Metforman

Hi and thanks for joining the community and posting this question. I'll be curious to hear what others have to say about their experience with metformin. For you, is metformin a new medication? Or have you been taking it for some time and now are experiencing falls and weakness. Have you had an opportunity to check in with your doctor and let them know what is going on? I'm linking an article from our website that reviews some basics of metformin if this interests you. Let us know what you think! https://type2diabetes.com/living/about-metformin -Lauren (team member)

Hi . In some people, metformin can cause a vitamin B12 defficiency, which can lead to muscle weakness. Here is a link to a study that might interest you: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8311483/. It would be wise to talk to your doctor about the muscle weakness and ask for a blood test to measure your B12 levels. If all is good and the symptoms continute, you might want to request a referal to a neurologist or at least a brain MRI. Falls caused by sudden muscle weakness can sometimes be a symptom of a neurological issues. I hope this helps and that other chime with experiences to share. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)

Hello , I was on metformin for over 20 years. I was having all kinds of side effects, but my healthcare team wasn't that worried about it. I was having diarrhea, stomach issues, no appetite, falling, and Vitamin D was very low. I was taking a 50,000 vitamin D pill once a week for years. It was on one of my visits when she said I am going to take you off of Metformin because of all the bad publicity it was getting, not about my side effects. I was kept me on Vitamin D. It was 2 years later that another doctor asked me why I was on that medication and that I didn't need it.


Of course, we are all different and medications affect us differently. Talk to your healthcare provider. If something doesn't sound right - get a second opinion. There is so much as patients that we don't know, but we have to be our own best advocate. I applaud you for reaching out to this community. Let us know how things go. We would love to hear from you. Diane (Team Member)

Once I found out that Forman was linked to liver cancer, I spoke with my physician and immediately had them stop the medication. However, my dad continue to take it and a few later even after I asked him not to take it anymore. He died with liver cancer.