[snoozlebug]

Hi All,

Here's a question for those of you on Metformin.

I'm taking 1500mg a day, spread out over 3 pills. Generally I take one around 10am, one between 1 and 3pm, and one before I go to bed (around 10pm). Times can vary a LOT though, especially on weekends.

I've never had side effects, so I sometimes will take on an empty stomach, though I do try to take a pill with food.

Is there any evidence about WHEN is the best time (i.e. most effective time) to take the medicine? If I take it right BEFORE I eat something, or on an empty stomach, etc....will it make a difference in the effectiveness? Or does the medicine stay at relatively constant levels in the body? Anyone know more about the chemistry of the drug?

I'll ask my doc but you guys are sometimes faster with responses

[beerab]

If I remember correctly my doctor always said take it with food and as far as I know it doesn't reduce the effectiveness of the pill. I had to stop taking it since it was making me so ill.

[Friday]

My metformin make me ill also.. but since im going to try to get pregnatn again, i cant risk my hormones being out of wack and having a miscarriage.. so im going to try them again..
You know there is a extended release version you can get also. then you can take all 3 at the same time..
its easier on a lot of people..
Good luck!

[Newlywed]

My Dr has me taking one when I get up and then two at night. Hopefully it works cause I want to get pregnant more then anything.

[Peaches]

I was advised to take it with food as well. I don't believe it affected the effectiveness of the medication.

I started out on 500 mg daily and worked up to 1000 mg daily. Once I had lost some weight, the medication was making me ill. I asked my doctor about reducing the dose which she was against. I gradually weaned myself off the medication completely. I believe once I lost the weight and had been following the Insulin Resistance way of eating that the medication was too much for my system since I was regulating myself better through diet and exercise.

Hope this helps! :

[WaterRat]

I take 1000 mg, at breakfast and with food (obviously) and don't have any problems.

[Gekster]

I was told by my doc that it is important to take it with food because it is working on the food as you digest it, so if you take it on an empty stomach it is kind of ineffective. That is for the normal met though, not the extended release or anything.