Diabetes.Blog.com

1 - I have been on Glucophage 500mg and Glucotrol 5mg for almost 20 years. I am a type 2. Does ones body develope a resistance to a drug after using it that long? My last A1C was 6.5 (Comment this)

2 - Can a person who's taking Metformin hcl 500mg take, metforminer 500mg, or can they take metformin 500 mg tablets. (Comment this)

3 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend some time at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes.   (2) Be sure to tell your family, friends, support group, diabetes nurse educator, and your doctor about this website! (3) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (4) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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4 - Question??? is it possiable that Metformin does not get absorbed in your system and gets passed right through????? (Comment this)

5 - Erin,
The package insert for my metforminER mentions that sometimes it may appear that the metformin gets passed right through, however, what passes through is only the inert ingredients, not the medicine. So don't fear!

Kathy (Comment this)

6 - Bill,

Do you see any side effect so far from metformin? such as sex life.

Jack (Comment this)

7 - Is it safe for a person taking Metformin to get a flu shot? (Comment this)

8 - Hi Trish,
My husband and I have been on Metformin for five years and our endo has given us a flu shot every year and we haven't had any problems from it that I'm aware of. I'm assuming since she's the one prescribing the Metformin she wouldn't give us the flu shots if it was contraindicated. (Comment this)

9 - My doctor recently prescribed Metformin for me to assist in conceiving. Is this a common application for Metformin? Does it increase my chances of becoming pregnant? (Comment this)

10 - I took Metformin for about 3 months. During that time I lost 39 pounds. I then had to change from Metformin to Actos becuase of a side effect. I then gained 15 pounds back within 1 month. I would like to know what is in Metformin that helps people to lose weight and can it be found in any other medication? (Comment this)

11 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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12 - hiya

i have just started metformin tablets to start my periods and it seems to be working but i dont know much abiut them.

Please can someone who is on these help me and chat to me as i have loads of things to ask

Thanks rhiannon (Comment this)

13 - What is the cutoff with EGFR for metformin administration?? (Comment this)

14 - I just started taking glucophage 500mg yesterday, have taken 2 doses, and feel really crappy! How long will I feel like this? Also, my glucose level is not in range, how much time will pass before I see results? My Dr is not easy to talk to. (Comment this)

15 - Yesterday the doctor called in metforim and told me my blood test showed 152 sugar level. Two weeks earlier it was 136. I have had no glucose tolerance tests, just this one bad result. Am I in denial or is this normal? I have gained a lot of weight in a year.
Will the medicine help me to lose weight? Should I insist on a second opinion from another internest, or is this normal? Thank you, Wanda D (Comment this)

16 - Has anybody ever experienced any urological side effects from Metphormin? (Comment this)

17 - I have been taking Glucophage/metformin for over 10 yrs. My niece has recently been placed on Fortamet. I am a NNP and did not recognized the Medication so I researched the med. I found that it is a derivative of Metaformin. Under the side effects, I found out that you should stop taking this med for a few days before and after procedures requiring contrast dye.

To my enlightment now I know what happened after I had pictures taken of my eyes/retinas. They used the contrast dye, I developed N/v, which the previous year I did also. The statement made to me was that everyone gets sick during these procedures.

I felt better as I was checking out, but on the ride home I became very ill, with a severe headache, aching body, and the pain I experience was that my whole circulatory systen had pins/needles within. This last a few hours, but I had a sever headache for several days after. I knew I had a reaction but not knowing why or what actually caused the reaction.

Now for my questions, What actual signs/symptoms has anyone experience? What makes the med and the dye causes the incompatibility?

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Patty (Comment this)

18 -
I have just started metformin and whilst i am not a heavy drinker,i have been told by my doctor not to drink at all,i am only talking a couple of glasses of wine at the week end can anyone help? is this true? (Comment this)

19 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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20 - I have been on metformin for about 4 months. I had the usual diarhea at first but that went away. Last week, however, I began to have severe joint pain. It is in my wrists, neck, hips, knees and ankles. The pain has eased up everywhere but my wrists and now my lower back hurts over my right kidney. I had a colonoscopy a month ago and they said my appendics was inflamed. I don't know if I should notify my doctor or not. I have not had any lower right adominal pain. (Comment this)

21 - I have never seen you answer anyone's comment other than posting your message from your sponser.

Some people DO take metformin or glucophage that are NOT diabetic. Why have a site where you claim you are a Dr. and people come here for medical advice? The only thing you seem to do is post for people to check out the current newsletter or whatever.

