Dr. Mirkin's Fitness and Health Forum: Best time to take Metformin?

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hbf-den
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Topic: Best time to take Metformin?
Posted: 08 Sep 2006 at 4:26am

Hello,

I have to take Metformin and Glyburide in the mornings and in the evenings... I take it immediately after I finish my meals. I've been told to take them with my meals but not sure if it's the best/optimum time to take them.

Does anyone know when is the best/optimum time to take them?

- Before meals? If so how many minutes before?

- During meals?

- After meals?

Thanks.

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hbf-den
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Posted: 11 Sep 2006 at 7:31pm

No takers?

The reason I asked is because according to the recent Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine September 10, 2006:

"Metformin prevents the liver from releasing sugar into the

bloodstream. When taken before eating, it markedly reduces the

rise in blood sugar. A high rise in blood sugar after eating

causes the pancreas to release large amounts of insulin which

acts on the brain to make you hungry, on the liver to make more

fat, and on the fat cells in your belly to fill with fat..."

So, since I was told to take it with meals (to which I assumed immediately after meals), would it be better then for me to take it before meals? And if so, how many minutes before meals?

I know that timing is important in a lot of medications and if taking Metformin (and Glyburide) before eating will make a difference, I would like to know.

Does anyone know?

Thanks again.

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renoozie
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Posted: 12 Sep 2006 at 1:42am

I did take metformin at one time and was advised to take it 20-30 minutes before eating. renoozie

renoozie

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bkabra
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Posted: 15 Sep 2007 at 6:57pm

Hi, I'm a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic. (8/24/2007) I am trying to figure that out myself. I take one glyburide/metformin combo once per day. (2.5/500). I found a site which says glyburide 30 min before meals but when it is a combo it should be with meals.

diabetescamps.org/conferences/2006/ORAL%20AGENTS%2010-05.doc

I think I need to take 1/2 a pill. They do make a combo at 1/2 strength to what i'm taking. I had a low of 46 today after eating eggs, sausage and 1 hash brown from mcdonalds. (15 gms of carbs). I took the pill with it. I guess i need to take it with a higher carb meal.

Bill

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Sam1
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Posted: 17 Jan 2008 at 10:53am

For metformin the concensus of the authors I have read seems to be that taking metformin up to a half hour before eating might be ideal from a control point of view. But some people feel that taking it with the meal instead might minimize side effects. So I suspect that side-effect minimization is the reason for the difference in reccomendations.

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Desires_Health
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Posted: 17 Jul 2009 at 5:08am

When I took Metformin,I ate several bites of Food,took the Pill,then finished eating.This Medication can cause Tummy upsets.Toward the end of my second bottle and after starting my third bottle,I began having excruciating Muscle pain in my Legs.Stopped Metformin and the pain went away..

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richermartyn
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Posted: 10 Oct 2009 at 9:49am

First, When should we take metformin before a meal or after a meal? I always have understood to take them with food???I am on 1500 mg Metformin. I take one 500 pill in the morning after I eat one after lunch and one after Dinner/or later in the evening if I forget at dinner.I really think I need to go on 2000 mg per day. I have high readings, like 127-150 in the mornings. The readings all vary because of what I eat at dinner or before bedtime.
I fix a good dinner and eat a little of everything. Even if it is white potato, bread, desert or etc. I almost know that is what puts my readings up in the mornings. Sometimes I eat too much potato. I am always hungry and love to eat. I only weigh 106 lbs. I wonder if that might allow me to have higher reading??

Edited by Jericho - 10 Oct 2009 at 12:05pm

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Diabetes - Control and Prevention
Dr. Mirkin's Fitness and Health Forum : Health Issues, Diseases and Conditions : Diabetes - Control and Prevention

Author	Message
hbf-den Newbie Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Topic: Best time to take Metformin? Posted: 08 Sep 2006 at 4:26am
	Hello, I have to take Metformin and Glyburide in the mornings and in the evenings... I take it immediately after I finish my meals. I've been told to take them with my meals but not sure if it's the best/optimum time to take them. Does anyone know when is the best/optimum time to take them? - Before meals? If so how many minutes before? - During meals? - After meals? Thanks.
	IP Logged

hbf-den Newbie Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 11 Sep 2006 at 7:31pm
	No takers? The reason I asked is because according to the recent Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine September 10, 2006: "Metformin prevents the liver from releasing sugar into the bloodstream. When taken before eating, it markedly reduces the rise in blood sugar. A high rise in blood sugar after eating causes the pancreas to release large amounts of insulin which acts on the brain to make you hungry, on the liver to make more fat, and on the fat cells in your belly to fill with fat..." So, since I was told to take it with meals (to which I assumed immediately after meals), would it be better then for me to take it before meals? And if so, how many minutes before meals? I know that timing is important in a lot of medications and if taking Metformin (and Glyburide) before eating will make a difference, I would like to know. Does anyone know? Thanks again.
	IP Logged

renoozie Newbie Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 12 Sep 2006 at 1:42am
	I did take metformin at one time and was advised to take it 20-30 minutes before eating. renoozie
	renoozie
	IP Logged

bkabra Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 15 Sep 2007 at 6:57pm
	Hi, I'm a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic. (8/24/2007) I am trying to figure that out myself. I take one glyburide/metformin combo once per day. (2.5/500). I found a site which says glyburide 30 min before meals but when it is a combo it should be with meals. diabetescamps.org/conferences/2006/ORAL%20AGENTS%2010-05.doc I think I need to take 1/2 a pill. They do make a combo at 1/2 strength to what i'm taking. I had a low of 46 today after eating eggs, sausage and 1 hash brown from mcdonalds. (15 gms of carbs). I took the pill with it. I guess i need to take it with a higher carb meal.
	Bill
	IP Logged

Sam1 Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Posted: 17 Jan 2008 at 10:53am
	For metformin the concensus of the authors I have read seems to be that taking metformin up to a half hour before eating might be ideal from a control point of view. But some people feel that taking it with the meal instead might minimize side effects. So I suspect that side-effect minimization is the reason for the difference in reccomendations.
	IP Logged

Desires_Health Newbie Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Posted: 17 Jul 2009 at 5:08am
	When I took Metformin,I ate several bites of Food,took the Pill,then finished eating.This Medication can cause Tummy upsets.Toward the end of my second bottle and after starting my third bottle,I began having excruciating Muscle pain in my Legs.Stopped Metformin and the pain went away..
	IP Logged

richermartyn Newbie Joined: 10 Oct 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 10 Oct 2009 at 9:49am
	First, When should we take metformin before a meal or after a meal? I always have understood to take them with food???I am on 1500 mg Metformin. I take one 500 pill in the morning after I eat one after lunch and one after Dinner/or later in the evening if I forget at dinner.I really think I need to go on 2000 mg per day. I have high readings, like 127-150 in the mornings. The readings all vary because of what I eat at dinner or before bedtime. I fix a good dinner and eat a little of everything. Even if it is white potato, bread, desert or etc. I almost know that is what puts my readings up in the mornings. Sometimes I eat too much potato. I am always hungry and love to eat. I only weigh 106 lbs. I wonder if that might allow me to have higher reading?? Edited by Jericho - 10 Oct 2009 at 12:05pm
	IP Logged