Anyone want to share your experience on Metformin?

All, thank you for sharing your experiences with Metformin. I have only been on it a short time and have not identified any specific reactions. I was actually quite alarmed when I dug into some research online and found some pretty concerning side effects. I wasn't sure if these could be of consequence in a "delayed reaction" kind of activity or not. It seems that your experiences indicate not so. Thanks much, rlm

My primary prescribed Metformin ER 500mg 4x daily (2 at breakfast, 2 at dinner) for me in 2019 due to my long term prednisone use (RA over 25 years) induced Type II. I started with 2x daily and gradually added in the other 2 tabs. I could tolerate 3, but the 4th was a no go with much gastric distress. I stayed on the 3 tabs (2 @ breakfast; 1 @ dinner). My A1c never went below 7.2 with diet and exercise and losing 60 lbs. as well. My conclusion was that that was MY number, and not some across the board "one size fits all" number. My primary even added in Jardiance with the metformin and I remained steady at 7.2. This past June, however, I took myself completely off the metformin and remained on just the Jardiance. I had developed non-RA related fatigue that was totally debilitating. I reported it to both my RA doc and my primary and neither could explain it for a year, so I started looking into my symptoms myself because I was non-functioning. I came across a JAMA report and an NIH study that both found a direct correlation between metformin and every one of my symptoms - not just a "maybe" but 2 study conclusions. My fatigue and all other symptoms disappeared within a week of stopping the metformin. I will never take that med again. (Note that I am not in any way endorsing anyone else to do this, just reciting my own experience with the med.)

Been on 1000mg daily for about a year. Has kept my glucose under control despite not making all the lifestyle changes I should be making. It gives me gas and some occasional nausea but not so much when I eat with on more regular schedule and less coffee. Could also be due to increase in fiber consumption. I would like to reduce dosage but we aren't there yet.

First of all I’m NOT on Metformin but I know lots of people who are. Almost all have reported icky GI side effects. I’ve not heard of there being any weight loss effect. Some folks have seen an improvement in blood sugar and A1C if they can adjust to the GI side effects. All meds have side effects. Sometimes it happens; sometimes not. If it does happen, sometimes they can be adjusted to; sometimes not. If a med turns out to be intolerable there are usually alternatives.

Add Glyburide to your Metformin for better A1C result!

Done a number on my gut.

Metformin made me have loose stools and gas for a couple of weeks when I first started taking
it but since then, I've had only a couple episodes that's been 18 years ago.