Metformin and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2012

Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking this medicine for a month today. I have seen a significant and favorable drop in my blood sugar. However, I've never felt sicker in my entire life. Every day since starting this, I've been nauseous, even to the point of vomiting. I find that I now have motion sickness and since I take public transport, I sometimes have to get off the bus to vomit. I always have diarrhea. I sometimes have fever symptoms, chills along with a feeling of being very cold, and terrible headaches. I've also become quite anxious, restless, and moody, which may be a side effect of these side effects. I've lost 12 lbs and I find myself eating less, which is awesome but I'm ALWAYS nauseous, which is why I have no appetite."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2012

Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes "I had diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and muscle pain. It did not control my blood sugar either. I never want to feel like that again. But, on the other hand, my husband is able to take it with no side effects, and it keeps his blood sugar between 90 and 130."

• Sky...
• October 24, 2016

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I have been taking metformin 500 mg since 3/2016. I'm 4'11, about 168 lb. I was diagnosed this year with PCOS after having been misdiagnosed years ago. I haven't had a regular period since I was 11 years old, and I didn't think anything of it. I would go years without having a natural period. Most of the time I had to be put on Provera to bring down my periods. I'm 24 now. The metformin is okay. I have a system with it - I will eat and take it before 8 pm - if not, you will wake up vomiting or worse, diarrhea. Around 3 months into taking it, I lost 25 pounds, which is okay. I am eating healthy salads, apples, cranberry juice - that's just some of the light things. It's been progress, so just take your time, ladies, and let the pills take their course. Have a good day."

• Ins...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "When I was first diagnosed, my doctor gave me Metformin. After I took the very first pill, I had severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. I spent hours curled up in the fetal position, bawling my eyes out. I didn't care if it took time to adjust to the side effects. I tried one day's worth of the medicine and tossed the rest. My doctor went on to prescribe Amaryl. I'm sure Metformin is a great drug for some people, as it works well for other family members, but the stomach pain and vomiting were too much to handle. No thanks."

• Sad...
• May 22, 2017

Metformin for Insulin Resistance Syndrome "I didn't have such a good experience with it. Whenever I take it after breakfast, as my doctor prescribed me, I feel nausea and dizziness. In the starting days, I felt severe weakness and pain in my backbone and in my whole body, but as time passed, my feelings are getting changed, just like I like feel vomiting even during sleep. I feel like my heart comes out, I feel dizziness too much, and feel blah. I'm worried about my condition because it is necessary to take this medicine, but the side effects are making my life like hell."

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2019

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I started taking this medicine after trying to conceive for over a year, my DD (darling daughter) is a year and 8 months now. On April 19th, I went to the hospital over my concerns of being unable to get pregnant and had a transvaginal ultrasound. The doctor said my follicles are not mature, so my eggs were just like a pearl necklace, all the same size on a line, and I had just finished my period 4 days prior. There was supposed to be a dominant one, so all this had me devastated. He put me on 1000 mg of metformin twice a day, which I took but wasn't regular with. It made me feel like vomiting, I felt extremely sick that I thought I had cancer (God forbid). Today, May 20th, I hadn't seen my period, which was supposed to be due 2 weeks ago, so I decided to do a pregnancy test, and boom, the big positive! I'm grateful to God I only took this for 2 weeks (unreligiously) and discontinued because of the way I felt."

• fli...
• May 25, 2014

Metformin for Insulin Resistance Syndrome "I have been on this tablet for 6 months for my polycystic ovarian syndrome, and I am now getting my period every 28 days on the spot! But 6 months into it, I am starting to feel something like a blockage and feeling nausea and vomiting. This normally happens after my dose after dinnertime. I am on 1500 mg a day, and the doctor tells me no way it could be the tablet, so now I have to go for a scope."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2012

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on metformin 1,000 mg in the morning and 1,000 mg after dinner. Since starting this medicine, I have been having morning sickness-type feelings 24/7 with nausea and vomiting every day. I don't know if it's my Ortho Evra birth control patch or if it's the metformin making me sick. I've only been on the patch for 2 months with no side effects except for this month. I'm also on phentermine 30 mg 1x daily for a month so far. I've been eating healthier, small meals daily and exercising 6 days a week and have not lost a pound. When I go back and see my endocrinologist next month, I will report back if she changes my medication and checks my blood levels to see if there is a change. Thank you for all of the comments on here, it's helped me a great deal."

• Mer...
• April 28, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am on Basaglar, Victoza, Farxiga, glimepiride. With all that, my A1C was 13.8. Dr. put me on metformin 500 mg twice a day. I started and was nauseous, I told my dr, and he said, 'that's how you lose weight,' and upped it to 1000 mg twice a day. It has lowered my A1C to a 9.4, still high, but it is slowly coming down. Started having gastrointestinal issues along with headache, nausea, vomiting, and eye problems. I am on another medication for another problem, and the side effects are the same as metformin. So I'm not sure at the moment which, if not both, are causing my problems."

