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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Green Bowel Movement While On Metformin?

I take metformin for PCOS. I stopped it for awhile and recently restarted it. 500mg at bedtime and will move up to 1000mg. I don t have any abdominal pain or cramping but I have noticed that my stool is become more loose (I know it can cause diarrhea) but also a dark green. Is that normal? My guess is it is moving through the GI tract too quickly while my body adjusts but just want to be sure. It s so dark its almost hard to tell if it is black.
Tue, 17 Jul 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

Metformin causes diarrhea, resulting in disturbed absorption of food. Green coloured food gets excreted out fast to make green coloured motion. The side effect is observed in first few days of starting the medicine. You should think of rising the dose when motions get normal. Need to see for other causes of loose motions if it continues after 1 month of starting the drug.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Vasudha Jayant Athavale
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What Causes Green Bowel Movement While On Metformin?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Metformin causes diarrhea, resulting in disturbed absorption of food. Green coloured food gets excreted out fast to make green coloured motion. The side effect is observed in first few days of starting the medicine. You should think of rising the dose when motions get normal. Need to see for other causes of loose motions if it continues after 1 month of starting the drug. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Vasudha Jayant Athavale