Assistance Needed...

April 1, 2009 8:50 PM

Having intestinal reactions to meds that I've been taking for a while. I'm searching for a new Doc, but I'd like to ask the hive for assistance.

Legal-ese out of the way.

You are not my doctor. I should not take to heart any medical advice dispensed over the interweb. You are not my lawyer either. Thanks, my mileage may vary.

So I'm a white male in my late 30s, with hypertension and diabetes. They are both managed with medications. In the last week, I've had chronic diarrhea and the nauseous feeling in my stomach throughout the day.

My meds are

4x500 mg Metformin HCL ER taken AM.
1x20 mg Dicyclomine taken AM.
1x5-40 mg Lotrel taken AM
1x25 mg Chlorthalidone taken AM.

I've been at this dose for 6 months without any problems and the last HC1a was 6.7 and the BP was 130/85.

I am searching for a new Doc, but can't get to one in the next week or so. Thanks again.

posted by bach to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Metformin/glucophage is notorious for causing gastrointestinal distress. Have you been eating something rather sweet or especially fatty near the time you take that one? Are you taking it with food? It's a balancing act, I think.

Taking it all at once could do that, too. From what I understand, a dose that size is often split into two. Maybe you could talk to your new doctor about that. Also, I've heard that the extended release version can alleviate some of the stomach problems, so maybe that will be an option.

Hope you feel better soon.
posted by sugarfish at 8:57 PM on April 1, 2009

Check the current bottle of Met against your last one and see if the pharmacy's switched vendors. Happens to Mr. F when the mail-order pharmacy moves from one supplier to another.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:27 PM on April 1, 2009

Are you sure this is a reaction to the meds and not something else?
posted by curie at 9:38 PM on April 1, 2009

Best answer: General advice for intestinal distress: eat active culture yogurt daily until you're back to normal digestion, I've also found kombucha to be useful similarly.

Also, what have you been eating? Are you eating out a lot, lots of spicy foods or any other recent change in diet?

How's your stress level? Is there any notable ebb and flow to the nausea throughout the day?
posted by Matt Oneiros at 12:40 AM on April 2, 2009

If you don't like yogurt, there are probiotic capsules available at the pharmacy; your pharmacist can tell you if they are OK to take with your current medication regime and what type of consideration you should make (after meals, after a med, etc).

Your pharmacist can also give you some advice regarding taking something to stop the diarrhea if you don't suspect it's viral or bacterial, and it is a noted side-effect of any of your meds. The anti-diarrheals (like Immodium) are great!
posted by FergieBelle at 5:42 PM on April 2, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks... I'm feeling better. I appreciate the comments.
posted by bach at 6:10 PM on April 2, 2009