Anyone have experience with Metformin?

Posted by priscillat @priscillat, Aug 25, 2022

My A1C is now 6.3. (Had gotten it down from 6.1 to 6.0 in June). I’ll admit I’ve not been too conscientious about watching carbs and sugar this summer, with family and friends visiting. My PCP has recommended Metformin. Do any of you have experience with this drug?

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@timide

Ok,I agreed with what your saying,I've been taking Metformin for 11 years,with little side effect at the start when taking them for a few months,otherwise no problem at all until now.....Metformin is the first medication given to diabetics because it is one of the safest🙂

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What problems are you dealing with now?

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@colleenyoung

Hi @timide, welcome to the community. I caution about using statements like "this is not true" without knowing the full background. Everyone is different.

By the same token, @queenie2030, a drug that might be dangerous for one person, might be very safe for someone else.

I found useful information from Harvard Medical School that underlines how you can both be right. 🙂

- Is metformin a wonder drug? https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-metformin-a-wonder-drug-202109222605

See specifically this excerpt:
"The safety profile for metformin is quite good. Side effects include nausea, stomach upset, or diarrhea; these tend to be mild. More serious side effects are rare. They include severe allergic reactions and a condition called lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. The risk for this is higher among people with significant kidney disease, so doctors tend to avoid prescribing metformin for them."

So people with kidney disease should be aware of the contraindication. For others, metformin is the drug that works.

Timide, how long have you been taking metformin? Do you tolerate it without side effects?

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I do not nor have I ever had kidney disease. My doctors could not explain why I developed lactic acidosis. I did not develop it until my dosage of metformin was increased from 500 mg a day to 1,000 mg a day. I did, however, have pain in the heart area for a year or so before my increased dose caused the irregular heart function.

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@queenie2030

I do not nor have I ever had kidney disease. My doctors could not explain why I developed lactic acidosis. I did not develop it until my dosage of metformin was increased from 500 mg a day to 1,000 mg a day. I did, however, have pain in the heart area for a year or so before my increased dose caused the irregular heart function.

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Given metformin's good safety profile, @timide may be onto something. @queenie2030, you might want to investigate further why you developed lactic acidosis to rule out any underlying conditions.

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