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 OH Member Since: 01/23/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 4:38 pm Ok, so I started the metformin 1,000 mg tablets 2 times a day. I have taken one last night with dinner and one this morning with breakfast. I have taken them before the meals like instructed and after just 2 doses, the diarrhea has started this afternoon. My stomach was turning and churning and I feel half nauseated. I called the doctor's office and spoke with the nurse before starting this med about decreasing the dose to 500 mg tablets twice a day because I felt that for no higher than my blood sugars have been running that this was over kill. He told his nurse who called me back that he wanted me on the 1,000 mg tablets 2 times a day because if he put me on the 500 and it didn't work, he would have to go up to the 1,000 mg before he could say that this medication did not work to meet the criteria that apparently the insurance thinks I have to meet which is being on medication for diabetes and uncontrolled on this medication. He said other wise it would be lying to say that the medication is ineffective at 500 mg 2 times a day. I am looking for thoughts from anyone on if this is normal to have the side effects after only 2 doses and your thoughts on the above. I am planning on appealing my denial because my Benefits department has suggested that I appeal because they are also unable to find this Medication criteria anywhere spelled out and the fact that it says I have to have either a BMI of > 40 (mine is 46.1) or a BMI of 35 to 40 with 2 comorbidities. Based on this, I should not even have to have the comorbidities to be covered so therefore this medication stipulation that is being pulled out of thin air should not be a factor. I am sitting down tomorrow to right my appeal letter and make copies of my supporting evidence as to why it should be overturned and covered regardless of whether I am on the medication or not. Meanwhile, I have been placed on this metformin and a blood pressure medication to hopefully be prepared to meet the criteria if my appeal gets denied. Any words of wisdom is welcome. I learn from your experiences!!!! Thanks! I |
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 Duodenal Switch (01/24/11) Member Since: 06/04/10[Latest Posts] | |
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OH Member Since: 01/23/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 6:26 pm I already do eat yogurt on a daily basis and I am still having these issues. Also have felt really tired today for no reason, dizzy and lightheaded, and my back really hurts around my kidney area and down to my lower back. This has all started since I have started on the Metformin. Not sure if it is related to the metformin or not. I have kept a close eye on my blood sugars, testing them before I eat meals and 2 hours after meals and they have not been too low. They are running about the same as they usually do. I was really concerned about them dropping on this high of a dose because when I was placed on glyberide for my gestational diabetes 8 years ago, my sugars would drastically drop to 20 to 40 range about 2 hours after I took the medication so I was afraid that this would do the same. Thanks for your response to my posting. |
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 VA Member Since: 05/16/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 6:02 pm metformin is usually well tolerated and it didn't bother me, BUT my father in law on the other hand was violently ill on it. It happened right away. If you are having the same reaction as he is, then it's not going to get better. (Because he was so sick on metformin, they put him on insulin) but you are right, if you have a bmi of 46 I don't know why they making you go through all this. I don't know what insurance you are on, but this doesn't sound like anything I've come across. I would speak to your insurance and make sure they have the correct BMI in their records.  HW: 218, SW: 204, CW: 150 GW: 112 |
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OH Member Since: 01/23/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 6:30 pm When you say he was violently ill, what symptoms did he have. I posted in response to Liz that I have also noticed since I started this med that I have had dizziness and lightheadedness, tired feeling with lack of energy, and my back has hurt around my kidney area and down to my lower back. Are these similar things your father in law experienced??? I have United Healthcare Insurance and supposedly this criteria about the uncontrolled on medication thing is something that is stipulated by my employer before it will be covered by the insurance however, myself and the benefits department are unable to find anything that says such a thing is a requirement. Thanks for posting! |
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VA Member Since: 05/16/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 6:39 pm Well I think it's a disgrace that your employer is making you go through this especially when the meds are making you so sick. I'll have to ask my f-i-l exactly what his symptoms were again. I do remember him sitting very, very quietly and also going to lie down on his bed. I think they tried dropping his dose but it didn't help. It was almost like he was having an allergic reaction to it, but I'll ask him and get back to you on the specifics. I do know it didn't improve and so they were forced to put him on insulin. (It must have been pretty bad because he's a bit of a good ole boy from the south and they don't complain about illness much at all) HW: 218, SW: 204, CW: 150 GW: 112 |
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OH Member Since: 01/23/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 7:01 pm Thanks and let me know what you find out from your father in law. I'm curious and if you would ask him what dose he was on. Thanks again! |
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VA Member Since: 05/16/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 1:58 pm He was on 1000 a day. Then they switched him to e.r. This went on for weeks and he couldn't keep food down. Said it was intense. He didn't remember pain beyond his stomach huting from all the heaving. Very lethargic also. That was when they put him on the insulin and he was fine after that. HW: 218, SW: 204, CW: 150 GW: 112 |
