Metformin and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 4)

• she...
• April 26, 2015

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I am 21 years old and have always been morbidly overweight. I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 months ago when I was 3 weeks late with a negative pregnancy test. I have the normal signs of acne, overweight, hair on my face, and I now take 1500 mg of metformin every day. I do not have a gall bladder, so the diarrhea does not bother me, but the nausea is dreadful. I will be so hungry to the point of starving, and when I try to eat, I'm so sick to my stomach I can't touch food. I also have had a headache every day for the last 3 weeks. I have absolutely no sex drive, and my self-esteem is shot. Feeling very depressed lately... do not know if the metformin is affecting me differently because of my bipolar disorder, but I cannot feel like this forever."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2015

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've been on this med for two weeks. My dr. had me start out on one pill a day for one week, then two pills on the second week. I am to take these for six months. The only side effects I am having are extreme tiredness and nausea. Taking B vitamin complex is helping with that. I am also starting to lose weight, which will help my high cholesterol."

• Tel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2016

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've been diagnosed with PCOS not so long ago. I'm 20 years old. My doctor put me on metformin. She said to take it for 1-2 weeks, 1000 mg a day. I felt very fine! Then she said to increase it to 1000 mg twice a day. This is my second day taking 4 pills a day. And I feel horrible stomach pain, nausea, horrible!!! Maybe it's because I don't have a decent meal with my pills. Will that affect it at all? Can someone help?!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 10, 2024

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've been on metformin for 6 months now. The first two months were horrible. I had diarrhea all the time, and I was so nauseous for a few weeks. It all subsided within that 2-month time frame, and now I get diarrhea rarely. I got my period for the first time in 8 months after a few weeks of taking it. It lasted for 3 weeks. Since then, I've had a few periods that would last 1-3 days. It helped me lose 20 lbs in a matter of 3 months. Overall, I like it besides getting used to it in the beginning."

• ape...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2021

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've tried it twice before. This time a doctor suggested trying the extended release despite me explaining that my gene test showed that I don't metabolize the drug well. It's been 3 days, and I'm calling it quits. I haven't been able to sleep, my stomach is constantly on fire, and I have extreme food aversions. How does someone have gas, nausea, and diarrhea if they can't eat anything? I'm super bloated and feel like I have the flu. I'm moody and have had 2 panic attacks, which I haven't had in 10 months. It's a no for me."

• Kat...
• June 25, 2019

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "Only been on Metformin for a month for PCOS. I've tried to take it a few times in the past but felt too sick to continue. But this time, they prescribed extended-release tabs, which have been much better. My cycle has already seemed to be getting back on track. My appetite has lessened as well, which is a nice side benefit. Been trying to get pregnant for 4 1/2 years. I don't expect a lot, but you never know!"

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2019

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've taken metformin to treat my PCOS for nearly 2 years now (I can't take any kind of birth control, they make my blood pressure dangerously high). At first, it was a challenge because of the side effects (nausea, cramping, and diarrhea), but I figured out that taking one pill with breakfast and the other right before bed seriously reduced the side effects. However, even if the side effects had continued, I would still recommend taking it for PCOS. Feeling a little gross for an hour or two every day is MUCH better than ending up in the hospital again from a massive cyst rupture."

• nes...
• June 24, 2015

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I was diagnosed with PCOS roughly 5 months ago. I was given birth control to help regulate my period. 4 months after the diagnosis, I started metformin, the side effects are kicking my butt. I'm nauseous, I have the poops, and no appetite because I'm nauseous. The symptoms were starting to wear off, then I started to take 2 a day. And I'm not sure if I like it, but I'm going to stick it out and talk to my Dr."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2015

For Female Infertility "I had polycystic ovarian syndrome for 3 months. My doctor suggested taking metformin, 3 pills per day. I suffered from side effects like nausea and vomiting sensation. My husband and I are trying to conceive, hope it will work."

• smi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2022

"Metformin 850 mg bd is effective in preventing psychiatric and other pill-induced weight gain. For unipolar depression and anxiety, I take mirtazapine 15, aripiprazole 2, quetiapine 200, amitriptyline 10, divalproex 500, gabapentin 400 for RLS, tremors, ivabradine 2.5 bd for tachycardia, T4 50 mcg for hypothyroidism, atorvastatin and fenofibrate for lipid profile correction. I take multivitamins, multiminerals, B12, and antioxidant supplements. Quit smoking more than a decade ago, drink mildly, socially. Drink plenty of water to prevent lactic acidosis and dehydration. Tolerance to diarrhea and nausea developed in a week, but anorexia and fatigue remain. Weight decreased from 87 kgs to 83 - 84 kgs, HbA1c from 6.3 to 5, FBS from 126 to"

• MCW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I just started on metformin ER 500 mg once daily on a full stomach after dinner. Within two days, the nausea was so intense, and I had trouble sleeping because I needed to get up and drink a glass of water. Have diarrhea, too. I called the Dr. He said split the tablet in half and take that instead. I'll give it another week or so to see. I am not overweight, and my numbers indicate I have a mild case of type 2 diabetes. If it continues to give me these obnoxious side effects, then I won't take it."

