Adjusting to metformin

[Klm]

Hi all. I was just wondering if anyone who has been on metformin for pcos had trouble adjusting. I have felt sick to my stomach often and I'm gassy too. The pharmacist and nurse warned me but didn't know it would be this bad. I was on extended release glumetza for five weeks and had to change to metformin not extended release with all three meals due to manufacturing delays. Any advice?

[rypell1985]

I had a lot of trouble adjusting to metformin. I found if I let myself get even a little bit hungry I would want to vomit. My solution was to munch all day on cereal, crackers, goldfish, anything small to always keep something in there. Good luck!

[Klm]

Thanks for the advice! Crackers have been my savior. I'm a third grade teacher, though, so I don't have time/feel bad eating in front of the kids, but I'll do anything to deal with this beast of a drug!

[rypell1985]

I'm a teacher too, I just had to do it though!

[angelaezra]

Hi all. I was just wondering if anyone who has been on metformin for pcos had trouble adjusting. I have felt sick to my stomach often and I'm gassy too. The pharmacist and nurse warned me but didn't know it would be this bad. I was on extended release glumetza for five weeks and had to change to metformin not extended release with all three meals due to manufacturing delays. Any advice?

Yes, Metformin can make you feel pretty nauseated but if it is too much for you, your physician can lower the dose and slowly increase you so that you can tolerate it.

I wish you good luck!

Angela

[Krys]

Hey there,

metformin was terrible to me as well. I
started it last may and I think my body is
almost back to normal. I am up to a full
dose of four pills per day now. My doctor
started me at a half pill and I gradually
worked up to four. I lost 25 pounds in the
process and have become a vegatarian. Meat
really bothers me when I'm on metformin.
I don't really have any advice except that the
crackers will help I also survived eating lots
of different kinds of nuts. It will get easier
it's just not a quick process unfortunately.
Best of luck!!

[Krys]

Also took pepto bismol a lot at first. I carried
a bottle in my purse.

[PA_FA]

I am on 4 pills a day of metformin as well. The problem with crackers (for me) is that since it is made with flour it ends up putting me in the bathroom at some point. Metformin will kind of make your body reject starches, white sugar, flour etc, the things you should not be eating lots of anyhow. I never know when it's going to be a race to the bathroom after eating some of the "forbidden foods". I take 2 in the am and 2 at night before bed. Or you can make it 2 after dinner. It just depends on your schedule. That's what I have found works best for me. Also, you have to start out slow...working your way up to a full dose. If you just start out with a full dose your stomach is going to kill you! Talk to your Doc about working your way up. Good luck!

[Heidi67]

Hi Kim,
I've been on Metformin for 5 years (3X a day) for PCOS and because I'm prediabetic. The meds should be taken with food and you should avoid garlic, quinine (it's in tonic water, some sparkling waters etc) and alcohol (this is from the sheet from the drug book the nurse copied for me) Luckly I had a student teacher when I first went on it as it took about 3 weeks for my body to adjust (quickly learn where all the public bathrooms are). My dad had the same reaction when he was on it (for diabetes). I find that now I only have a reaction if I indulge in carbs, in my case usually cake. It does help with some of the PCOS symptoms ie hair growth. Hope you feel better soon.

[jla018]

I took metformin for two years for PCOS. The first year was hell as it was a never ending battle with my stomach.
The second year, they put me on the extended release pills and that was much better. I was able to tolerate it at lower doses, but then my period stopped again, so they started pushing up the dose as high as they could, which wreaked havoc on my stomach again. I eventually had to go off of it all together.

However, I have been told by many doctors that most patients do much better on the extended release, when it comes to upset stomach and nausea. Have you tried this? I also have IBS, so I think that's why I had so much trouble. I also think eating sugar has some kind of weird reaction with the drug, as I found my symptoms were worse, if I had something too sweet. When I stayed away from refined sugars (as I should anyway) I found I tolerated the drug more.

Anyway, if you haven't already I would ask your doctor about Metformin ER. It is much softer on the digestive system.

PS - The good news is, most people, including myself, lose weight on the drug. I lost 8 pounds in one year! So, that was a bonus at a time, when the drug was not so good to me.

[Klm]

Thank you everyone for the tips! It has gotten quite a bit better this week. I was on Glumetza ER for about 5 weeks before switching. I had to switch because the manufacturer is currently not making Glumetza in 500 mg so I would have to up my dose to 2000 from 1500 because they are only making 1000 mg for some reason right now. I wasn't tolerating that one very well either, so I thought I might as well try to switch. At first I was really regretting the switch, but luckily this week I have an appetite and don't feel awful all the time. It is true though that certain foods make it worse! The gasiness is driving me crazy though now because it hurts! I have been taking Gas-X. I hope this is legal....