Re: Trouble with Metformin

Anita Hug · ‎03-22-2015

@AKgirl2 wrote:
@Anita Hug wrote:
If you aren't on the extended release version, then ask your doctor about changing to that. And start at the lowest dose and work up to where it needs to be. Taking it with food helps. Good luc@Anita Hug

@Anita Hug ~ @151949 ~ I need to ask my nurse practitioner about the extended release Metformin. I'm sure it would be a lot gentler in the system...most likely higher in cost though:/ May I ask what your daily dosage is?

I'm on a medicare advantage plan, and thankfully they cover the extended release version. I believe it is on the $4 meds list for Walmart also - something to check.

I take 2000mg of the extended release every day. I used to have some issues with it in the beginning, but not much these days. I've been on it for over 20 years now.

AKgirl2 · ‎05-24-2016

@Anita Hug wrote:
@AKgirl2 wrote:
@Anita Hug wrote:
If you aren't on the extended release version, then ask your doctor about changing to that. And start at the lowest dose and work up to where it needs to be. Taking it with food helps. Good luc@Anita Hug

@Anita Hug ~ @151949 ~ I need to ask my nurse practitioner about the extended release Metformin. I'm sure it would be a lot gentler in the system...most likely higher in cost though:/ May I ask what your daily dosage is?

I'm on a medicare advantage plan, and thankfully they cover the extended release version. I believe it is on the $4 meds list for Walmart also - something to check.

I take 2000mg of the extended release every day. I used to have some issues with it in the beginning, but not much these days. I've been on it for over 20 years now.

I'm on Medicare A & B, and a supplemental ins. I'm going to check the meds list for Walmart, thank you so much! Glad to hear it's working for you. You're not taking insulin then?

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Anita Hug wrote:
If you aren't on the extended release version, then ask your doctor about changing to that. And start at the lowest dose and work up to where it needs to be. Taking it with food helps. Good luck

Be aware that unless your doctor will write a letter to your insurance company insisting that you must have the timed release version only, it's quite likely that your insurance won't pay for the timed release version. It is $400/mo. They typically refuse.

My doctor said "I'll write it for you and you can try, but they'll refuse. They want a letter."

They refused, he wrote a letter; still no dice. $400/mo. Apparently the price of metformin has been skyrocketing lately and I'm sure that's one reason. Even CVS said "oh, they won't pay for this" when I brought the RX in.

So for those who do get it paid for - you're lucky. I've tried.

I have some side effects, but have been taking 2000 mg/day for about 6 years. The most annoying thing for me is that the side effects are unpredictable - I never know if/when. I've started taking it when I get up and when I go to bed, instead of close to meals. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. Imodium is your friend.

On the whole, though, I'd rather put up with the side effects, which for me are relatively manageable, than take something else instead. It's the safest diabetes med out there - much safer and easier on the major organs than any of the newer drugs.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Auntie CC · ‎10-28-2015

Good Morning
I normally do not chat about personal issues but I thought this time it would be helpful.
I had taken Metformin for several years before the trouble started. Frequent, urgent bathroom trips (both kinds) ruled my life for months. I thought it was just age related.
The final straw was I had begun to take my gg son to daycare and came close to several accidents in my car. I started doing some computer research and low and behold the side effects of Motrin matched what I was going thru.
Made immediate appt with Doc and she switched me to Zenuvia. Changed my lifestyle completely. It wasnt my age it was Metformin!
I feel so much better and it seems to have diminished my appetite some.
Good luck to all........

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

See the doctor. You may have an allergy to something in it, or the dosage may need to be adjusted. No doctors on here that I know of. See the doctor.

violann · ‎03-10-2010

I want to say something VERY gently, and out of care for all of you.

If you are not being absolutely scrupulous with your eating/exercise, you ultimately have to use medications to do the work that you MAY be able to do with your fork.

If you say you can't live without refined carbs, you are making a choice.