• Sop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2019

For Female Infertility "I have PCOS and had a successful pregnancy with Clomid 2 years ago at 150 mg after taking Clomid for 5 months. I started Clomid again, 150 mg for 9 months with no success this time. I did ovulate every month, though. My ob-gyn referred me to a fertility specialist, and after doing more lab work, decided to put me on a dose of metformin, 850 mg, 2 tabs per day of metformin. I took 1 tab for 1 week and then 2 tabs on the second week. The first week I had diarrhea, nausea, headache, but it was tolerable. I also got my period 6 days after starting metformin after not having one for almost 6 months, so that’s a plus. On the second week of metformin dosage of 1700 mg, my side effects got worse. I still have diarrhea, lightheadedness, stomach pain, and also vomiting. I take it at dinner time once I get home since I work in the daytime. Hope this works with all these side effects, lol. When I was on Clomid, I did not have any side effects. I’ll update you ladies and see if I ovulate."

• Tim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Back in March, I went to see my nurse. I wasn’t informed that they switched my medication from Janumet to Metformin. I took it for 30 days. I had begun to experience nausea, heartburn, vomiting, bloating, dizziness, lightheadedness, and headache. I quit taking it and I went back to Janumet. Metallic aftertaste in my mouth. I will never take this medication again because of the negative side effects it causes."

• spt...
• November 29, 2011

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "My doctor diagnosed me with PCOS 1 month ago and put me on Metformin to help with my period. The first week was fine, except for cravings and a little diarrhea. By the third week, I upped my dose to 1000 mg a day. The first day taking 1000 mg, I got really sick (vomiting), and every time I would move, I felt like I was going to get sick again, so basically, I laid around all day (thank goodness I upped my dose on a weekend). After that, I was fine, well, as long as I took the pill on a full stomach, I had no problems in that area. I haven't lost any weight, and the way I'm going, I will probably be gaining soon because my cravings are getting out of hand. I have never been into as much chocolate or any kind of junk food until I started taking Metformin. I have also been constipated, cold sores on my lips (two in a week), and pimples in areas that I don't usually get them. I don't know what to think about the pill so far, I will give it another month and see how it goes."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2017

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I am 20 years old. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Before I knew I had it, I noticed that I couldn't lose any weight no matter how hard I tried. My doctor prescribed me Metformin and Spironolactone. When I first started the meds, I was vomiting a lot and had diarrhea, but I did see changes in my body. I started feeling lighter, and I was losing weight within a month. I'm in college, so it was hard for me to deal with those side effects at school, so I stopped it for a time. Now I started using it again because I want to lose weight, hopefully, it keeps working. By the way, besides helping with weight, Metformin helps make you fertile. So if you're not planning on having kids now, you should be on birth control too."

• RKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2019

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I’ve tried every dose of metformin, and it all caused horrible side effects for me (nausea, sometimes vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, etc.) I’m now on metformin 500XR once daily for two weeks, and it’s like magic! No side effects!"

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2020

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I have PCOS and was prescribed Glucophage 500 mg daily, and for the first 14 days, I only experienced stomach pains and a slight headache. Today is the 15th day, and I suddenly started vomiting about 8 times. I am not sure why the sudden change in side effects. I thought I could be pregnant, but the dates don't add up."

• JZ1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Metformin about 5 weeks ago. I was switched to ER for stomach issues. I have noticed I get a tickle in my throat and dry cough. Immediately, I have to fight back the urge to vomit. Does anyone else get this symptom?"

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Was prescribed metformin for diabetes 2 and PCOD. Started vomiting immediately after consumption and didn't help lower diabetes too, just made me weak and had adverse effects. As soon as I stopped taking metformin, vomiting and dizziness ceased, and I was back to normal except for blood sugar levels, which were high."

• hat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am experiencing a fuzzy head sensation, as if I am wearing a 2-inch thick tin foil helmet, and terrible nausea, sometimes resulting in violent vomiting."

• Anonymous
• March 23, 2010

Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes "I took this medicine for a very short while. It began with serious nausea, followed by vomiting a couple of weeks later. I could not take this medicine."

• Kma...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "This brand does not stink like some of the others (you know that sewage smell). It won't make you want to vomit like some of them. Highly recommend."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I found out I have type 2 diabetes back in May when going on for spine surgery. Dr. increased my dosage to 2× a day. I have been sick to my stomach with vomiting and have zero appetite ..."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2020

For Insulin Resistance Syndrome "Been on it for 3 days and feel so sick: headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and overall just feel terrible. Dr. said give it a week, so we will see in a week if I still feel sick."