Metformin causing weight fluctuations?

[Twiggie]

Has anyone else experienced major weight fluctuations whilst taking Metformin for diabetes? Or are you all good people and take your meds regularly without fail?

I am terrible at taking meds, often forgetting them and at times completely avoiding them as I seem to be developing a phobia about taking tablets

As you can see from my weight chart below my weight has fluctuated dramatically even though I'm still eating/drinking the same things every day, staying below 2000 calories, usually around 1500 per day.

The only thing I can think might be causing it is the Metformin. The weight increases seem to coincide with the times I've missed doses and the last couple of weeks I've not taken any at all and my weight has shot up again back to what it was almost a year ago!!! :sigh:

I also remember when I first ever started on Metformin about 4 yrs ago I weighed the same as I do now but within weeks I dropped 2st and maintained that weight for over a year. It only started creeping back up when I started missing doses and eventually stopped taking them altogether.

I've got my pre-op in just over 2 weeks and I don't have a clue how I'm going to explain such a large weight gain, I'm terrified they'll cancel my surgery :cry:

 

[Lisa J]

Cant advise you on the tablets but im sure they wont cancel your op, i put on 3 stone before mine, but do try and lose some if you can as you will get to your goal much quicker once you've had your surgery, try not to worry though.

 

[thinnerangela]

As I remember Metformin can make you put on weight!!

But I suppose if it has the same diabolical effects on your bowels as it did mine than you will lose weight on it!!

My daughter was put on it for insulin resistance associated with PCOS and rang in the week with terrible diarrhoea and stomach cramps which we are sure were metformin related.

Shouldn't worry too much about weight gain before surgery - though if you can lose any it would be to your advantage - quicker to goal to start with - and it could help the surgeon

Try to stick to the pre-op diet cos that will help you lose before the op - and shrink your liver

Good Luck

Angela

 

[Twiggie]

It can cause stomach problems initially, hence why they taper the dose up but the only time I have that problem is when I try taking my full dose after missing it for a few days. I've also never known it to cause weight gain, usually the opposite but I guess there are always exceptions.

As for losing weight, I can't do any more than I'm already doing. I'm eating a healthy balanced diet of around 1500cals a day and eating low/no sugar and low-fat options where possible, so can't understand why I've suddenly gained 10lbs in just 2 weeks (since I've not been taking Metformin)

My surgeon is very strict and expects consistent weight loss prior to surgery. He's categorically stated that any weight gain could result in surgery being cancelled :sigh:

I just wondered whether anyone had ever experienced anything similar. I think maybe I should make an appt to see my GP for advice.

 

[phatmomma]

Sorry to be dense here.... but metformin is a diabetes medication right (i take three x 500mg slow release a day)... Are you taking it for another reason or because you're diabetic.... If so why haven't you had any for the last two weeks?

ignore me if i'm chatting rubbish....

 

[Twiggie]

Sorry to be dense here.... but metformin is a diabetes medication right (i take three x 500mg slow release a day)... Are you taking it for another reason or because you're diabetic.... If so why haven't you had any for the last two weeks?

ignore me if i'm chatting rubbish....

Yes, I take 2000mg Metformin and 80mg Gliclazide for diabetes. I also take medication for other illnesses which amount to in excess of 16 tablets a day some days. I really struggle taking all these and also have problems remembering them every day.

 

[ditzeeblonde]

I used to struggle with taking my meds but have now got one of those cases that you fill up morning, evening doses for the week... means I know if I've missed a dose & take it straight away & has helped me start remembering them regularily (although breakfast still escapes me!)

I seem to lose quite steadily on metformin but do stall if I've forgotten it... I'm low carbing with it now too & weight loss has been good as has my BG's.

Good luck with your surgery... surely they can't turn you away?? xxx

 

[Twiggie]

I used to struggle with taking my meds but have now got one of those cases that you fill up morning, evening doses for the week... means I know if I've missed a dose & take it straight away & has helped me start remembering them regularily (although breakfast still escapes me!)

