Metformin WITHOUT food; medicine and fiber

BillB · 09-09-2009, 04:55 PM

When I was taking metformin just before meals, it gave me terrible GI issues. I started taking it at bedtime, and also waiting to eat for a couple hours after I take it in the morning. No GI issues.

Someone else on here (sorry, can't remember who) said that taking fiber with metformin had helped with the same problems. On another section of this board, a nutritionist brought it to my attention that fiber can work like a sponge, binding to medicines and supplements, and allowing them to pass through the system without having an effect. I stopped taking fiber WITH my meds and supplements, taking it instead several hours after, and found that at least some of my supplements seemed to be more effective.

This is my experience...YMMV.

--Bill

Tirjasdyn · 09-10-2009, 12:54 PM

I take part of my metformin with my multi in the morning....and I take the rest at bedtime. With water no food.

watcher513 · 09-13-2009, 02:27 AM

Interesting. The directions on my DH's Met is to take With food (during to after the meal). It bothers him if he take without food.

Tirjasdyn · 09-14-2009, 09:14 AM

yeah after two weeks of living in the bathroom I talked to my doc about it. After a week of doing it with water only the GI problems went away. They only come back for a little while when my doc changes my dosage.

I take it for PCOS, so talk to your doc before taking my advice.

LC_Monkee · 09-14-2009, 09:34 AM

Interesting.
I get GI issues when I consume too much fat w/it. If I limit my fat intake, I am usually OK. I did notice that if I try to take it on an empty stomach, it just kills me. Stomach starts rumbling.

09-09-2009, 04:55 PM	#1
BillB Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 672 Gallery: BillB Stats: 450+/293/200................ A1C: 12.4--->5.2 WOE: Atkins/VLC/Alternate Day--1g Metformin twice a day Start Date: Last restart, June 2009 at 450+	Metformin WITHOUT food; medicine and fiber When I was taking metformin just before meals, it gave me terrible GI issues. I started taking it at bedtime, and also waiting to eat for a couple hours after I take it in the morning. No GI issues. Someone else on here (sorry, can't remember who) said that taking fiber with metformin had helped with the same problems. On another section of this board, a nutritionist brought it to my attention that fiber can work like a sponge, binding to medicines and supplements, and allowing them to pass through the system without having an effect. I stopped taking fiber WITH my meds and supplements, taking it instead several hours after, and found that at least some of my supplements seemed to be more effective. This is my experience...YMMV. --Bill __________________ "I read this book about how some scientists tried to get primates to paint. For 10 years they worked on it, and nothing happened. Then, one of the monkeys suddenly began to paint, and what it painted were the bars of its cage. So, in my writing, I believe I'm painting the bars of my cage so that I can get out. This is something you have to get done before you can meaningfully move on in any way."--Ferron

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09-10-2009, 12:54 PM	#2
Tirjasdyn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 75 Gallery: Tirjasdyn Stats: 194/160/150 (current goal) WOE: 6 Week Cure / Atkins Start Date: August 11th 2008	I take part of my metformin with my multi in the morning....and I take the rest at bedtime. With water no food.

09-13-2009, 02:27 AM	#3
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 442 Gallery: watcher513	Interesting. The directions on my DH's Met is to take With food (during to after the meal). It bothers him if he take without food.

09-14-2009, 09:14 AM	#4
Tirjasdyn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 75 Gallery: Tirjasdyn Stats: 194/160/150 (current goal) WOE: 6 Week Cure / Atkins Start Date: August 11th 2008	yeah after two weeks of living in the bathroom I talked to my doc about it. After a week of doing it with water only the GI problems went away. They only come back for a little while when my doc changes my dosage. I take it for PCOS, so talk to your doc before taking my advice.

09-14-2009, 09:34 AM	#5
LC_Monkee MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,863 Gallery: LC_Monkee Stats: -28/50 WOE: Low-Carb Start Date: Summer 08	Interesting. I get GI issues when I consume too much fat w/it. If I limit my fat intake, I am usually OK. I did notice that if I try to take it on an empty stomach, it just kills me. Stomach starts rumbling.