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Is There Any Alternative Medication Of Metformin For Type 2 Diabetes?
I have been on metformin 500mg since August 2013. I was diagnosed with type two diabetes at that time because of an A1C result of 6.0. I had frequent urination and frequent UTI's and yeast infections. Since being on Metformin I have noticed a decrease in my urinary discomfort and frequency and yeast infections have disappeared. But I have noticed some life transforming side effects. If I forget to take my metformin with dinner and I take it at any other time I will inevitably have explosive bowel movements. When I take my metformin as prescribed then I have horrible constipation, hemmoroids and very painful bowel movements. Before being on metformin I was always regular with no pain. Is there an alternative to Metformin that I can ask my doctor about. I reported my problems and she insisted on keeping me on metformin saying that these effects are only temporary. This affects my ability at work since I am a school teacher and I have very few chances to go to the bathroom.
Mon, 3 Feb 2014
Hi,
It is true that metformin can cause altered bowel movements as an adverse effects. There are many other oral anti-diabetic medicines which can be tried. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone reduce insulin resistance like metformin, though by a different mechanism of action. Glimepride, glyburide and glipizide stimulate insulin release.
However I guess that since your HbA1C level was just minimally elevated, your doctor gave you just metformin in a low dose and not any of the other drugs. If you are unable to tolerate metformin, then good diet control, weight loss and exercise may be enough to cut down your blood sugar levels even without metformin. You can discuss the available options with your doctor before deciding.
Best wishes.
It is true that metformin can cause altered bowel movements as an adverse effects. There are many other oral anti-diabetic medicines which can be tried. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone reduce insulin resistance like metformin, though by a different mechanism of action. Glimepride, glyburide and glipizide stimulate insulin release.
However I guess that since your HbA1C level was just minimally elevated, your doctor gave you just metformin in a low dose and not any of the other drugs. If you are unable to tolerate metformin, then good diet control, weight loss and exercise may be enough to cut down your blood sugar levels even without metformin. You can discuss the available options with your doctor before deciding.
Best wishes.
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