Metformin attacks the optic nerve- what is a good alternative?

[Alitulip]

Hello everyone, I’ve just stumbled across this forum😊. I have been on Metformin for about fifteen years. It’s been good at controlling my weight. But lately I’ve been getting headaches, I knew my eyesight seemed to be getting worse very quickly. I had my eyes tested today, and was told that my eyesight has gotten much worse, and my optometrist felt the reason was Metformin and he said it was fairly common. I have glasses for long distance, but they think I’ll also need glasses in six months for short sight! I did some research, and he’s right! I didn’t know that Metformin attacked your optic nerve over time!! I had no idea, and I’m furious that I was never told by any of my doctors.

I also found out that it strips the body of Vit 9, 12, and Co Enzyme 10 and should be supplementing when taking Metformin, again I’d never been told this.

So please are there any alternatives to Metformin that you’d recommend? Thanks so much for you help in advance 😊

[Hols969]

Have you been checked for insulin resistance recently - were you checked prior to going on metformin? I presume you are not diabetic - I know in the UK our Verity experts are worried about metformin being dished out to pcos ladies who are not IR and the long term health consequences of it if you are not IR or diabetic as metformin is primarily a diabetes drug!

[Vonnah in reply to Hols969]

I'm on it and not a diabetic. My endo doc never said why i needed to be on it. Never said i have IR but my mom is a pre diabetic and my dad is a diabetic so not sure if that had something to do with it since it runs in my family.

[Vonnah]

What?!? That is crazy. Doctors just prescribe and don't ever tell us the long term affects- that's how they make money off of us. I get eye pain too but it could be from other issues i have with my eyes since childhood.