Metformin and nausea

Maeve · 01-29-2010, 11:22 AM

For what it's worth, I just wanted to share my experience with Metformin. I have only been on it since December 4 to help with my pre-diabetes.

The first prescription that I had filled was for a 30-day supply, since my nice new doctor only wanted me to start off with one after eating breakfast. After my glucose tolerance test, she upped it to twice a day, the next time being after dinner. So, I used up the 30-day supply and then went to another pharmacy to get my 90-day supply of 180. I noticed that the second type left me a little nauseous most times, and I would have to eat to get rid of it (even though, yes, I had eaten a whole meal before I took it); not even a sf soda would help. I spoke to the pharmacist at the first place today and she told me that the ones I got there were film-coated; the nausea-causing ones are not. So, I refilled my prescription today with the film-coated ones. I happened to open the bottle and looked at them, smelled them, and noticed that they had a pleasant smell. I opened the bottle of the old ones and smelled them (for the first time) and wow...they smelled like rotting fish. I never actually had brought that bottle up to my nose before. They will be having a going away party as soon as I finish typing this!!! Boy, it never hurts to change, does it?

Monkee · 01-29-2010, 11:27 AM

They changed the formula that is why they smell fishy.
Most metformin smells fishy these days, and if they don't at first, they usually do in a few days. I just avoid smelling them. Open the bottle, take my pill out, swallow and that is it. Nothing much I can do at this point. I've tried filling them at different locations and they all had the unpleasant smell.

Maeve · 01-29-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NurseMonkee

They changed the formula that is why they smell fishy.
Most metformin smells fishy these days, and if they don't at first, they usually do in a few days. I just avoid smelling them. Open the bottle, take my pill out, swallow and that is it. Nothing much I can do at this point. I've tried filling them at different locations and they all had the unpleasant smell.

Oh, no! Well, at least the new ones never made me nauseous. Just gassy, at first.

hpjrt · 01-29-2010, 12:34 PM

I've been very fortunate with Metformin. Initially my doctor also only had me taking 1 per day ... but then upped it to 2 per day. I take one in the morning ... and one just before I eat dinner.

I'm curious as to why your doctor specified to take the Metformin after breakfast and dinner?

I never eat breakfast ... unless I'm actually hungry for it. I do, however, have 2 cups of coffee with cream in the morning.

I have never had any stomach upset at all with Metformin ... and I guess that I am lucky in that. Mine aren't coated ... at least not that I've noticed.

Oh ... and I've never thought to smell them ...

... and given your comments ... I think I'll pass on that little adventure!

Maeve · 01-29-2010, 12:44 PM

I was instructed to take them after those two meals to help prevent the nausea that happens to some.

kerinsef · 02-04-2010, 08:55 PM

The nausea could be due to impending AF. I used to get nausea right before AF caused by the hormones.On the met front it could be due to a few things.That you are not constantly taking the same dose everyday. If you are forgetting the second dose a lot then the body is not able to adjust to the new dosage.I found that taking one pill with breakfast and with dinner helped me to remember to take both doses.Actually later I ended up taking one in the morning.Your body just can't handle the higher dose.Switching to a low GI diet will make a world of difference with the met.I found that if I ate potato, white bread, regular pasta a lot with the met...I would have serious gi issues..Also it could be that whatever kind you are taking is not setting well with your system...I could not handle the version of met and could only take the regular version. Maybe that is the case for you as well.

DeltaSierra · 02-06-2010, 12:56 AM

I used to get really bad nausea and diarrhea from metformin when I ate high-carb foods. I'd also get horrible indigestion and gas. That completely went away when I started LC'ing!! I take 500mg 2x a day.

01-29-2010, 11:22 AM	#1
Maeve Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,508 Gallery: Maeve Stats: 212/199/178 WOE: Low Carb Start Date: Ongoing	Metformin and nausea For what it's worth, I just wanted to share my experience with Metformin. I have only been on it since December 4 to help with my pre-diabetes. The first prescription that I had filled was for a 30-day supply, since my nice new doctor only wanted me to start off with one after eating breakfast. After my glucose tolerance test, she upped it to twice a day, the next time being after dinner. So, I used up the 30-day supply and then went to another pharmacy to get my 90-day supply of 180. I noticed that the second type left me a little nauseous most times, and I would have to eat to get rid of it (even though, yes, I had eaten a whole meal before I took it); not even a sf soda would help. I spoke to the pharmacist at the first place today and she told me that the ones I got there were film-coated; the nausea-causing ones are not. So, I refilled my prescription today with the film-coated ones. I happened to open the bottle and looked at them, smelled them, and noticed that they had a pleasant smell. I opened the bottle of the old ones and smelled them (for the first time) and wow...they smelled like rotting fish. I never actually had brought that bottle up to my nose before. They will be having a going away party as soon as I finish typing this!!! Boy, it never hurts to change, does it? Last edited by Maeve; 01-29-2010 at 11:23 AM.. Reason: addition

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01-29-2010, 11:27 AM	#2
Monkee Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Monkeeville USA Posts: 6,267 Gallery: Monkee Stats: Total Loss: -142 lbs WOE: The Monkee Way :) Start Date: Summer 08	They changed the formula that is why they smell fishy. Most metformin smells fishy these days, and if they don't at first, they usually do in a few days. I just avoid smelling them. Open the bottle, take my pill out, swallow and that is it. Nothing much I can do at this point. I've tried filling them at different locations and they all had the unpleasant smell.

01-29-2010, 12:34 PM	#4
hpjrt Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: S.W. Ontario, Canada Posts: 326 Gallery: hpjrt	I've been very fortunate with Metformin. Initially my doctor also only had me taking 1 per day ... but then upped it to 2 per day. I take one in the morning ... and one just before I eat dinner. I'm curious as to why your doctor specified to take the Metformin after breakfast and dinner? I never eat breakfast ... unless I'm actually hungry for it. I do, however, have 2 cups of coffee with cream in the morning. I have never had any stomach upset at all with Metformin ... and I guess that I am lucky in that. Mine aren't coated ... at least not that I've noticed. Oh ... and I've never thought to smell them ... ... and given your comments ... I think I'll pass on that little adventure!

01-29-2010, 12:44 PM	#5
Maeve Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,508 Gallery: Maeve Stats: 212/199/178 WOE: Low Carb Start Date: Ongoing	I was instructed to take them after those two meals to help prevent the nausea that happens to some.

02-04-2010, 08:55 PM	#6
kerinsef Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3 Gallery: kerinsef	The nausea could be due to impending AF. I used to get nausea right before AF caused by the hormones.On the met front it could be due to a few things.That you are not constantly taking the same dose everyday. If you are forgetting the second dose a lot then the body is not able to adjust to the new dosage.I found that taking one pill with breakfast and with dinner helped me to remember to take both doses.Actually later I ended up taking one in the morning.Your body just can't handle the higher dose.Switching to a low GI diet will make a world of difference with the met.I found that if I ate potato, white bread, regular pasta a lot with the met...I would have serious gi issues..Also it could be that whatever kind you are taking is not setting well with your system...I could not handle the version of met and could only take the regular version. Maybe that is the case for you as well.

02-06-2010, 12:56 AM	#7
DeltaSierra Purgatory escapee Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New England Posts: 6,294 Gallery: DeltaSierra Stats: Too much/Still too much/Perfect WOE: Atkins	I used to get really bad nausea and diarrhea from metformin when I ate high-carb foods. I'd also get horrible indigestion and gas. That completely went away when I started LC'ing!! I take 500mg 2x a day.