Is this a metformin side effect?

pblge · May 2014

Hi Ladies,

I know a few other people on here take Metformin, and I got really helpful advice from you when I started! Avoiding too many carbs and keeping the immodium around when I was adjusting to it were the biggest ones. I definitely have struggled, especially when I finally upped to 1500 mg per day. My stomach really has not enjoyed Metformin, and I also have had frequent backaches, which apparently can be another side effect.

What I'm trying to figure out is why I've had ZERO energy for the past several weeks. I sleep pretty well, I eat well, I've been exercising, avoiding alcohol, and etc. But I just feel so sluggish all the time. I did cut back on my caffeine, but it's been weeks now, so it seems like I should be adjusted, and even after my morning black tea I still just want to crawl back into bed.

Does anyone know if this could be the Metformin? Or should I worry that I've developed some other disease in the midst of all this?

TIA!

ETA: Side effect, not symptom. English is hard. :-/

sweetpotato123 · May 2014

I found when I upped my Met it threw me all out of whack. Because it screws with your blood sugar- even if you're not insulin resistant- I found myself super tired until my body leveled out and got used to it (on top of the other fun side effects you are experiencing). Sometimes you just never adjust well to it. I'd let your doctor know and they may let you come back down to 1000. I could never go higher than that due to the side effects. Hope you feel better soon!!

poohniki · May 2014

I've read that Metformin can cause a deficiency in B12. I was also prescribed Folgard at the same time (which contains b12 and folic acid). You may want to see about taking b12 sublingual.

pblge · May 2014

@sweetpotato123 - That sounds about right! I don't have any diabetes indicators, and the PCOS dx is tentative, too. I haven't talked to my new RE about this, and maybe I should, especially if it's the reason I have no energy!

@Hoping4LO - It's extended release, and I take it all at night. I've been too worried to try splitting it up during the daytime. Do you feel sleepy if you take 500-750 in the morning?

@poohniki - hmmmm, interesting. I'm nearly vegan, so B12 is something I have to worry about. The prenatal I take contains 500% RDA. How much is in the Folgard?

Thanks, ladies!

poohniki · May 2014

I looked it up. 1mg which is 1000 mcg (RDA recommends 6 mcg)

I am taking 2 of the extended release metformin and I am taking 1 2500mcg sublingual, the folgard, and my prenatal has another 12 mcg.. and my B12 is never high. I'm are you can skip the folgard- I just also need extra folic acid- so it helps.

katib77 · May 2014

Have you had your thyroid levels checked recently? They can make you real tired if they're out of whack, and effect ttc. Otherwise, no the four years I've been on Met I had times of being exhausted but never weeks at a time and can contribute it to other factors.

pblge · May 2014

@poohniki - Thanks! I'll ask my RE about that.

@katib77 - TSH was 2.57(ish) as of two weeks ago, which my RE was happy about. So I don't think it's that, although it does seem like fatigue isn't a common Metformin side effect. The timing would make sense, though. :-/

SKLH · May 2014

I have been on metformin for so long and just realized maybe this is why I'm always exahusted lol Thanks for the thread! lol

Is this a metformin side effect?

Re: Is this a metformin side effect?

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