Low folic acid taking Metformin

[Olliedog01]

Hi thereI'm new to the forum. Looking for some advice. Iv felt very ill. Tiredness. Shortness of breath mouth ulcers tingling in my mouth. My head feels full and I'm unsteady. I had bloods done and folic has come back low. I never imaged it could make you feel so ill. I suffer with anxiety now it is really bad on top of all this. I'm just so worried. Iv been on folic supplements for about a week. Feel no difference yet. Just would like to know is this really how bad it makes you feel.

[wedgewood]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry that you feel so unwell .

Please tell us your vitamin B12 reading , and also the folic acid reading. Do include the ranges (given in the brackets after the results ) This is VERY important to know , because taking Folic acid supplements can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency if taken before the B12 deficiency is addressed .

Metformin can cause B12 deficiency and all doctors should know this .

To put your mind at rest , a week isn’t really enough time to rectify any vitamin deficiency you might have . But please include your B12 reading

Best wishes .

[JayceeJC]

Hi Olliedog01.

You sound like I did for over 3 years.I had nausea, weight loss due to no appetite and generally had no life as no energy. After moving and having a new GP I had a full blood count test and found to have very low vitamin B12 and folic acid.

I also suffered with anxiety as I dreaded the feeling I had every more I woke up.

Guess what… I was told by the GP that Metformin is known to reduce B12. I’ve been taking it for 11 years now and the first time this was looked at.

I think the folic will help but needs time but you could need Vitamin B12.

[B12life in reply to JayceeJC]

I'm curious, do you still take metformin? And how do you manage keeping your b12 levels up?

[JayceeJC in reply to B12life]

Yes, still taking metformin 2 x 500mg twice a day. Apart from them doing another blood test after the 6 loading doses and confirming an improvement on the levels I have a 3 month booster for the rest of my life. But I don’t know if the level drops between those 3 month intervals. Only took folic for first 3 months as well. I had my appetite back initially and nausea had stopped but I can’t say Im feeling 100% still or maybe it’s just an age thing.

[B12life in reply to JayceeJC]

Glad you have improvement. I'm soooo curious because I had type 2 diabetes in my 20's which resolved by diet and exercise. blood glucose level was 250. but after 6 months, it went away but I have been left with very bad insulin resistance which leaves me feeling like crap if I eat carbs but esp if I eat a lot of carbs one day then go without eating the next. I also end up with a month of fatigue if I eat a high amount of carbs for a long time. Very strange as it's not the typical clinical representation of type 2 or insulin resistance but I sure confirmed that it is tied to the amount of carbs/sugar I intake.

My father was type 1, adult onset, my brother sure enough got type 2 in his 50's which I am now in. So with my history and theirs, it's not a matter of if for me but when. Thus my interest in what works for you and how you manage your b12.

I would just inject b12 frequently. My problem is that if I ever become type 2 I will have to diet to prevent having to use medication. I already need b12 injections daily and I don't even take any medications, so it will be all the worse.

(Dr Fung who uses diet to get people off of metformin)

Keep doing what you are doing if it works!!!! cheers and best of everything!

[JayceeJC in reply to B12life]

Thank you for your message. I’m sorry you have been through so much. I’m 62 and been on Metformin for 12 years. My doctor was trying to get me on a Diabetes reversal programme in July but to be honest as I was feeling so bad every morning and only feeling with it about lunchtime I couldn’t face trying to change my diet as well. To be honest I’m thinking why has it taken 12 years to start me on a programme? All the very best.

[Tanyanarialucia1965]

Try taking methyl folate as it can be you’re not converting regular folate ..

[Technoid in reply to Tanyanarialucia1965]

Everyone can metabolise folic acid. Most MTHFR mutations have a very small effect. Methylfolate has no special advantages over regular folic acid and it's recommendation is based on a misunderstanding of folate metabolism. For more see my previous response:

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[Saoirse2016]

Are you on Metformin for diabetes, and if so, what brand name?

I was on Glucophage, and it made me very very ill, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.

One month the pharmacy was out of Glucophage, so they gave me an alternative - I cannot remember the name of it - I didn't get the digestive issues from that one, but I did suffer from cognitive issues.

I'm now taking Forxiga, which doesn't seem to be causing any issues!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

I am not aware of metformin affecting folate levels - only B12 levels.