Metformin is NOT always used in diabetic patients. If this site is up to help people, then help them by answering their questions instead of directing them to useless information. (Comment this)

22 - Lea:
Your anger is unnecessary, and inappropriate.
1) I do monitor the comments, and occasionally respond (such as this response!).
2) I am a physician.
3) Sure, some people take metformin for indications other than diabetes. But such use is off-label, and not approved by the FDA.
4) If you have a specific question, you have a choice of posting it here for everyone to read, or sending it to the Diabetes Question and Answer section of the Diabetes Monitor website.
Bill
William W. Quick, MD, FACP, FACE (Comment this)

23 - I am a type 2 diabetic and I started out on Glucapage to control my blood sugar. Recently my doctor changed me to Fortamet. I went on line to check the two out and I note that the dosages for each are different, with the Glucapage being the lower. My question, is there any chemical difference between the two?

Roy Harvison (Comment this)

24 - I just was diagnosed with diabetes, and just started Metformin 1000mg. My questions is, is it suppose to work immediatly, or does it take a week or so for the med to regulate your sugar? (Comment this)

25 - I've just started taking Metformin this week, and got very little "instruction" from my doctor. Therefore, I've been reading all of the information that came with the drug, and it probably has me quite paranoid about the Lactic Acidosis symptoms. Currently, I've been feeling OK, save the nausea and what I call "severe" diarreah that started yesterday. (Well, it's severe to me!)

Is this GI discomfort normal (especially the nausea)? I've been taking my dose (500 mg once a day) with food each time, but suddenly, I don't feel well. (Comment this)

26 - Dear Trish
The nausea and diarrhea are "normal" side effects of metformin, and THEY GET BETTER with time, thank goodness! If you are crawling on the floor ill, ask your doc if you can start off slower - 250mg/day then increase to a full pill. That's what worked for me when I restarted it. The lactic acidosis is scarey, but I don't think it happens to often.
Good Luck! (Comment this)

27 - Thanks so much... I travel a lot, so I'm often left to my own devices in the event of illness. Hopefully, it will be better soon! (Comment this)

28 - I just started glucophage yesterday and my "stomach" is upset by it and the lactic acidosis part is scary but rare at least. It helps to read about other people taking the same medication. I read the package insert and online info and know that even if a small percentage of users get a side effect it probably has to be listed. Still, it's a bit scary. (Comment this)

29 - p.s. the thing I always wonder about? How much is enough to bother calling your Doctor? It's winter and it's cold out, so I'm colder. How much stomach "discomfort" is "normal" for the medication and what is a reportable amount? (Comment this)

30 - Suzy
I think if the "discomfort" (don't you love that word???)is incapacitating you then call your doc. Or if you have tried the medicine for say a week or so and the side effects aren't getting better. My doctor has email and I have used that to let him know what's up, without feeling like I was bugging him too badly. Hope this helps. (Comment this)

31 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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32 - I have taking glucophage and metformin for 13 years. My question is, am I able to use viagra or cialis? Thank-You (Comment this)

33 - Taking Metform XR dosage of 1000 mg x2 daily. I am scheduled for a non tread mill stress test on 28 Dec. Should I call my Dr. to ask if I should stop this med. prior to this test>? (Comment this)

34 - is 2000mg of metformin too much to take? (Comment this)

35 - TOM & JUDY
Good questions for your docs!
Virginia- I believe the maximum daily dose of metformin is 2000 mg. (Comment this)

36 - To Patty,
What makes the med and the dye causes the incompatibility?


I was told the the combination of the dye and Metformin puts a great stress on your kidneys.

Your kidneys are trying to get rid of the dye and the metformin at the same time.

I was told to stop the Metformin 2 days before any dye and stay off Metformin for 2 days after.

Be sure and ask your doctor.

Angela in Iowa

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37 - I have been on Metformin for almost 2 years for diabetis 2.
When I was diagnosed my sigar level was 38 (European measurement) Now for some reason I have gone rioght down, and even go too low. At any rate I am normally now between 4.5 (low for me) and 8.6 ( high for me)
So have I been cured or what? (Comment this)

38 - I have been on Metformin for tha past year dose 500 MG and my last blood test that measures my last three months was 5.7 now my Dr has increased to 1000MG.

Does Chromium help withtype II if so what kind how muck??

