Metformin

polyhymnia23

I'm on day four of metformin and I think I am starting to feel the side effects. Doc put me on 1500mg per day without telling me to take my time getting to the full dose. Thanks to various message boards, I decided to take one per day for a few days and then just yesterday I started adding a second dose. I'm incredibly nauseous. I drink fresh juice every morning, and was able to get it down but UGH, nausea sucks. 

 Does anyone have any tips or tricks for dealing with side effects? 

Thanks! 

Mystjava

take your dosage at bedtime or split it up over (half in am, half with dinner?) the day?

 

jenheartsmonsters

Are you actually throwing up, or just feeling very queasy? Either way, you might talk to a doctor about a prescription for the generic version of Zofran. It reduces the activity of the vagus nerve, which keeps the vomit-center of your brain (in the medulla oblongata) from going off. It's sometimes prescribed for women with really intense morning sickness, and I took it to counteract the side effects from another medication I was taking a few years ago. The only problem is that it can give you headaches and serious constipation.

There are nausea bands that use acupressure to ease nausea. They are marketed to people who get sea- or motion- sickness and also to pregnant women, but they work for any kind of nausea. Ginger and peppermint are herbal ways to ease nausea. I used to chew ginger gum. Also, if you can lie down, lying on your left side might help. I think that has something to do with blood circulation, but I'm not totally sure of the science behind it.

Hope at least one of these can help! Good luck!
 

polyhymnia23

Thank you. Just nausea, but sometimes that is worse!! 

mwagner25

Try taking it with a meal, at dinner maybe if you are not a big breakfast person.
Zofran is good but it's another drug for side effects of the first drug... I would try changing up when you take it first.... then if you still have symptoms consider an antiemetic like zofran.

polyhymnia23

Thank you!!

thiswillbe

Every time I've started Met (which has been quite a few times, as I've been off and on it since 2005), I've started it by taking it at night *right* before I go to bed. I find that way I can sleep through the worst of the side effects.

This last round I asked for the ER (extended release) version, and it is sooooo much easier to tolerate. The "back end" issues (eww) are still there, of course, but I haven't really had any nausea when starting ER. ER is definitely less frequently prescribed, but I think some of that may have to do with docs not knowing it's available. There are also some differences in its efficacy, I think (based on a vague memory of reading something), but for me at the moment it's between taking the ER version (which I can tolerate) and not taking Met at all (since I'm not so heavy into ttc right now [that is, cycling] that the side effects would be worth it).

GL. The crappy side effects will subside soon!

polyhymnia23

I appreciate it. I have heard of the ER version, but have also heard that it isn't "as" effective. I have read what food to avoid and to take it with a meal, so I'm going to try that. I guess if the only side effect, thus far, is nausea, I can handle it.

polyhymnia23

That is great to know. The Juice I make only has an orange in it- otherwise, it was veggies. I only eat 100% whole wheat and have been much better about potatoes. Thank you for the advice, I appreciate the tips! 

I've never been diagnosed with insulin resistance, but it was the next step in our journey as a just in case kind of thing. Hopefully I will be able to kick the weight even faster and get to a healthy weight before I conceive. Thanks again! 

YanasMummy

I know you've gotten a lot if tips but I take metformin as well and experienced the same problems. I tried so many different attempts and it all failed. But when I'm half way finished with my food I'll take it and then finish my meal. I'm pregnant now and it still helps.

polyhymnia23

YanasMummy:

I know you've gotten a lot if tips but I take metformin as well and experienced the same problems. I tried so many different attempts and it all failed. But when I'm half way finished with my food I'll take it and then finish my meal. I'm pregnant now and it still helps.

This has seemed to work for me, too. I'm thankful I have a script for Promethazane for nausea until I get used to it.  

polyhymnia23

Thank you very much! I will definitely focus more on the balance of my meals. I don't eat meat and only very little dairy, so I quickly learned all of the various sorts of protein out there. 

polyhymnia23

Thank you, Lucubratrix!