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What Casues Diarrhea After Taking Metformin?

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Posted on Wed, 29 Oct 2014
Question: I am a diabetic (type 2). My doctor increased my Metformen from 500 to 1000 mg. 2 days after I followed instructions, I got diarehea. 12 days. After I spoke with a nurse we figured out it could be the increased dosage. My doctor told me to go back to 500 mg a day. The diarehea stopped, but my stooles yesterday and today are yellow?
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Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Metformin can cause Diarrhea

Detailed Answer:
Good day
Noted your concern. Metformin is a wonderful drug , but can cause stomach and intestine upset in some people. 500 mg is just the starting dose and the recommended dose is between 1500 to 2000 mg. If you develop diarrhoea, it is recommended to start with a slow releasing preparation of Metformin which is more gastrointestinal friendly. The yellow stools are okay if that is a solid and not watery. Try to increase the Metformin dose every two weeks.
Regards
Binu
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1439 Questions

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What Casues Diarrhea After Taking Metformin?

Brief Answer: Metformin can cause Diarrhea Detailed Answer: Good day Noted your concern. Metformin is a wonderful drug , but can cause stomach and intestine upset in some people. 500 mg is just the starting dose and the recommended dose is between 1500 to 2000 mg. If you develop diarrhoea, it is recommended to start with a slow releasing preparation of Metformin which is more gastrointestinal friendly. The yellow stools are okay if that is a solid and not watery. Try to increase the Metformin dose every two weeks. Regards Binu