Metformin dose question

[Soili]

Hi guys, I hope someone's who's taking Metformin might help me. I was prescribed 1500mg (500mg 3 times a day) and was told to take 2 a day first week and if feeling well, move to 3. Here's the drill though. If I take it with breakfast and lunch, I feel fine. No side effects, all good. If I take one with dinner, I get this light nausea feeling about an hour later, like one you get when you're already quite hungry. I do tend to have very light dinner as I'm working to loose weight and I find it that light dinners really help. I wouldn't wanna start eating big meals for dinner just to be able to take that 3rd Metformin tablet. I'm also wondering that it might either be just too big a dose for me or that it has to do with me feeling tired. Or maybe I'm still getting used to it?

So I'm wondering... should I stick to 1000mg a day? Should I take 500 at breakfast and 1000 at lunch? Or should I get 850mg tablets instead to break it up more evenly? Anyone?

 

[Chiles]

I would Break it up with Breakfast and lunch. HTH. Its better on a satisfied tummy and since you mention you don't have a problemduring those times then I would say go for it

 

[Helena_]

you could cut your third pill in half and take 1.5 in the morn and 1.5 in the afternoon.

 

[Soili]

Thanks guys! The problem is the pills don't have that line in the middle that makes it easy to break. I would need to cut it and then it's just going to be big crumbly mess When I posted the thread, I decided to give another go to 3rd tablet at night and boy, did I regret it. I was nauseous the whole night and most of the next day. I'm starting to think that 1500mg might really be just too much for me, considering that I am eating much less than normally would. Gonna stick to 1000mg for now.

 

[Helena_]

I've cut them and they've broken.perfectly. If you think 1000 is fine then just stick with that!

 

[RainAngel]

i take 850mg twice a day, but i dont take mine with my evening meal. I have mine just before bed so i dont get any funky side effects. the morning one never really bothers me (unless im an idiot and take it without eating!!). Good luck!

 

[Soili]

i take 850mg twice a day, but i dont take mine with my evening meal. I have mine just before bed so i dont get any funky side effects. the morning one never really bothers me (unless im an idiot and take it without eating!!). Good luck!

RainAngel, do you take it for PCOS or weight loss, or both? I never heard about taking it before bed. In the paper it says with meals or if it's one dose, then in the morning. Maybe yours is slow release? Those seem to be ok to take any time.

 

[yellowyamyam]

I take 850mg once daily and usually take it before bed too. That was what my doc advised me to do when I complaint of toilet-runs in the early weeks when I started Metformin. Now the side effects only happen sometimes in 1st loo trip.


I am starting to think my dosage is too low!!!

 

[Soili]

Well, you gals are just blowing my mind I always thought the Metformin's mechanism of action is actually to prevent sugar absorption from the food you eat, so for that it has to be taken with food. It would seem a bit pointless to take it on empty stomach, because what would be the point? Again, unless yours is slow release tablets. Could you check??

yellowyamyam, I think you're supposed to take the lowest dosage that works for you. If you take it to normalize cycles and it works at 850mg and that's all you need.

 

[RainAngel]

i take 850mg twice a day, but i dont take mine with my evening meal. I have mine just before bed so i dont get any funky side effects. the morning one never really bothers me (unless im an idiot and take it without eating!!). Good luck!

RainAngel, do you take it for PCOS or weight loss, or both? I never heard about taking it before bed. In the paper it says with meals or if it's one dose, then in the morning. Maybe yours is slow release? Those seem to be ok to take any time.

Mostly PCOS, but a bit of both. And no, mines regular old metformin.

 

[RainAngel]

Well, you gals are just blowing my mind I always thought the Metformin's mechanism of action is actually to prevent sugar absorption from the food you eat, so for that it has to be taken with food. It would seem a bit pointless to take it on empty stomach, because what would be the point? Again, unless yours is slow release tablets. Could you check??

yellowyamyam, I think you're supposed to take the lowest dosage that works for you. If you take it to normalize cycles and it works at 850mg and that's all you need.

do NOT!!!!! take it on an empty stomach!!! you will be *SO* sorry! i always have a small snack with mine, but empty stomach... i was SO dizzy and sick i almost went to the ER.

 

[ememcly]

I was nauseous the whole night and most of the next day.

 

[Soili]

I was nauseous the whole night and most of the next day.

ememcly, you brave soul! I thought about trying the before bed bit, but decided against it. I really can't eat anything before going to bed, because I then sleep poorly and have nightmares. And on empty stomach is just not an option.

I'm sticking to 1000mg a day, it seems to be working the best for me. My next FS appointment is in 3 months, so I'll bring it up and see what they'll say.

 

[RainAngel]

just out of curiosity, has anybody's doctor told them they need to take their metformin (if only twice a day), 12 hours apart? I was thinking about this thread as I was asking questions about it with my ob, and she said if you take met twice a day, it should be every 12 hours.

 

[Soili]

just out of curiosity, has anybody's doctor told them they need to take their metformin (if only twice a day), 12 hours apart? I was thinking about this thread as I was asking questions about it with my ob, and she said if you take met twice a day, it should be every 12 hours.

RainAngel, I just came back from an app. with a dietitian and I explained that I felt bad taking metformin with dinner and that in the last days I was trying the 2+1+0 scheme, meaning 2 with breakfast, 1 with lunch and none at dinner and feeling pretty good like that. And she said it was perfectly fine!

 

[siidear]

Its better on a satisfied tummy and since you mention you don't have a problemduring those times then I would say go for it

 

[RainAngel]

just out of curiosity, has anybody's doctor told them they need to take their metformin (if only twice a day), 12 hours apart? I was thinking about this thread as I was asking questions about it with my ob, and she said if you take met twice a day, it should be every 12 hours.

RainAngel, I just came back from an app. with a dietitian and I explained that I felt bad taking metformin with dinner and that in the last days I was trying the 2+1+0 scheme, meaning 2 with breakfast, 1 with lunch and none at dinner and feeling pretty good like that. And she said it was perfectly fine!

my doctor, i dont trust her too much, that's why i asked about it.

 

[Soili]

RainAngel, metformin is supposed to regulate insulin levels, to avoid harsh peaks that disrupt production of other hormones. Insulin peaks right after you eat something. So it makes sense to me taking it right before the biggest meals you take. And being on Metformin, you gotta avoid things with a lot of easy carbs and sugar, then you don't get bad side effects. In the letter that comes with it, it say that if one is taking one dose, to do it right in the morning. I mean, what's the point of taking it at night, unless you stay up the whole night eating.

And I would only see a reason to take it with 12 hour periods, if it was slow-release tablets.

 

[RainAngel]

yeah, it didnt make much sense to me, but i have yet to find another doctor. All she told me is to take it 12 hours apart to help with the PCOS.

 

[Soili]

RainAngel, if you feel it's better to follow your doc's advice, then by all means! I always listen to what doctors have to say, do my research and come to my own conclusion in the end. If the doc is on my side - awesome. If not - not big deal either But I've never taken anyone's advice without confirming it's the best one.