• Aah...
• March 25, 2011

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I have been diagnosed with PCOS for over 4 years, but only have been prescribed Metformin after seeing no results with combined pills. Having gained so much weight over the past year, now weighing 75 kgs, this medication does not seem to be working at all with my weight loss. I'm on 2 x 500 mg a day. Have had a few bad side effects: nausea and bad breath. I brush my teeth endlessly, but it doesn't seem to improve. As long as I can lose weight, I don't mind the side effects, but I've been on this medication for over a month now, and I have not lost any weight."

• ALE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Taking Metformin long-lasting, two 50 mg a day and sometimes up to three 50 mg a day, I feel fine. It is when I take four 50 mg per day I really get sick to my stomach. It does lower my blood sugar, but when I get so sick and do not take the amount I am supposed to, then it does not help me."

• Jes...
• July 30, 2017

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I have been on metformin for 6 months at 500 mg, and I've only lost 7 pounds. First off, I'm 5'9" and 152 pounds. I started at 159 pounds. My goal is to get to 140 lb and get pregnant, considering that's what my doctor suggested. I have tried everything to lose weight. I literally ate lettuce and exercised like crazy prior to trying metformin, nothing worked. I even looked at liposuction. I didn't have any diarrhea, sometimes when I ate too much, I felt nauseous on the medication. However, the medicine helps curb your appetite. I barely ate anything. Maybe I had eggs in the morning, no bread. Lunch soup with salad, and at night, nuts and yogurt. I can't believe I only lost 7 pounds. I'm still NOT pregnant, yet I do have regular periods."

• Anonymous
• September 24, 2010

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've been on this for almost a month now. I'm exhausted all the time, and whether I take it with food or not, I get sick. I am supposed to take 2 pills a day. I take the morning one about an hour after my workout and the nighttime one right before bed. I've noticed I'm not nauseated when I wake up. My period is due in 3 days, so we'll see if I get it. No weight loss yet."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2018

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "Unfortunately, it did not work for me. I've tried it 2 separate times with no results. My endocrinologist was hopeful that it would balance my hormones and help me lose weight. I was constantly nauseated all the time, and headaches would come and go. I noticed no weight loss during that time at all. Finally had to get off it because of the horrible GI symptoms."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2025

For Insulin Resistance Syndrome "The first few days I was very nauseous and vomiting, so I cut it in half for a few days and worked back up to the regular dosage, and then I was perfect. It may not be for weight loss, but my appetite has diminished immensely, and I love it."

• Aus...
• September 12, 2016

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I was diagnosed as having PCOS only last year when I was 32, so pretty late in life. I've always had regular periods (like clockwork) but never gotten pregnant. I have high testosterone, oily skin, acne, I have gained quite a lot of weight over a short period of time, went from 60 kg to 83 kg in just four years, which was a big sign as I had not changed my eating or exercise habits. I started taking Metformin 3 times a day and was sick for the first few days, just really nauseous and a few trips to the toilet. I kept forgetting to take the tablets, so my doctor has prescribed me the Diaformin XR, which I haven't started taking yet. I'm just hoping I don't get as sick as I did with the Metformin."

• hat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am experiencing a fuzzy head sensation, as if I am wearing a 2-inch thick tin foil helmet, and terrible nausea, sometimes resulting in violent vomiting."

• Anonymous
• March 23, 2010

Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes "I took this medicine for a very short while. It began with serious nausea, followed by vomiting a couple of weeks later. I could not take this medicine."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2020

For Insulin Resistance Syndrome "Been on it for 3 days and feel so sick: headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and overall just feel terrible. Dr. said give it a week, so we will see in a week if I still feel sick."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2017

For Insulin Resistance Syndrome "Stomach pain, nausea, weakness, lethargy."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2009

For Type 2 Diabetes "Helped me with my blood sugar levels, and I lost 10 lbs. in a month. Down side: horrible stomach pain 24/7, nausea, and diarrhea. Doctor is changing my medicines."

• Hey...
• February 17, 2021

For Female Infertility "I’ve been told to take two 500 mg tablets daily, I’m due to start IVF in a few weeks. I’ve taken it for two days, and I’m struggling. I’ve had loss of appetite and severe nausea."

• Spu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 21, 2018

For Insulin Resistance Syndrome "Side effects are stomach pains, queasiness, cold sweats, and nightmares."