I was just diagnosed with diabetes. Last week my doctor prescribed metformin to me. I take one 500mg pill two times a day. I have been having diarrhea about 2 hours after each dose. Is this normal and will it go away? I, also, take lisinopril for blood pressure and a baby aspirin for heart protection.
How can I stop the diarrhea caused by metformin?
Question posted by oxmoore on 25 Feb 2013
Last updated on 28 July 2022 by AshAshAsh
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
55 Answers Page 2
AshAshAsh
12 July 2018
Very strong iced tea has helped me.
JackSC
9 April 2018
I take one 500mg XL twice a day.
I, to, had terrible diarrhea. By trial and error, I found the culprit...
Lettuce!
Stopped eating lettuce and the diarrhea disappeared.
Realpro669
9 April 2018
I have been controlling it with imodium or pepto and it seems to work fairly well. I do like salads and do eat lettuce.(do you mean any lettuce? What about spinach salad?) I've found metamucil helpful at times as well.
JackSC
10 April 2018
Yes, any type of lettuce was the cause. Spinach doesn't seem to bother me.
gnw
5 March 2018
My husband had been on both Metformin and Metformin M/R for 7 years and diarrhea has never improved. Was advised by nutritionist to try Apple Cider Vinegar in either tablet or liquid form. Works like a dream. After a couple of days no more diarrhea and the vinegar also helps to stabilize sugar levels.
toomanyproblems
14 April 2018
How much apple cider vinegar does he take? Is it still working for the diarrhea?
amarsailles
31 Jan 2018
This is a very common side effect. It usually goes away in a couple of weeks.
Lisinopril and the aspirin are quite safe to go with metformin and neither one is causing your problem
Maqshiz
30 Jan 2018
I had the same problem. My grandma’s remedy worked. try it, eat just one banana it helped me. Again only one for some reason it works that way.
PE86
23 Dec 2017
I don't know if anyone has come to the same conclusion as me, but after a lot of experimenting I have discovered that the diarrhea is due to fatty food. If I eat something before I take the pills, that's not fatty, and in general, I keep protein pretty lean and eat other things, I don't get it! Nuts, bread, etc are especially helpful. I've been on Metformin for 5 years now for PCOS and it has been amazing for me, once I figured out how to handle this side effect.
Realpro669
23 Dec 2017
I agree fatty foods may contribute to the problem. I try to avoid them, but I also do the Metamucil 3X day, Imodium and Pepto on occasion. Metformin my prolong life, google metformin and longevity and there are a number of studies going on that started in EU but know the FDA is conduction tests.
jfjjs
6 Dec 2017
Took Met for years... 500 bid then 1000 bid... nothing but toilet time for this old man. Quit cold for 3 days... NO MORE POOPING... keep up the Glimeparide and insulin to compensate... this drug is a bust... get another RX to substitute!!!
Jackie Sims
1 Dec 2017
Use an anti diarrhea from otc. Try the one that work best for you e.g Imodium, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol to name a few. Best of luck...
Milkdud
28 Sep 2017
The best answer to this issue is to get off Metformin and all related drugs. Simple as that.
The way I found to do that is through proper diet, intermittent fasting and exercise.
About a year and a half ago, I ran across a video on You Tube by a Dr. Fung, "The Aetiology of Obesity". It's extremely long and comes in six parts . He had some interesting ideas concerning diabetes so I searched for more videos by him and that lead me to fasting and low carb, high fat, dieting. Do a search for Dr. Fung. It's an interesting journey for anyone with diabetes.
Cobino
22 Sep 2017
i want to stop taking Metformin but my doctor says i have to continue cause i'm a pre diabitic. I dont like the way it makes me feel , like i get mad or angry real easy, so what can i do to get away from it. I'm watching my diet and paying attention to everything I do?
frankweir
22 Sep 2017
I've NEVER heard or read of mood affected by Metformin. I would look for other reasons for your perceived mood changes. Now if your BOWELS change their mood, that's something else!!
marykbrady
22 Sep 2017
If you can lose 20 lbs you won't be pre-diabetic. Having diabetes is not good. If I could go back I would fight against it. Metformin gave me diarrhea 6 xa day. I stayed on it for 5 years because I was new to diabetes. How dehydrated was I? Try to turn it around, you'll never regret it.
Milkdud
29 Sep 2017
I have a coworker who had the same anger issues as you with Metformin. He had to switch to another med on his wife's insistence. See my previous comment concerning the need to take drugs for type two diabetes. Visit a site called dietdoctor.com and do a Google search for Dr Fung on You Tube.
frankweir
29 Sep 2017
I just looked around a bit online. I had forgotten that Metformin has been shown by study and research, not anecdotal comments, to reduce vitamin B12 significantly in its users. B12 deficiency can cause mood changes. At least some physicians recommend B12 supplementation in Metformin users. You could ask your physician to either be tested or just start taking B12 and see if that makes a difference. I would think that's a better idea than just quitting Metformin. Doctors prefer it because its been around forever, is safe, and has been proven to lower blood glucose in pre-diabetic and T2 diabetics and it is dirt cheap. Of course talk to your physician about all this. Going on a different medication may be the answer or it may cause its own consequences. Its all complicated.
jcolson
17 July 2017
If it doesn't go away in about 2 to 3 weeks consult your Dr. Dr will most likely put you on a different medication as your body doesn't like it.
benedettx
10 July 2017
well, I went to Mexico recently and after months of diarrhea caused by metformin (1000mg/twice a day) a doctor there told me to try metformin from Mexico, $4 dllrs for 30 pills (875 mgs) I started a week ago and no diarrhea, not once !!! same diet, my blood still under 105 every morning, doctor told me theres something in the "American" metformin, some kind of "salts" that cause diarrhea, you don't need a prescription in Mexico for this drug, so next time you go there, buy months of treatment ! Im just commenting here because I know the feeling and how bad you can be with metformin, seriously, try if you can.
frankweir
13 July 2017
I've NEVER heard this!! Worth looking into but I am FAR from Mexico. But I hope quality control AND level of medication is the same in drugs produced there. My fear is that perhaps symptoms are less because you aren't getting the same level of the active drug?
benedettx
13 July 2017
2 weeks and not a single diarrea episode, boood sugar 91-100 for the last 2 weeks !
dixiedamit
10 April 2017
I just started on Metformin 500 XL a week ago. I have had the poo' s everyday and it's after I eat and especially anything with Sugar ! I so hate this... my toidy has become my new best friend. :€
Kimone123
16 Feb 2017
Hi I too got diarrhea when I started taking medication for type 2 diabetes also very bad wind.
A soloution for me was to ask for slow release metphormin it helped me enormously
Hope this helps you
.
Madarb13
24 Dec 2016
I was diagnosed with PCOS 9 weeks ago. I was put on 500mg metformin twice a day and had diarrhea/cramps/loss of appetite for a week but my body got used to it. I was upped to 500mg in the morning and 1000mg at night one week ago and have had a much worse time adjusting. I have actually found that taking the nighttime dose right before bedtime works better for me as opposed to with dinner.
Related topics
diarrhea, diabetes, type 2, metformin, doctor
Further information
- Metformin uses and safety info
- Metformin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Metformin (detailed)
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