I HATED taking Metformin, or ANY diabetes medication, because in my heart of hearts, I KNEW that I wasn't doing EVERYTHING I COULD to be able to stop or significantly reduce medication.

A very short time after I took DRASTIC measures to avoid medication, after having AWFUL side effects/no discernible good results from ANY of the ones I was prescribed, I

experienced an amazing change- after telling myself for DECADES that I'd NEVER be able to change the way I ate and exercised.......... I changed.

Maybe you won't make the choice I made, (to get healthier to be the very best grandma I could possibly be, and to stop taking all the meds I was being prescribed). I started with my internist's input, did a ton of research, prayed for the strength to succeed, and did.

i was blessed with good genes, so you may not be able to achieve exactly the ending that I did, but you'll never know unless/until you do it for yourself.

proudlyfromNJ · ‎05-01-2010

I take Metformin HCL 850 twice a day. It's free at my pharmacy. I haven't had any trouble.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Anita Hug wrote:
If you aren't on the extended release version, then ask your doctor about changing to that. And start at the lowest dose and work up to where it needs to be. Taking it with food helps. Good luck

Be aware that unless your doctor will write a letter to your insurance company insisting that you must have the timed release version only, it's quite likely that your insurance won't pay for the timed release version. It is $400/mo. They typically refuse.

My doctor said "I'll write it for you and you can try, but they'll refuse. They want a letter."

They refused, he wrote a letter; still no dice. $400/mo. Apparently the price of metformin has been skyrocketing lately and I'm sure that's one reason. Even CVS said "oh, they won't pay for this" when I brought the RX in.

So for those who do get it paid for - you're lucky. I've tried.

I have some side effects, but have been taking 2000 mg/day for about 6 years. The most annoying thing for me is that the side effects are unpredictable - I never know if/when. I've started taking it when I get up and when I go to bed, instead of close to meals. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. Imodium is your friend.

On the whole, though, I'd rather put up with the side effects, which for me are relatively manageable, than take something else instead. It's the safest diabetes med out there - much safer and easier on the major organs than any of the newer drugs.

What about taking it in increments of 500mg time released twice a day at 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills at night? Is it the 2000mg that are so expensive? Sometimes just changing the milligrams has a great effect on the price.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Auntie CC wrote:
Good Morning
I normally do not chat about personal issues but I thought this time it would be helpful.
I had taken Metformin for several years before the trouble started. Frequent, urgent bathroom trips (both kinds) ruled my life for months. I thought it was just age related.
The final straw was I had begun to take my gg son to daycare and came close to several accidents in my car. I started doing some computer research and low and behold the side effects of Motrin matched what I was going thru.
Made immediate appt with Doc and she switched me to Zenuvia. Changed my lifestyle completely. It wasnt my age it was Metformin!
I feel so much better and it seems to have diminished my appetite some.
Good luck to all........

Zenuvia? I think you mean Januvia? Good to hear that you are doing better...

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@AKgirl2 wrote:
@151949 wrote:
@AKgirl2 wrote:
@Anita Hug wrote:
If you aren't on the extended release version, then ask your doctor about changing to that. And start at the lowest dose and work up to where it needs to be. Taking it with food helps. Good luc@Anita Hug

@Anita Hug ~ @151949 ~ I need to ask my nurse practitioner about the extended release Metformin. I'm sure it would be a lot gentler in the system...most likely higher in cost though:/ May I ask what your daily dosage is?
Mine is the lowest dose - 500 mg. And the tablets are huge and hard to swallow. My doctor said that keeps many people from being able to take the ER - the size of the pill.But I gulp them down with a huge swallow of coffee every AM.
@151949 ~ I'm taking 2000mg a day...the max dose.

Most physicians start their patients out very slowly on Metformin with extended released pills. Usually 500 mg ER over the course of a few weeks. Were you started at 2000 mg initially? That might very well be the cause of your discomfort..