Merry Christmas (Comment this)

39 - sir,
last week my father aged 66 yrs was admitted in the hosp. for the complaints of loss of appetite, and uneasiness. he has been a heart patient since 1981 and later underwent bypass in 1997. he is diabetic since 1985. he has been on antidiabetics and on insulin started in 1998. last week under hospitalization all tests and echo were normal. doctors here discontinued metformin which he was taking 850 mg twice daily, pioglitazone 15 mg twice daily disprin 75 mg twice daily. insulin 10 units two times. it has been told by doctors here that disprin causes this loss of appetite, later they stopped metformin and started pioglitazone 154 mg and metformin 500 mg combination and insulin actrapid 10 units two times daily. he is not 100% yet. though he has been discharged from hosp. kindly advise. pl. clarify whether metformin and disprin have any role in loss of appetite? thanks. (Comment this)

40 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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41 - I have been reading all these comments from people about their health problems and all the "discomfort" they have to go through being on medication. I came to this site to see what Metformin was and what other people were experiencing with this drug as I have a young cousin who was just put on it to reduce her insulin levels. Her doc says she has to be on this for the rest of her life. (bad idea!!) THere is another, much safer and healthier way people!!I am going to help her come off the drug as I don''t think drugs are the answer. There are people out there who have already come off their meds by putting good nutrition into their bodies. Taking drugs is not the way to live. You are just covering the symtoms. Why not get rid of it altogether. (Comment this)

42 - For amybody who wants to know more about an alternative to these drugs, you are more then welcome to contact me on shalaudan@yahoo.com.au.
Dr Bill, I realise that you have had extensive medical training but did your training include nutrition? In the US, only 30% of med schools have core lessons in nutrition! WIth good nurtition we can prevent our body falling apart - and we can also help repair it without drugs. (Comment this)

43 - Sharon:
Your comments on nutrition are appreciated, but please be aware that diabetes is a progressive disorder, and although meal planning and exercise may control the disorder early on, gradually the defects in the pancreas WILL worsen and medications WILL be needed.

Any further discussions about the merits of nutrition should be over at another discussion forum, at Meals, eating and nutrition. Thanks. (Comment this)

44 - Sharon, I wish your young cousin the best as she starts her journey dealing with diabetes. I, too, was convinced I would never need drugs to deal with this disease. When I was diagnosed in 1998, I had an A1c of 9.3. The doctor handed me samples of Glipizide and said to fcome back in a month. I went home, did some thinking, a little reading, acknowledged that my life style had surely led to this condition, and went back to my regular Nurse Practitioner. I gave her the unopened samples of Glipizide and said I was going to lick this myself with diet and exercise. I had a good dietician, a supportive family, and found good reference sources on diabetes. When I had my annual checkup a year later, my A1c was 5.2! As the years went on the A1c crept up a little but stayed under 6.0. My life style was generally healthy--probalby more stress than good for a person--but eating well, exercising regularly.

In spite of this, two and half years ago, my Accuchek readings started going up. I took this as reason to step up my health maintenance program. In spite of all I did, when I had my checkup 2 years ago my A1c had gone up to 7.8. I continued to refuse meds for another year and tried to bring my sugars down like I had in the past. Increased blood pressure, increased neuropathy, trace of microalbumin, and the encouragement of an excellent CDE convinced me to try oral meds. I used Actos for one year, Metformin XL since past summer. I no longer use Actos and minimal dose of Metformin since starting on Byetta in November.

It is good to see normal blood sugar readings again but I could no longer do it without drugs. Yes, Sharon, you are right. No one wants to live a life on drugs and I pray your cousin is successful in your endeaver. We all know that anything she does to eat well and live well will ultimately benefit her tremendously but do not consider her a failure if she eventually needs drugs. (Comment this)

45 - Hello- I was recently put on Metformin. I am wondering if this medicine does help in getting pregnant? Also, how long will it take to begin working on me?
Thanks. (Comment this)

46 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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47 - I am diabetic and have taken Glucophage for years very successfully. Now I hear that an extended release formula is available. Should I change or is this not advisable? Your advice would be most welcome
With many thanks (Comment this)

48 - i'd just like to know if glucophage can affect liver function. my mom has been taking glucophage which was prescribed to her. anothe doctor has discontinued it for the moment because she became sick and her energy level was low. prior to that, she has been taking it for about 4 years now. (Comment this)

49 - I am confused. I have been taking glucophage since November 2005. I have type 2 diabetes (non insulin) and hepC. The insert on the medication indicated it could cause liver damage. My doctor has said my hepC is - at the stage at least - mild. and so the glucophage is no problem. But I looked at the Bristol Meyers Squibb website and they say DO NOT TAKE it if you have LIVER PROBLEMS. So what to do? anyone have a similar situation (Comment this)

50 - Chuck G:
Someone asked the same question previously, and I posted a reply at the Diabetes Monitor, at

does this mean every person with diabetes cannot take metformin?

Hope this helps! (Comment this)