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What Causes Abdominal Pain After Taking Metformin For Diabetes?
Question: I have type 2 diabetes and take metformin...also I am 76 years old....Anyway I have a pain in my abdomen and it feels like my stomach should growl but doesn't. I decided not to take the metformin for the last two days til I can see my doctor after the weekend. Can you help in this situation?
Brief Answer:
take after food / split dose
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I went through the query and understood your concern.
1. Abdominal pain or discomfort is a known side effect of metformin. I too see many of my patients presenting with similar complaints.
So to reduce the problem better to take the drug after having food.
If dose is not tolerated then split the dose into two times.
These measures will help in reducing the symptoms.
2. Kindly get checked your sugar levels now. Since you are 75 years old, the decision on dose reduction or changing drugs depends on your sugar levels, renal function test and tolerability.
So kindly provide information on your current sugar levels without metformin and sugar levels when you had metformin and renal function test values.
So for now you need to continue metformin as explained. Stopping drugs may cause hyperglycaemia and if very high sugar levels then other problems also.
I hope this information helps you. Feel free to ask for any further queries. I will be glad to answer them.
Wish you good health.
Regards
take after food / split dose
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I went through the query and understood your concern.
1. Abdominal pain or discomfort is a known side effect of metformin. I too see many of my patients presenting with similar complaints.
So to reduce the problem better to take the drug after having food.
If dose is not tolerated then split the dose into two times.
These measures will help in reducing the symptoms.
2. Kindly get checked your sugar levels now. Since you are 75 years old, the decision on dose reduction or changing drugs depends on your sugar levels, renal function test and tolerability.
So kindly provide information on your current sugar levels without metformin and sugar levels when you had metformin and renal function test values.
So for now you need to continue metformin as explained. Stopping drugs may cause hyperglycaemia and if very high sugar levels then other problems also.
I hope this information helps you. Feel free to ask for any further queries. I will be glad to answer them.
Wish you good health.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
What a GREAT suggestion about splitting the dose and also to take with food. I, however, have taken it for 2years or so and have never had the problem. also,
I take metformin 1 at nite and one in the AM. I will take your suggestion and
cut in half and call the doctor tomorrow morning. What is hyperglycaemia? I have never heard of it although there are a lot of things I haven't heard of...
Many thanks for your help....I guess I am scared I will have to have an endoscopy as my husband had one recently and I didn't like it for me.OUCH!! Dr XXXXXXX in the GREATEST AND so is his wife. They have helped sooooooo many people in so many ways. XXXXXXX
I take metformin 1 at nite and one in the AM. I will take your suggestion and
cut in half and call the doctor tomorrow morning. What is hyperglycaemia? I have never heard of it although there are a lot of things I haven't heard of...
Many thanks for your help....I guess I am scared I will have to have an endoscopy as my husband had one recently and I didn't like it for me.OUCH!! Dr XXXXXXX in the GREATEST AND so is his wife. They have helped sooooooo many people in so many ways. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
increased sugar level: hyperglycaemia. be relaxed
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Hyperglycaemia means increased sugar level in the blood. In diabetes, drug adherence is most important to maintain the sugar levels in normal range. If you skip one day dose then the sugar level will raise for that day.
I can understand about the anxiety for the procedure. Be relaxed. The endoscopy is just a procedure to see if any problem in esophagus stomach or in initial part of small intestine. A short procedure.
I am happy if you get benefitted with the information I provide.
Hope this information helps you and answered your question.
Wish you faster recovery and good health.
Regards
increased sugar level: hyperglycaemia. be relaxed
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Hyperglycaemia means increased sugar level in the blood. In diabetes, drug adherence is most important to maintain the sugar levels in normal range. If you skip one day dose then the sugar level will raise for that day.
I can understand about the anxiety for the procedure. Be relaxed. The endoscopy is just a procedure to see if any problem in esophagus stomach or in initial part of small intestine. A short procedure.
I am happy if you get benefitted with the information I provide.
Hope this information helps you and answered your question.
Wish you faster recovery and good health.
Regards
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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