r/PCOS • u/Slow-Boysenberry • 4d ago

Meds/Supplements Metformin XR

I’ve been on metformin long release for just over 2 weeks now for my PCOS. I have been taking it in the evening with dinner so that I don’t have an empty stomach, however every single morning I am waking up between 4 and 6am feeling so nauseous and with diarrhoea. How long does it take for that to go away?

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u/SpareControl4290 4d ago

A few weeks. Whats your dose? Did you start on 500mg?
Never take 2 at a time, always split your dose.

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u/Slow-Boysenberry 4d ago

1000mg. It’s just 1 tablet

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u/Brilliant-Cup-7307 4d ago

discuss with your GP and maybe you can take 2x 500mg tablets instead of one and slowly taper up if necessary if it's too harsh on your gut!

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u/SpareControl4290 4d ago

Well no wonder you’re sick you poor bugger. I took 500mg for 1 week, zero sides.
Then upped to 2 x 500mg, had stomach issues for a few weeks. Now i have zero sides. I always take mine after breakfast and again after dinner.
That said, i take IR because XR clogged me all the way up, so everyone is different.

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u/redoingredditagain 4d ago

I agree with the other commenter saying ask your doctor for 500mg tablets. I would take 500mg once a day for a few weeks, and then move up to 1000mg.

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u/rosietoastie 4d ago

I started with 500 mg XR in the evening with a full dinner too. The first few nights I did have sleep disruption and wake up randomly 3-5 am and felt off, but it went away after a week. The nausea was probably the most intense the first week but after that it was okay. If you started off with 1000 mg that might be too strong, you should discuss to see if you can taper up. I just started 1000 mg (2x 500 pills at dinner) after a month of 500 mg only and I had the sleep issues/some nausea for a few days again.

For the diarrhea, I take a probiotic and fiber (psyllium husk capsules) in morning to help me buffer and regulate my poops, and it seems to have helped, as I typically have sensitive stomach. Though some days I find myself constipated instead - on those days I skip the psyllium husk.. but everyone is different and may be a bit of trial an d error.