I recently started Metformin for IR, but am having a lot of gut issues,even after 2 weeks . Thoughts about other possible supplements?

Robin_Maisel
5 yrs ago
15replies

- David_Hanson
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Suggestions that I have seen:

- Titrate your metformin dose up a little at a time - 500mg for a week or two, then 1000mg for a week or two, until you get to the dose you desire. Some people have reported just taking 500mg per day. Qalytude teledocs believe that 1000mg is enough for anti-aging.

- Take it with food

-Extended release is better tolerated than immediate release

-Not sure where I saw this - but I read last fall before I started taking that if a person eats a high carbohydrate diet, they are more likely to have digestive distress

- berberine is the most mentioned herbal that I have seen - I take both metformin and berberine
- Shauna
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  David H Hi David: People with an MTFHR gene mutation often can not tolerate Metformin. MTFHR mutations affect methylation in the body causing less methylation.
  
  Also, metformin depletes b12 so ensure you are getting enough of the active form of B12 as methylcobalamin and active folate as methylfolate; L-5-MTHF.
  
  With that said, Even though I do not have an MTFHR mutation. I had to cut my anti-aging dosage of regular generic metformin to 250 mgs in the a.m. and p.m. to avoid feeling an inability to work out to full capacity at higher dosages. So, maybe your abdominal pain is a signal to cut back the dosage.
  
  Someone else mentioned dissolving the tablet to avoid abdominal issues, and IMO, this is worth a try first, then perhaps reducing the dose might help.
  
  I was not diabetic or pre-diabetic, when I started the metformin. I titrated up and the higher dosages still always caused me to feel weaker when working out. The 250mg twice per day appears to work for me.
- Andrew_P_K_Yap
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Try Glucophage 500 mg a day. It is slow release. If you are not diabetic, there's no reason to do more than 500mg a day.

Improve your microbiome.
- Robin_Maisel
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Andrew P K Yap Isn't glucophage the same as Metformin? That's what I found when I did a search.
- Andrew_P_K_Yap
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Robin Maisel It's a certain brand of metformin that I've been using for more than 10 years. I do not, and had never suffered from diabetes, by the way.
  
  I first took it for anti aging all those years back.
  
  Glucophage is dirt cheap in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Joe_smith
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Andrew P K Yap makes sense. Also the dose as low as 250mg per day is most likely sufficient.
- David_Hanson
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
There is NO general agreement on the anti-aging dose for metformin. I have seen suggested dosing from 0mg to 2500mg per day. Bill Faloon of Life Extension wrote that he takes 2300mg per day. And as I noted the doctors at Qalytude teledoc service for anti-aging recommend 1000mg per day.
- Jim_N
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Drinks lots of water, or slight crush your pill and drink lots of water (A full glass). Works for me. I take 1000mg twice a day for years. If the pill reaches your intestines and it's not completely dissolved you will have stomach issues. I'm type II diabetic.
- TJTJ
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Jim N Are you only taking it for diabetes or anti aging? You look like you are 30 in the profile pic?
- Jim_N
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  TJTJ Originally for diabetes. But I don’t mind the bonus for anti-aging.
  
  I’m 43. Horvath clock says I’m 42. Levine clock says I’m 32. People say I look like I’m in my early 30s.
- Robin_Maisel
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Thanks for the information. My doctor prescribed me 750 mg once a day. It doesn’t sound like this is an optimal dosage for anti-aging, is that correct?
- Patrick_McHargue
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Not related to gut issues, but metformin seems to cause me a lot of leg cramps. So much so that I discontinued its use (twice daily at 500mg per dose)

Any guidance on how to alleviate this effect?

I am considering restarting at 250mg once a day in the AM.

Thanks all.
- TJTJ
- 5 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Are you low carb as well? I have had nightmarish cramps on keto and low carb.
- Paul_Beauchemin
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  TJTJ low carb depletes sodium and potassium in the early stages. You need to supplement
  https://youtu.be/KF3buYQWJ3E
- TJTJ
  
  5 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Paul Beauchemin You are correct Paul. I still had issues as I am active and sweat like a champ when I work out. I couldn't keep enough in me as the low carb aspect of things drains some of the cellular water out and with it, that electrolyte "battery" of sorts. I found that it was less about the magnesium, for me, and more about the salt. I started drinking salt water in the AM and was able to somewhat control it. Go figure.