Taking metaphormin

[Jess02041]

Hello, I started taking metaphormin and it makes me feel really ill and I Was taking it on and off which I know it doesn’t help. But I can’t help it. The gyno has said to just reduce and go to one every other day but the thought of the side effects put me off. So I was wondering what advice you guys could give.

[Purpleproject]

Hi, you need to take it regularly to help your body get used to it, which will help your side effects. Always take with food, tiestds the end if your meal. If you're only taking 1 a day/every other day, then take it with your evening meal as then you'll be asleep for most the side effects. I struggled initially with 1 a day and each time I increased it, but it always settles down after a few days I'm on 4 a day now, 2 with breakfast, 2 with tea and its fine. I go to the toilet more than I used to and can get a bloated stomach when I eat high carb/sugar but you shouldn't really eat that way on it anyway.

What effect was it having on you? Upset stomach/nausea?

[Jess02041 in reply to Purpleproject]

Upset tummy and bad cramping even when I’m not having my period. Feeling heavily tired all time and just depressed a lot more. Also I’m not very good at taking medication especially since I don’t have a set routine everyday. The whole dieting situation I’m a fussy eater so carbs is one of the main consisting factors I eat. Also I’m an emotional eater which doesn’t help. So that’s why I’m struggling being on it.

[Hols969]

That is one of the side effects that it makes you ill and upset tum. There is a slow release version which is more gentle on the tum. Were you tested for insulin resistance prior to being put on metformin as it is primarily a diabetes drug. I can help if you are IR with pcos but not all pcos ladies are IR

[Jess02041 in reply to Hols969]

May I ask what IR is? I’ve never heard of that before and I assume so because I had so many blood tests before I got on it

[Hols969 in reply to Jess02041]

Insulin resistance - can be an early sign of diabetes too, pcos ladies can be IR

[Jess02041 in reply to Hols969]

Oh i don’t know to be honest. My family does have history with diabetes but I don’t think I do have insulin resistance but I don’t know.

[Hols969 in reply to Jess02041]

You should have a glucose tolerance test - if your family does have a history with diabetes then you may we’ll be ir

[walfoh]

My daughter takes Metformin and it has helped her a lot. However she has to remember to take it in the middle of her meal or she gets a lot of cramps and has to rush to the loo! Also as you said yourself you have to take it consistently. It’s really helped her skin and her weight. I can only talk for my daughter’s experience but when she varied the dose early on (because she hated the side effects) it seemed to made the side effects worse and only when she stuck to a consistent dose did it settle down.