metformin makes me sick - how about Glumetza?

I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
meanls, all with the same results.

My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more
expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to
take the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I
certainly don't need.

Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't
tolerate generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side
effect profile?

Thanks again

Louise

x-no-archive: yes

louisesmith wrote:
> I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
> taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
> too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
> 500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
> meanls, all with the same results.
>
> My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
> effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more
> expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.
>
> Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to
> take the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I
> certainly don't need.
>
> Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't
> tolerate generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side
> effect profile?


AFAIK, the side effects you describe are the same on brand name
formulations, and are due to the action of the drug, not the binders.
If you're getting dizzy, in addition to the other symptoms, it may just
be the wrong drug for you, and he may not have adequately evaluated your
endocrine status before giving you a psychotropic drug.

I tried to work past the fatigue and other symptoms of metformin on a
few occasions, with disastrous results. Your body is telling you
something important, and you should listen.

Susan

"louisesmith" <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:6fu1bbFdd5p0U1@mid.individual.net...
>I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm taking
>is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and too
>dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to 500mg
>bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after meanls,
>all with the same results.
>
> My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
> effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more expensive,
> but if it worked, it would be worth it.
>
> Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to take
> the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I certainly don't
> need.
>
> Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't tolerate
> generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side effect
> profile?
>
> Thanks again
>
> Louise

Metformin makes me sick too. So does most other diabetic meds I have tried.
The only diabetic med that didn't make me sick was Starlix. I am on MDI
insulin and love it. No side effects and I can eat a normal diet.

On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:21:03 -0400, louisesmith
<louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
>effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more
>expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

Have you tried extended release metformin?

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.4% BMI 25

louisesmith <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:
: I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
: taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
: too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
: 500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
: meanls, all with the same results.

: My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
: effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more
: expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

: Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to
: take the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I
: certainly don't need.

: Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't
: tolerate generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side
: effect profile?

: Thanks again

: Louise

I don't know if it would help you, but when I had such bad trots that I
couldn't leave the house unless I w on Immodium, switch to the extended
release form solved my problem. I no longer carry an immodium tablet in
every pocket. It might be worth a try, but there's no guarantee.

Wendy

"louisesmith" <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:6fu1bbFdd5p0U1@mid.individual.net...
>I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm taking
>is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and too
>dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to 500mg
>bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after meanls,
>all with the same results.
>
> My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
> effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more expensive,
> but if it worked, it would be worth it.
>
> Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to take
> the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I certainly don't
> need.
>
> Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't tolerate
> generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side effect
> profile?

Sorry. Never heard of that med.

W. Baker wrote:
> louisesmith <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> : I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
> : taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
> : too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
> : 500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
> : meanls, all with the same results.
>
> : My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
> : effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more
> : expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.
>
> : Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to
> : take the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I
> : certainly don't need.
>
> : Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't
> : tolerate generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side
> : effect profile?
>
> : Thanks again
>
> : Louise
>
> I don't know if it would help you, but when I had such bad trots that I
> couldn't leave the house unless I w on Immodium, switch to the extended
> release form solved my problem. I no longer carry an immodium tablet in
> every pocket. It might be worth a try, but there's no guarantee.
>
> Wendy
>
I think I should clarify. After the first week, my bowels
were ok and I don't have bouts of diahrrea. BUT, I have
overwhelming nausea lasting most of the day (when I take it
in the morning) and then again in the evening with dinner.

The nausea doesn't seem to be subsiding regardless of when I
take it. I also feel a little dizzy but I could live with
that, can't live with this degree of nausea.

Louise

They have me on 2000 mg of Metformin ER...I can take 4 -500's with hardly
any problems with nausea..but when they put me on the 2-1000 mg, my mouth
would water and my stomach would cramp. My Dr put me back on 4-500mg...and
every thing is fine again...except for stomach pain in the morning but that
is from my hiatal hernia.