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OH Member Since: 01/23/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 4:25 pm Thanks for getting back to me. Sounds like he was miserable. If this continues I'm going to call Dr. about it because I'm worried about my kidney or liver because of the pain in my back and stomach. |
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 Colorado Springs, CO Member Since: 05/28/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 6:07 pm When I was on the regular Metforim it tore me apart. My doctor switched me to a higher dose but on an extended release med, it was much more tolerable then.  "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" ~ Benjamin Franklin  |
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 Bastrop, TX Member Since: 05/12/06 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 6:34 pm Last Edit: 2/7/12 6:40 pm Diarrhea and abdominal cramping are well documented side effects of metformin. They go away after a while. http://diabetes.emedtv.com/metformin/metformin-side-effects. html
Metformin and metformin ER have been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, with many people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects occurring in a group of people taking the drug are always documented and compared to side effects that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common metformin side effects include:
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 Member Since: 02/01/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 7:01 pm I started on lower doses (500mg 2/day) and then worked up to 1000 2/day. I had terrible diaherra which was made worse by sugar and sugar alcohols. I couldn't handle eating sugar of any type and it did subside over time. My doctor warned me about this being a main side effect. I didn't take for diabetes but for PCOS. Good luck with everything! |
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 TX Member Since: 10/04/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 7:07 pm I agree with Sharyn's note above. I went off Metformin for 3 months after my surgery but have had to go back on it because the surgery has not addressed my elevated blood sugar level. The good news is I'm on a lower dose this time around and have not experienced the side effects you mention however I did have the side effects for a long time and periodically through the years prior to my surgery. I wish you the best of luck with your appeal. I don't think you should have been denied in the first place! |
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 Castle Rock, CO Member Since: 07/05/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/7/12 7:57 pm I'm on 1500mg per day and haven't had any side effects at all. I always take it with food. Sorry it is making you feel so bad - I have felt tons better since I've been on it. RNY July 2004 |
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Duodenal Switch (01/24/11) Member Since: 06/04/10[Latest Posts] | |
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 West Monroe, LA Member Since: 02/26/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 8:16 am The Glucophage/Metformin was so hard on my stomach that the doctor put me on Welchol along with it to control the diarrhea. I have also gone to the time release coated form of Glucophage, "which for the life of me right now I cant remember the name" and I still have stomach problems, but its usually only when I have had a fatty diet. Theresa S 254/C168/G150 |
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 TX Member Since: 10/04/10 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 8:57 am Been there, done that. It doesn't get better. As someone has said, it's a well known side effect of metformin. If it doesn't agree with you, it's just not going to work. I took low dose, extended release and then my doc tried a combo med (Janumet). I couldn't tolerate anything with metformin. There are LOTS of other options out there. What ended up working for me was actos and byetta - with the added benefit that the byetta suppressed my appetite. My numbers immediately improved with no nasty side effects. |
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Duodenal Switch (01/24/11) Member Since: 06/04/10[Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 9:15 am Worleybird, don't know what surgery you are having but if it is the RNY or DS, you can NOT use the extended release as it just won't work. Those with the lapband or vsg can still take the extended release. The reason I suggested glugophage over metformin is that while the active ingredient is the same by law, the fillers they use do not have to be the same. And it may be one of the generic fillers that is causing your issues. Liz |
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 Cincinnati, OH Member Since: 07/08/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 10:16 am Ugh. It sucks, and for me at least, it never went away. I spent almost 10 years on Metformin, and two other versions of it, Glucophage and Glumetza, for PCOS. Constant diarrhea. Coupled with IBS (of course, the diarrhea kind) it was a miserable decade. I was so happy when my endocrinologist told me 3 months before my surgery that I could stop taking it. It had never done anything to help the PCOS, so it wasn't like I was going to have issues coming off of it. The diarrhea lessened, but b/c of the IBS of course I still had it most of the time. However, since surgery, after the first 3 weeks I haven't had diarrhea but one time. In fact, I experienced my first bout of constipation ever. I know how awful this sounds, but when I would be on the toilet for the 5th time by noon, I would beg and plead to just be constipated...needless to say, it was an equally painful and horrible experience! I hope that it subsides for you...I took probiotics, acidophilous, yogurt, kefir, etc...never had any of them work. It's the nature of the drug I think. Gina :~) |
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 DE Member Since: 11/15/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 3:14 pm Hey there, yes it is normal. At least for me it was. I spent a year and a half having diarrhea every single day, and it got to the point where I was miserable. I finally asked my doctor what to do, and since I was so close to surgery, she said let's slowly take you off and see what diet and exercise will do on its own. So far so good, and I hope to keep it that way! I can do this...I know I can. It's just going to take time & patience. "Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." |
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