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52 Years Old Overweight With Fatty Liver, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes. Would New Medicine Cause Loose Stool?

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Posted on Wed, 10 Oct 2012
Question: Hi,
I am male 52, about 50 lbs overweight, fatty liver, hypertension, diverticulosis, high triglycerides, type 2 Diabetes. On Zoloft, lisinopril, (BP is under control), but last week I discovered my glucose was 375 and Trigs were also very high, my GP increased my Metformin to 2 -500 mg tablets 2X per day (was once per day). He also added Tricor 145 mg 1X daily and Fluvastatin 40 mg 1X daily. My question is this, would the new meds cause loose stools and diarrhea and move more undigested food through the GI tract? I'm noticing brownish, yellowish, greenish stools. No pain anywhere. Thanks!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Charles S Narasi (1 hour later)
Hello, XXXXXXX,
I am sorry to hear that you have multiple medical problems.
You seem to have a condition called "Metabolic Syndrome XXXXXXX
a combination of obesity,diabetes,high triglycerides ans a fatty
liver. I am sure that your doctor has been pressing hard for you
to lose the excess weight. This is a must for improvement of
your overall health. Metformin will help control your blood
sugar and also helps improve the fatty liver.
As for the diarrhea , there are a couple of possibilities.
One is "Diabetic Enteropathy XXXXXXX which involves the intestinal
nerve endings .Diabetic diarrhea is a result of that. Strict blood
sugar control is very important and the condition improves.
Other possibility is inflammation of the pancreas which is also
associated with high triglycerides and if repeated attacks occur
this results in a condition called "Steatorrhea" where there is loss
of fat (Poorly digested) ,greasy, fatty, foamy stool.
Tricor and Fluvastatin have side effects.Sometimes, nausea or
vomiting. Rarely they can affect the liver.Allergic reactions are
possible. As for Diarrhea, it is not a very common side effect.
You may need to talk to your doctor and have your stool
tested for presence of fat globules.
I really wish you well and hope you will lose the weight through
sensible diet and regular excercise.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Charles S Narasi (10 minutes later)
Thank you, Dr. Narasi,
Like many people, I am always concerned about pancreatic cancer. Do you think this is something I should be worrying about?
Thanks-
doctor
Answered by Dr. Charles S Narasi (18 minutes later)
Hello again, XXXXXX,
No, No ! I will not worry about pancreatic cancer.
Worry more about inflammation of the pancreas.
Get your stool tested.
Good luck.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Charles S Narasi

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1962

Answered : 693 Questions

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52 Years Old Overweight With Fatty Liver, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes. Would New Medicine Cause Loose Stool?

Hello, XXXXXXX,
I am sorry to hear that you have multiple medical problems.
You seem to have a condition called "Metabolic Syndrome XXXXXXX
a combination of obesity,diabetes,high triglycerides ans a fatty
liver. I am sure that your doctor has been pressing hard for you
to lose the excess weight. This is a must for improvement of
your overall health. Metformin will help control your blood
sugar and also helps improve the fatty liver.
As for the diarrhea , there are a couple of possibilities.
One is "Diabetic Enteropathy XXXXXXX which involves the intestinal
nerve endings .Diabetic diarrhea is a result of that. Strict blood
sugar control is very important and the condition improves.
Other possibility is inflammation of the pancreas which is also
associated with high triglycerides and if repeated attacks occur
this results in a condition called "Steatorrhea" where there is loss
of fat (Poorly digested) ,greasy, fatty, foamy stool.
Tricor and Fluvastatin have side effects.Sometimes, nausea or
vomiting. Rarely they can affect the liver.Allergic reactions are
possible. As for Diarrhea, it is not a very common side effect.
You may need to talk to your doctor and have your stool
tested for presence of fat globules.
I really wish you well and hope you will lose the weight through
sensible diet and regular excercise.