I have been taking it for about four weeks and I have not noticed any side effects other than lower blood sugar, lowered LDL and triglycerides, and a slight increase in HDL. I also have lost about 10lbs since I got on it, but that also can be because of a slightly improved diet and lower carb count. I did have a spell of diarrhea but it only lasted 24 hours or so and I am not sure if it was from the medications. I am on 500mg in the morning and 750mg in the evenings. You are warned to take it with food. I am not sure if this is because it can be harsh for some people's stomachs or if because it works better with food. (Which I know some meds only work with food but I am not sure yet which ones.)

Metformin was the first med I took for diabetes six and a half years ago and I still use it. Everybody's experiences are different so when I have questions about a med I will type it's name in a search engine
and try to find out side effects. That way you can find out more information. My personal experience has been good enough but I have had to add other stuff to it. I have heard people say it gives them diarrhea. But it has to be safe for most people because it is usually the first oral med that a doctor will try and it is also cheap.
You can get it at Walmart for $4.00 for a month's supplie.

Sally

I have been taking Metformin for six months and have not experienced any side effects.

Hello Shirley, I have been using Metformin since I was diagnosed in mid July. So far I have not noticed any side effects. Metformin is one of the oldest oral and most common medications for diabetes and several other conditions. Most people tolerate the drug well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by either you or your health care provider.

There are a number of side effects with metformin that you should report to your health care provider. These include, but are not limited to:


* Signs of lactic acidosis, including feeling tired or weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, feeling cold, dizziness or light headedness, and a slow or irregular heartbeat

* Symptoms of high blood sugar, including

o Increased hunger
o Increased thirst
o Increased urination
o Blurred vision
o Fatigue
o Shortness of breath
o Nausea or vomiting

* Symptoms of low blood sugar, including

o Sweating
o Shakiness
o Extreme hunger
o Dizziness
o Cold sweats
o Blurry vision
o Changes in behavior, such as irritability
o Loss of coordination
o Difficulty speaking
o Confusion
o Seizures

* Chest pain

* Signs of an allergic reaction, including an unexplained skin rash, itching, hives, wheezing or trouble breathing, or unexplained swelling.

There are other possible metformin side effects that can occur. In clinical studies, these side effects occurred in 1 to 5 percent of people taking metformin. For these side effects, it is difficult to tell whether the side effect is caused by metformin or something else.

Some of these possible metformin side effects include, but are not limited to:


* Taste changes
* Abnormal stools
* Muscle pain
* Light headedness or dizziness
* Difficulty breathing
* Nail problems
* Increased sweating
* Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, muscle pain, chills, and weakness
* Flushing (a reddening of the skin, especially in the face)
* Feelings of a forcefully or rapidly beating heart (heart palpitations).

You may experience some or none of the metformin side effects explained above. Unfortunately, there is no way for your health care provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, be sure to let your health care provider know if you develop any metformin side effects. Also, let your health care provider know if you develop something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be a metformin side effect, your health care provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.