Metformin - are pains in legs, knees and feet a side effect of metformin?

I had been on Metformin for 20 years, both regular and extended types. The only side effect I had had up to this point was lower jaw pain.

In the 3 months (or since my last refill), my Walmart confirmed that they recently changed suppliers for their Metformin.

I experienced this top of foot pain every time I took even a half dose (500mg). My arthritis knee pain was also worse.

I had a headache lasted for 10 days - that’s when I got off the med.

Also, my gums became inflamed!

My doctor changed my RX to the extended release and Walmart confirmed it came from a different manufacturer, but the foot pain still occurred with the extended release, too. I had to get off of it completely and do very low carb diet - thankfully that is working for me.

I started Metformin a week ago. For the past two days, I have been waking in the morning with strong pain in my knees and legs. It tends to clear once I get up and moving around, but it is very painful to get moving. As others have stated here, the only thing I have changed in the past week is starting Metformin and drinking a lot more water.
I spoke to my Doctor this morning and she suggested I stop taking Metformin for a few days and see what happens to the pain. If the pain stops, we'll look at alternative medicines for my diabetes.

I've been taking metformin for several years. When I started having severe leg craps at night, I thought I was dehydrated because of the diuretic effect of diabetes medicines. Even though I was drinking plenty of fluids and taking supplements, the leg craps persisted. At times I thought my calve muscle was going to explode. As soon as I stop taking metformin, the leg craps went away. Unfortunately, my blood sugar also started to increase.

i started Metformin a week ago, and wake up with a dull pain in my upper left leg, i’m going to stop this med, has anyone tried anything naturally.?

I was on Metformin for a number of years. The dose was gradually increased. I began having sudden onset diarrhea (no warning stomach upset it would just start) and leg cramps that started in the top of my feet and up my legs. While this happened mostly at night, it would wake me up screaming in pain, it also would occur occasionally during the day. I informed my doctors several times about the leg cramps and was told to drink more water. I did but cramps persisted. At no time did doctors suggest the cramps might be a side effect of medications. They love Metformin for diabetics and seem unwilling to accept muscle cramps as a side effect. Finally, saw an endocrinologist who was more willing to listen and entertain that leg cramps could be a medication side effect. She took me off Metformin temporarily. It was a miracle. Leg pains gone, no more waking up screaming in pain.

Interesting... I have also started Metformin as my doc has been trying to get me on this for years and then my blood sugar went up to 5.5 and that was enough to make me go on it. In the last 3 weeks I have soaring knee pain my heels on my feet are aching and I've developed sciatica in my right side... I stopped taking it today after nearly 3 months, it was immediate pain free.. it didn't affect my digestion at all.. But I could hardly walk because of the pain. So I've started a very low carb diet to keep me drug free from type 2 diabetes.

Yes I have had pain in my right leg mostly in my shin area I have all types of tests which showed a inflammation in my shin area this has been going on for over three years I decided to stop the metformin and the excuritating pain went away I stopped it two months ago and tried taking the medication metformin again and the pain came back

I seem to be having the same problem with metformin. Leg pain from the knees down an the top of the feet. Were you able to find a solution?

I started metformin a few years ago and stopped it due to the diarrhea. Was terrible. I just restarted it in April 2017 and added Januvia June 2017. 6/26 I was in the ER with my knee the size of za cantaloupe. Had to have it drained. Knee pain started again fri nite and again my knee was swollen had to have it drained in the er again. I have now stopped all diabetes meds. Sometimes the side effects are worse than the condition your treating.

I have leg pain in the upper part of my leg. Is this a side effect of metformin

I am having the same problem, on my left foot. starts at the arch then the top like from the big toe all the way to the ankle bone then up the leg bone. I thought it was my shoes so i ended up buying two new pair... Wearing soft suede moccasins helps, but i have started to suspect the metformin, i had been taking atenolol six months prior without any pains.

Please let me know if you where able to fix your foot pains Thank you.

A lot of meds have some side effects. Could be some other stuff you are on, say for example cholesterol medication. Weight issue also has a bearing!!! Please discuss with your primary care team /doc.

Hey,
I'm no doc & can't answer the question; however, I've had chronic, severe leg pain--both legs-- & other causes besides meds (according to neurologists, etc) can be a neuropathy, which is a pinched nerve in your spine (or compressed disks pinching a nerve); degenerative disk disease in lower back, or from a past back prob. In my case, I feel like searing fire & at same time like hit by a hammer; also numbness, tingling. I have Parkinsons: 1/2 docs think that's related, 1/2 say a past back trauma.
If it's not the meds, there's good info on this site, and, primarily, your doc. about these topics.
Tomba