I seem to lose quite steadily on metformin but do stall if I've forgotten it... I'm low carbing with it now too & weight loss has been good as has my BG's.

Good luck with your surgery... surely they can't turn you away?? xxx

I didn't think of using one of those boxes so will give that a try, thanks. At least it will help me remember them, although I still have problems actually swallowing them as they get stuck and I have to eat something or have a fizzy drink to dislodge them. It's got the stage where I get really anxious about taking them so have to prioritise the most important ones.

No idea how I'll cope post-op as we can't have fizzy drinks!

As for having my surgery cancelled, I'd like to think he wouldn't but he seemed deadly serious when he said it so I don't want to take the risk. If he told me I needed to jump through hoops I would lol ....it means so much to me (as it does to all of us) to have this op.

I'll speak to my GP and see what he suggests (he's also a diabetes specialist) but I'll try to keep taking them as it seems to help with the weight loss.

Thanks for the advice xxx

 

[ditzeeblonde]

How about getting a pill cutter? You just pop tablet in push down & it cuts it in half, great little device & pretty cheap too... I'm sure you could even cut the half into quarters to help make it smaller?? Just means you have to remember to take more bits tho..

 

[Twiggie]

How about getting a pill cutter? You just pop tablet in push down & it cuts it in half, great little device & pretty cheap too... I'm sure you could even cut the half into quarters to help make it smaller?? Just means you have to remember to take more bits tho..

Hehe, yeah that's something worth considering!

I've just been checking the BNF and apparently there's an oral powder version of Metformin which would be fantastic if I'm allowed to have it. Trouble is it's very expensive - a month's treatment will cost £13.60 compared to £3.84 for the tablets. Can't see the PCT allowing that somehow

 

[ditzeeblonde]

There must be a reason that it comes in powder form... worth asking tho? Worst that can happen is they say no. x

 

[Twiggie]

There must be a reason that it comes in powder form... worth asking tho? Worst that can happen is they say no. x

I'll definitely ask GP about it, as you say, it's made for a reason, presumably for people who cannot take tablets. After all, diabetes is a serious enough illness to warrant doing whatever it takes to get the meds into me

Just a thought, but if I'm one of the lucky people who's gastric bypass puts my diabetes into 'remission', then I'll only need them for the next couple of months anyway

 

[Roch]

Hun what exactly did Mr Sufi say to u bout losing the weight, as u know i had the fab Mr Sufi and he actually rang me twice to see if i had lost enough weight to have my bypass and that scared me tbh.
Yes he is very strict but also fair, u have 17 days till ur pre op why dont u try and maybe follow the pre op diet for the next 17 days, u will def drop the 10lbs and a bit more so u could then stop worrying.
As ur op is not till for 8 weeks and u wont be starting ur pre op till end of April doing the pre op diet to just drop the extra weight wont make any difference to ur liver when u start the actual pre op 4 weeks b4 ur surgery.
Am around if u want to chat take care xxx

 

[PinkyButtonz]

Hi Twiggie,

I've always been told the Metformin helps with weight loss. I think you might find that it is the Gliclazide that is affecting your weight.

I think we have spoke before? I was on Metformin before my op and they wanted to put me on another med. By my research most of them contributed to weight gain which I didn't need before my op. After speaking to the dr and diabetes nurse I was put on injection Victoza.

Since my op I haven't takin any diabetes meds.
Metformin comes in liquid form. I ordered some for after my op but never needed it.
I'm still on other meds and have set my mobile to remind me daily to take m tablets.

In Asda they do a little gadget that will cut or crush your pills, worth getting for after your op.

 

[Twiggie]

Hi Pinky, yes I do remember talking to you before about the Victoza. I asked my GP about it at the time and he said I would initially need to be referred to the endocrinologist and that could take a couple of months in which time we hoped my surgery would be due anyway, which will <fingers crossed> mean I can come off those meds anyway.

