How long did it take you to get adjusted to Metformin ?

Hi Queen, my mother transitioned from insulin to metformin. I looked at the side effects list that came with the medication and decided it was worth the effort to try to control her diabetes with diet. So she was only on the metformin a couple of months. During that time, she did have frequent  issues with soft stools, which resolved after she went off the metformin. I know that probably isn't super helpful, but at least you know that stomach upset and soft stools can be a problem with this medication.

Good evening. Both my husband and I take Metformin and didn't experience any GI problems when we started several years ago. But after reading your email and I thought about it, my husband seems to be having problems with his bowels lately.

We haven't talked about it yet but you've given me something to consider,sometimes we tend to forget that most meds have side effects!

The way we usually handle side effects we weigh the difference of the side effects, if just a nuisance, with the gains gotten from the med. Sometimes it's a side effect from a totally different medication so it's difficult to know which one is causing the problem!

So if your GI problems are liveable you may want to keep taking the pills as it often turns itself around, if not maybe a change is needed. Mention it to your Dr and see what they say?

When I first went on Metformin about three years ago I did have gastro intestinal problems but I went to see my doctor and he put me on sustained release metformon (glucophage) instead if the usual kind and since then I have had no problems.

I have had diabetes for 22 years and for most of them I was on Metformin, usually given to overweight people but eventually everyone seems to be prescribed it, I am certainly not overweight, never have been but was still put on it even though I was classed as underweight. When I was first put onto the tablets the dose was three a day but I dropped the middle one as it was causing lots of bowel problems and it soon settled down but it was several weeks before it did but not everyone is the same.  Last year I began to feel extremely tired and it turned out I had low Vitamin B12, Metformin is a known side effect of B12 deficiency.  This meant that I had to have a course of six injections a couple of days apart to boost my B12 which seems to have sorted it out.  About four months ago I had such a low appetitie (Metformin is an appetitite suppressant) so decided to stop taking it for a couple of weeks and I experienced hunger pains for the first time in years and my appetite was much better.  When I told my diabetes nurse what I had done she suggested I stop taking them..  I have also been on two different insulins  for about 12 years and there hasn't been much difference in my sugar levels so I am glad that I am no longer on Metformin. Hope this helps.