Metformin advice, please

[Anonymous]

I just started taking 500 mg of Metformin ER per day, for pre-diabetes. Please share your advice about the best times to take it - I've been taking it at lunch - and ways to stave off those nasty GI side effects I've read so much about.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

I take it for PCOS. One 500 mg pill in the morning and two at night (if I remember). The GI side effects decrease over time, just remember to eat something with it.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

When I started, I took 500 mg at night (with dinner). The first couple weeks were tough, but I didn't increase to 1000 mg until a month later. Then I took 1000 mg at dinner for two weeks and then the full 1500 mg (1 with breakfast, 2 with dinner) from then on. The GI issues will go away as your body adjusts. I've also heard that the extended release (ER) Metformin is easier on your digestive system, but I have only taken regular Met.

[Anonymous]

Like 14:07, I take 1500mg. I did not notice any effects when I started with 500mg and worked my way up (side effects hit at 1500 but lasted only a week) so you may be lucky.

[Anonymous]

I take it to regulate my period (I know it's not the typical usage but it works for me). I also take 1500 mg. I find that the upset stomach only happens for the first week or so, then it goes away. I do find sometimes in the AM if I haven't eaten, I will feel like I have to throw up.

[Anonymous]

I could never take the extended release one without major GI side effects. Give it a few weeks and if you aren't seeing any difference in the side effects, maybe try the regular pill.

[Anonymous]

cutting carbs made a big difference for me in how the metformin was on my stomach.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you all! This is very helpful.

Fortunately (?) I already keep a very low-carb diet, so hopefully that'll help minimize any GI distress. I'm very nervous, because I'm already sort of prone to GI irritation (I get diarrhea very easily).

Sigh - good times!

[Anonymous]

OP: what was your A1C level? Mine was 5.9 (single reading) and the maternal fetal specialist I was seeing started me on 500 mg metformin at night. I stopped taking it after several months b/c every other doctor I saw thought it didn't make sense that I was started on it. Anyway, just curious what your level was.

[Anonymous]

OP again: my last 2 A1cs were 5.7. Weirdly, the previous 2 - before I started eating low-carb - were 5.3 and 5.5. Also strangely, I didn't have gestational diabetes with either DC (last one born in 2011).

My 2-hour OGTT reading was normal at 96 (doc didn't do a blood draw at 1-hour); my insulin level was 7.

But, before I started limiting my carb intake and after I started testing my blood sugar, I went as high as 180 1 hour after eating stuff like Chinese food and pizza.

My endo didn't push Metformin. I asked for it because my numbers have been creeping up and I simply cannot pare back my diet any further, for both nutritional and emotional reasons. Oh, and my BMI is in the normal/healthy range.

[Anonymous]

I take all 1500 mg extended release with breakfast. No problem as long as I eat it with a meal (and more than just a cup of yogurt - there needs to be something solid in there.)

Twice a day dosing is very difficult for me for any med. I almost always wake up at home, but the rest of the day can bring anything, and the unpredictability throws me off.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you take it with food or you may get stomach problems.

My Dr. prescribed it for me to lose lbs.