Just checked and Gliclazide does cause weight gain. I knew that already but had obviously forgotten again or I wouldn't have taken them. My memory gets worse by the day!

I've left a message for him to ask about dispersible tablets for both Metformin and one of the other vital drugs I take, which thankfully is no more expensive than tablet form so shouldn't have a problem with that one. I should be ok with the others as they're much smaller and easier to take, and the calcium/D3 ones are chewable.

I'm also going to stop the Gliclazide and get back on the Metformin and hope the weight comes back off again in time for pre-op. If it doesn't I'll just have to explain it all and hope they'll take it into account. One of my other drugs already causes weight gain too but I've just about got the dose right to keep it balanced.

Thanks again for the advice, was starting to panic about gaining all this weight so close to my op but think I've figured out why now so hope to get back on track!

Will also check in Asda for that pill gadget, sounds useful! xxx

 

[Twiggie]

Hun what exactly did Mr Sufi say to u bout losing the weight, as u know i had the fab Mr Sufi and he actually rang me twice to see if i had lost enough weight to have my bypass and that scared me tbh.
Yes he is very strict but also fair, u have 17 days till ur pre op why dont u try and maybe follow the pre op diet for the next 17 days, u will def drop the 10lbs and a bit more so u could then stop worrying.
As ur op is not till for 8 weeks and u wont be starting ur pre op till end of April doing the pre op diet to just drop the extra weight wont make any difference to ur liver when u start the actual pre op 4 weeks b4 ur surgery.
Am around if u want to chat take care xxx

Thanks hun, as you can see from my reply to Pinky I've figured out it's the Gliclazide that's responsible, as well as not taking my Metformin so I need to sort that out first and hope the weight comes back off as quickly as it went on!

Thanks for the advice hun but I really don't want to mess around with the pre-op diet before it's time for me to actually do it, otherwise a) I'll never cope the full 4 weeks if I've already tried it once, and b) it will screw up my metabolism and probably cause me to gain weight afterwards, which is the last thing I need in the run up to the op. My body doesn't react kindly to being starved (pre-anorexia days) and needs a regular supply of food to be able to maintain/lose weight

I'm just going to keep going as I am, but sort out the meds and maybe up the exercise more. Now the weather is improving I can get out for more walks and might even attempt to get back on my bike! :8855:

We're having a big BBQ party at the end of April for my final feast, then it's onto the pre-op diet in May! Got it all planned out lol Should be back eating solid foods again in time for the August BH BBQ

Thanks again for your advice hun, and you take care xxx

Oh, forgot to mention what Mr Sufi had said. He was quite cross with me in January as I'd gained about 1.5kg since my last appt in Oct. He said I needed to lose that plus more by next appt which was 4 weeks away in Feb... I managed it by the skin of my teeth but only because I barely ate anything the entire weekend before my appt. (And I've since re-gained that weight and more! )

He said if I gained weight again before surgery he'd have no hesitation in cancelling it, and that he had done it before. That's why I'm so worried but I might ask my GP to write to him too to explain about my meds etc.

 

[jem06]

the glicazide actually makes it harder to lose weight you know? I used to be on glicazide and metformin and they put me on an injection for type 2 called byetta so that i can actually lose weight. they say metformin doesnt affect weightloss but does increase fertility ( just as an added sidenote! lol )

Im sure you will lose the weight you have to, with such a life changing oppertunity hanging in the balance, theres no way you will let that chance pass you by!

Good luck lovey

 

[Stellap]

Hi, yes it is probably the gliclazide. I was on metformin and gliclazine until I got a new diabetic nurse who was astounded that they had prescribed that as I was 17 stone at the time. She immediately changed it to Prandin and I lost 2 stone. Check with your diabetic specialist about what you can take to replace it. If you are stopping and starting taking diabetic medication it will be playing havoc with your body as it can mess up your digestive system for the first few weeks of taking - I use a pill box to take mine.