I have been taking metformin for my diabetes for 2 months and since then I always have a stomach ache. I go to the bathroom 7-8 times a day. Is this normal?
30-year-old woman4 years ago
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The pain occurs about 4 hours after taking the medication. I take 850 mg tablets twice a day
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Alexandre Chagnon · 4 years ago
Hello Ma'am,
This is indeed the most common side effect of metformin, diarrhea.
To counteract this effect, the dose should be greatly reduced for a few days, until the diarrhea has been gone for at least 1 or 2 days, and then the dose should be gradually resumed, starting with a dose of 250mg twice a day maximum. The dose will then be increased gradually every 10-14 days until the target dose is reached.