us is different - in Italy they had and still have the time to listen. Some of our doctors here could well take time out and see the way they do it there. Try and be positive - try and be patient. Not all these things work immediately, and dont do what I do...cheat.....Keep to the diets. My hardest battle is not to cheat...My docs are even helping me on that score. In England I got a bollocking - in Italy I get a hand on the shoulder, a knowing smile and some therapy. This is all in an Italian public hospital - and when I talk to fellow patients it is the same treatment they get on their national health. Still they must be doing some good because since going to Italy I lost 37 kg.
there are other drugs that your doctor can try
I've been taking Metformin for about 2-3 months now and I haven't noticed any side effects (Thank Goodness!) I was on Actos before that and Amaryl before that. My last Ac1 was 5.4
The side affects are supposed to get better with time. Metformin is supposed to be THE gold standard for diabetes oral meds.
Try eating a small serving of yogurt with it. Many people find that it really helps. Look for a yogurt with active culture in it, one that has no sugar added. There are some with Splenda that taste great and don't have many carbs, and do have active culture.
If that doesn't work, ask for time released metformin, its a lot less likely to cause problems.
Be aware of one of the more dangerous possible side effects of Metformin. Its rare, but it can happen... if you suspect it, talk to your doctor immediately to make sure you aren't having this reaction...
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-7061-MET...
Metformin can rarely cause a serious (sometimes fatal) condition called lactic acidosis. Stop taking metformin and seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms of lactic acidosis: unusual tiredness, severe drowsiness, chills, blue/cold skin, muscle pain, fast/difficult breathing, unusually slow/irregular heartbeat.
Lactic acidosis is more likely to occur in patients who have certain medical conditions, including kidney or liver disease, conditions that may cause a low oxygen blood level or poor circulation (e.g., severe congestive heart failure, recent heart attack, recent stroke), heavy alcohol use, a severe loss of body fluids (dehydration), X-ray or scanning procedures that require an injectable iodinated contrast drug, recent surgery, or a serious infection. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these conditions occur or if you notice a big change in your overall health. You may need to stop taking metformin temporarily. The elderly are also at higher risk, especially those older than 80 years who have not had kidney tests.