“Type 2 diabetes?”
My PCP has me taking metformin. For type 2 diabetes, it upsets my stomach and my throat swells. Do I need to try a different medication?
Female | 72 years old
Complaint duration: 14 days
Medications: Metformen
4 Answers
Metformin is very rough on the digestive system.
While metformin is recommended as the first medication for people with type 2 diabetes because of its benefits, many people cannot tolerate it, particularly because of stomach upset, diarrhea, or kidney issues. While some stomach side effects can be tolerable, throat swelling is a reason to stop it immediately since it suggests a more serious reaction that can be life-threatening. In deciding which medicine is appropriate for a given patient, a number of factors must be considered, including the severity of Diabetes, HbA1C, kidney function, age of the patient, possible side effects of the medication, whether the patient is having low sugars, and any coexisting medical conditions they may have.
Yes! Inform your doctor asap.
Stomach upset is a normal side effect with metformin and normally when it doesn’t stop after a couple of weeks it is changed to the extended-release version which should solve the upset issues. However, throat swelling shows you are reacting to the drug and this type of response is a true allergic reaction and not a side effect. So you need to contact your PCP right away for the next line of action.
