Trouble with Metformin - Page 3

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@qualitygal wrote:
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.

It is just THE most common, widespread side effect of the medication, that's all.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Trinity11 wrote:
@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.

No, it's the timed release that is the issue. The pharmacies know it, the doctors know it, it's commonly discussed in diabetes forums. From what I've read it's the drug manufacturers who charge the pharmacies and arm and a leg for it - in addition to which, the cost of regular metformin keeps going up.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Trinity11 wrote:
@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..

Yes, this ^^^^

I took 500 mg twice a day for about 6 weeks before the doctor upped my dose. I did/do have more side effects from the higher dose, but still (for me) not wanting to stop taking it. Metformin is the safest, and one of the long-term most effective type 2 diabetes meds out there. That's why doctors prescribe it first and foremost, and only try other meds if it doesn't control your blood sugar.

Maybe because I worked in the medical field all my life, I keep up with all of the newer diabetes medications. Every one of them have side effects. Most of them can affect your kidneys and/or pancreas, to the point of pancreatic cancer. Some worsen heart disease. The newest and shiniest cause bladder and yeast infections.

Just because a doctor prescribes something else, don't assume he/she thinks it's perfectly benign to take it; they are aware and prescribe these anyway - if one has high numbers and the diabetes is out of control, these meds are necessary. But I'd stick with metformin - one of the "extra" things it apparently does according to recent studies is "protect" from heart disease in some way.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

IMW · ‎06-15-2014

I am on 2000 mg er long acting. I only take it at pm. Started with 500, slowly increased over weeks. Metformin is a very old, trusted,cheap,and above all safe diabetes rx. I find many rx's require a while to acclimate.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
@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.

No, it's the timed release that is the issue. The pharmacies know it, the doctors know it, it's commonly discussed in diabetes forums. From what I've read it's the drug manufacturers who charge the pharmacies and arm and a leg for it - in addition to which, the cost of regular metformin keeps going up.

Walmart have the time release formula at a set $4 and 90 day supply at 10.90 but that is the 500mg ER.

I wonder if the price is going up due to the fact there have been a lot of studies about the drug contributing to longevity and helping people to live longer...

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Trinity11, I personally think that is why the price keeps going up. The only way they can keep earning $$ from metformin is by continually raising the price *because* it has such a good rep as a safe and effective drug. It could backfire on them, though.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I experienced severe intestinal issues with Metformin. My doctor then prescribed several different combo drugs, that I eventually refused to take because of reading of their connection to pancreatic cancer. I had good results with the combo drugs, but do not want to increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. I am back to working on a daily dose of Metformin again; starting low and taking the dose with my evening meal. Now that I'm retired, I can better handle the intestinal issues compared to trying to handle this stressful issue while working.

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@RedTop for years I took my Metformin right before lunch and at bedtime. I think that for me anyway, right before a meal is almost guaranteed to create issues 1-2 hrs after the meal - not great when one is out and about :-( I have switched my first dose to when I get up, and I'm finding a bit fewer issues after lunch. Every little bit helps ;-( I also take Imodium routinely if I know I'm going to be where I DON'T want any issues - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't ;-(

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Imadickens · ‎06-15-2016

Xigduo is the name of the combo medication that made it easier for me to take metformin ! I took it for about a month then was able to switch to straight metformin with no side effect!

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