"louise" <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:6futb6Fd4ajvU1@mid.individual.net...
> W. Baker wrote:
>> louisesmith <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> : I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm :
>> taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
>> : too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
>> : 500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
>> : meanls, all with the same results.
>>
>> : My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the
>> side : effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more :
>> expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.
>>
>> : Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to :
>> take the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I :
>> certainly don't need.
>>
>> : Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't :
>> tolerate generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side :
>> effect profile?
>>
>> : Thanks again
>>
>> : Louise
>>
>> I don't know if it would help you, but when I had such bad trots that I
>> couldn't leave the house unless I w on Immodium, switch to the extended
>> release form solved my problem. I no longer carry an immodium tablet in
>> every pocket. It might be worth a try, but there's no guarantee. Wendy
>>
> I think I should clarify. After the first week, my bowels were ok and I
> don't have bouts of diahrrea. BUT, I have overwhelming nausea lasting
> most of the day (when I take it in the morning) and then again in the
> evening with dinner.
>
> The nausea doesn't seem to be subsiding regardless of when I take it. I
> also feel a little dizzy but I could live with that, can't live with this
> degree of nausea.
>
> Louise

louise <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:
: W. Baker wrote:
: > louisesmith <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:
: > : I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
: > : taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
: > : too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
: > : 500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
: > : meanls, all with the same results.
: >
: > : My doctor suggested trying Glumetza. He said people often find the side
: > : effects less severe and more tolerable. Of course this is more
: > : expensive, but if it worked, it would be worth it.
: >
: > : Some drug like this, metformin, Glumetza, whatever, would allow me to
: > : take the psych meds I need without gaining more weight, which I
: > : certainly don't need.
: >
: > : Has anyone had positive results with Glumetza when they couldn't
: > : tolerate generic metformin? Have you experienced a more benign side
: > : effect profile?
: >
: > : Thanks again
: >
: > : Louise
: >
: > I don't know if it would help you, but when I had such bad trots that I
: > couldn't leave the house unless I w on Immodium, switch to the extended
: > release form solved my problem. I no longer carry an immodium tablet in
: > every pocket. It might be worth a try, but there's no guarantee.
: >
: > Wendy
: >
: I think I should clarify. After the first week, my bowels
: were ok and I don't have bouts of diahrrea. BUT, I have
: overwhelming nausea lasting most of the day (when I take it
: in the morning) and then again in the evening with dinner.

: The nausea doesn't seem to be subsiding regardless of when I
: take it. I also feel a little dizzy but I could live with
: that, can't live with this degree of nausea.

: Louise

It's posible that the extended release, by spreading the drug out in
smaller amounts over the day might ameliorate ou rnaauseaa, which I found
was closly akin to the diahrrea. It wouldn't hurt to try. I take 1000mgs
in the am, with breakfast and 1000mgs withdinner.

Wendy

In article <6fu1bbFdd5p0U1@mid.individual.net>,
louisesmith <louise@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
> taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
> too dizzy. I have slowly titrated up to 1500mg and then again, down to
> 500mg bid. I've taken it before meals, during meals and directly after
> meanls, all with the same results.

I suggest trying the extended release. That gets rid of the side
effects for some people.

PP, T2

On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:21:03 -0400, louisesmith wrote:

> I have concluded, without question, that the generic metformin I'm
> taking is making me too sick to my stomach, realy bad taste in mouth and
> too dizzy.

I've been taking metformin in one form or another for about 15 years now,
and I've tried everything to deal with the nausea and sour stomach. It
also caused serious problems with nighttime reflux.

Doc finally put me on extended formula metformin pills, half in the
morning and half in the evening, with a morning and evening Prilosec
tablet, each just before a meal. That has worked. It appears to have
also helped with the side effects of Byetta injections, at least after my
body adapted to them, which took a couple of weeks.

I also started sleeping on an 8 inch high foam wedge pillow at night to
elevate my head. I still get occasional reflux, but nothing near as bad
as it had been.

Kooky