PLEASE PLEASE help me re: Metformin and the side effects!

[tigger326]

The Met has actually helped me have regular cycles but the chronic diarrhea is unbearable. I haven't taken it for 2 days and I haven't had one episode. When I do take it, I spend my days in the bathroom.

I am on the extended release version and have been taking 1500 mg. for months. I just can't take the issues anymore.

Do I have an alternative? I had been taking it at night.

Jennifer

[tigger326]

Forgot to ask...will cinnamon give em the same results??????

Thanks!

Jennifer

[mdub]

Cinnamon can produce the same results as met for some people. Others definitely need the met or a dose of the two.

Have you tried breaking up your tablets and not taking all 1500 mg at night? I know it's an extended release kind but it might help side effects if you take half in the morning, half at night or one at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, maybe 1500 mg is too much for you? You could talk to your doctor about going down to 1000 mg and see if that makes a difference.

Hope this helps some!!

[pjs3902]

before you go rambling this to your doc (because i have) there's a difference between diarrhea (which is having about 7 episodes a day) and loose stools (having a few episodes a day)

it can be better or worse depending on when you take the meds. a big thing is to increase your fiber and fluids while on met. did you try that?

[FrumWithPCOS]

I just posted something similar on the fertility board - don't quit cold turkey! Why not try to move your dose down to 1000 and see what happens? Splitting up your dose is also supposed to work (as one of the other posters mentioned).

I just dropped down a dose and I feel completely fine! It's been two days, and I'm like a new person...

Feel free to talk with your doctor. My doc said that so many people just stop taking their meds and are nervous to tell her...so they just don't. And she says, if she just knew that they had those side effects, she could either fix it or help them adjust to it (i.e. reduce their dosage)...

Met can be a pain, though. Good luck! I hope your body starts to get used to it soon...

[tigger326]

Not to be graphic but it is DEFINITELY diarrhea.

I would try talking to my endo but I am trying to find a new one because my old one is so busy. I had to cancel my appt. for tomorrow and they can't even reschedule me until Nov. or Dec.

Jennifer

[slightly]

I would echo everyone here, everyone tolerates a different dose, maybe try going back down to 1000, or spacing out the doses. Also, is there anything in your diet you can change? I tend to be fine on Met as long as I eat low/good carb. I notice that I get the bathroom issues if I eat "bad" and sometimes after drinking alcohol.

[nutmegc]

I haven't been back on Met for very long (my doctor started me last month), but have been experiencing the same horrendous problem. I called my doctor and she told me to go down to just 500 mg a day until I get used to it, and then increase my dosage to 1000 mg. I would suggest calling your doctor to see about the possibility of decreasing your dose while you get used to it.

I also really watch what I eat (have been on South Beach for six weeks and have dropped 31 pounds) to see if there are certain things that have an impact on the diarrhea, too. I've noticed that there are certain foods that seem to make it worse -- mostly raw vegetables. I haven't completely cut these from my diet because they're a huge staple for me, but have tried to work around them and increase my fiber. It seems to have helped me.

[tigger326]

Thanks everyone. I am going to try the cinnamon for a few weeks. Since stopping the Met. I have felt better than I have in weeks. I know it is a huge help in regulating my cycles so I am taking 500 mg a day with the cinnamon. If I still have cycles, I willbe happy.


Jennifer

[froggy_74]

I would agree with Frum in that all the research i've done says to NEVER just stop taking the met, you need to ease off of it. Maybe back down to 1000mg, then to 500 mg. I'd do this over a months time. I would also make your dr. give you a fasting IR test while you're on the 1000 mg to make sure that's the right dose for you. I have heard wonderful things about the cinnamon but I couldn't stand the clouds of cinnamon that would come out of my mouth if I burped. lol (plus I got really toasted at my sisters wedding and let's just say, cinnamon burns like he*l when it comes back up :oops: ) Good luck in your journey and you are definitly doing the right thing by figuring out what works best for you.