I was on metformin for about 6 months and I had the same problem. I'm currently on januvia now and I'm happy that is no longer a problem for me. I assumed it was the metformin and now that you have mentioned it as well, I'm convinced that's the cause. I'm not sure how you can resolve it though. The only way I was able to overcome it was by being put on another medication.

Hey Liz,

I experienced a similar issue but what seemed to resolve it was kind of strange. One of the things I noticed was that the smell from the metformin container was not very good. |I spoke to my pharmacist and she said that she had heard similar comments so she switched me to a different brand of metformin. That seemed to clear up not only the particular odor but the gas problems as well.

Just my 2 cents worth,

lary

Thank you Kay and Lary! Lary, I will check out my bottle. I've not noticed any odor before, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
Kay, I was started on Januvia, but then my insurance didn't want to cover it and said I had to try Metformin first. I wonder if this issue is enough to make the insurance let me switch? Hmmm.

My insurance didn't have a choice because the metformin didn't work well with the other medication that I'm on. It was either switch me to something else or pay for a stay in the hospital. They went with the switch.

Thank you so very much for bringing up this issue Liz1961! It is something I have been experiencing and but did not have the strength of character to bring up here. I've been taking Metformin since last August, and I, and my wife, have noticed the increased gas! It is very embarrassing. It was getting to a point my wife was threatening divorce;I think, or at least I hope, she was just kidding. For the past couple of weeks I have notices a lessening of symptoms, and speaking to my doctor on the subject, she said that the gas is indeed a side effect of Metformin, but I should stabilize after a period of time and It seems she may have been correct. According to my doctor there were several things going on. First was the metformin, which gas is a side affect. Secondly, a change in diet, something I needed to adjust to, and finally my increase of physical activity. Again, thank you Liz for asking this question.

it is a common side effect with metformin and even can cause weight loss for some...if it continues, maybe ask doctor to switch you to the ER version (extended release) since it is easier on the stomach.

I once heard one person refer to this lovely side effect as if a raging moose is running thru his system lol

I have not noticed it as a side effect of metformin, but I did get it when I tried to eat healthier. I stopped eating the junk food, started eating healthy, brocolli, cabbage, cauliflower, cantaloupe, watermelon, oh my gosh, it was terrible. A friend told me I was eating gassy foods. I had to eat very little of the above foods, seldom drink pop and stop eating soup that had heavy tomato juice in it. Whew! That helped a lot.

I've always had gas, so I guess it wasn't any worse...lol. Anyway, maybe over time that symptom will decrease and your body will get used to it. I wonder how much you were taking?
I take 500 mg at breakfast and 500mg at dinner.
I was told to take it with food so maybe that is your problem. I take mine half way through my meal.
LYNNIE

Is there nothing on the market to control "gas" ??
I'd care not to have a raging moose running thru my system !
Excellent advice from Gayle, as usual..

Lynnie, I'm on 1000mgs twice a day, and like you I take it mid-way through breakfast and then through supper.
It's been 2 1/2 mos since I started on it so don't think it's a side effect or adjustment issue anymore. I think it's here to stay as long as I'm on it. I am going to do as suggested and see about the Metformin ER.

You know, maybe these biochemists who come up with these medications play a joke on us by saying hey, let's add this effect just for laughs.

You have to look for the silver lining in all of this, We will create our own orchestra!!! Our practice sessions will STINK!!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist. On the serious side though, I liked Banjochick's suggestion about the "gassier" foods and it may be something to look at. Also, since so many of the good foods are legumes I am wondering if the addition of a bit of baking soda to these products will work. An old trick is to add a bit of baking soda to baked beans will reduce their "gassiness".

Once again, sorry for the bad joke earlier.

lary

LOL. Lary, a subject like this demands bad jokes! Haha!

I can't understand that the doctor would start you on 1000 mg. twice a day unless your blood sugar was really bad. I only started this past year and I've had diabetes for over 10 years. I needed to control the morning readings mainly. She put me on 500mg. twice a day.
Could you ask you doctor to cut back on the amount to see if it makes a difference?
Has you blood sugar readings improved since taking the drug?

Lynnie, my diagnosis came about because of a urine test where my glucose measured 595 and an A1c came back at 10. We weren't even looking for diabetes, but for a UTI, but turns out the UTI was non existent. I have the good fortune to work in a doctor's office so tests like this are at the disposal of the employees when needed. A doctor there at the clinic gave me a shot of insulin on the spot. She checked me again an hour later and my numbers had come down to 360. I left work that day with a pen of Victoza and some samples of Januvia and a True Track meter and strips.
Because of a conflict of interest the office where I work doesn't take on the employees as regular patients. They will of course treat in cases of emergencies and my case was a bit of an emergency. I saw my regular doctor the next week. He tried to get the Victoza and Januvia approved by my Ins, but Blue Cross Blue Shield said no, that I was to try Metformin and Byetta first.
I guess because my readings were still in the 200's when I saw him he decided that the highest dose of Metformin was necessary.
Today, my numbers are all below 125, even after meals, save for an occasional 130 here or there. I took this diagnosis very seriously and the day I was diagnosed, October 13th, was the day I changed my whole lifestyle. I eat right now, exercise 5 days a week, and have managed to drop 25 lbs. I have more to lose still but I know it will happen.
Sorry for the life story here. I tend to be long winded sometimes. Ha!
I go for labs next Thursday and they will draw for an A1c among other things. I am anxious to see my doctor then on the 19th to see the results. He had hinted that if the numbers continue to look good and my weight continues to come down that we might look at decreasing some dosages.

Hiya Liz,

You know, I don't really think that people's Life Story here are really out of line, I mean it helps us all understand how we arrived at the place we are now, you know? It is also a real education for me. For myself, When I was admitted to hospital for my amputation, my A1C was sitting at 12. I was running a fever and I felt really terrible. I don't really remember if they gave me insulin that night before I was taken into surgery. I do know that the next day, after I got out of the recovery room, that I was given insulin and that evening at dinner I was started on metformin. The next morning I was started on the Gliclazide as well. I spoke to my family doctor in April and we agreed to take me off the Gliclazide and try the victoza. Almost immediately, my BG took a 2mmol/L (about 28 mg/dL) increase and stayed up there. I did get an initial weight loss of about 30 lbs but after about 8 months on the Victoza I am now back to Gliclazide. It just seemed that the Victoza was not really the right medication for me. My diabetes education centre team suggested that I try Byetta but my doctor wanted to play it safer and keep me on the gliclazide.

One of the more interesting things I found out about Byetta is that the mechanism by it works is similar to victoza but the company that makes victoza has basically told the diabetic community that they know they are a more expensive medication and not to prescribe it to patients who cannot afford it. That may be something that is particular to Canada where I am. I was just curious, are you on Byetta still?

Regards,

lary