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gtenhol@charter.net - 09 Jan 2006 02:32 GMT

I am currently starting week two on a drug called Avandamet and it
feels like I have the worst case of stomach flu ever. I have constant
stomach cramps and bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. I've been able to
curtail the latter with Immodium but I still feel just awful and nearly
completely housebound at the moment. Just before Christmas I had my
hbA1c tested and I don't have the numbers in front of me but I believe
I was at 8.1 on my previous meds. I know, I know, this isn't good, not
horrible, but not ideal either. I was taking 4 mg Avandia in the
morning along with Glipizide (don't recall amount just now) also once a
day in the morning. In the past I had tried the Metformin and Metform
time release and didn't tolerate either well. My doctor told me
Avandamet is about the end of the line for me. So if I can't tolerate
it, what next? Is it possible I just need more Avandia?

I appreciate the feedback on this. I'm wondering if I'll ever feel
human again. I know why people tend to lose weight when they switch to
this drug -- because they can't keep any food down!

Thanks,
Garland

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sharppointy1 - 09 Jan 2006 14:45 GMT

Garland - how are you doing on the exercise & eating correctly thing?
The"met" part of Avandamet is our old friend metformin (you probably
knew that..). I had a hard time with metformin until I started Byetta,
the new injectable med for T2's. One of Byetta's effects is to slow
down the gut, so I now tolerate my 1500-2000mg/day of metformin without
problems. This new med may be helpful for you - but, like everything
else it only works if you eat correctly & exercise.
Good luck!

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W. Baker - 09 Jan 2006 17:02 GMT

: Garland - how are you doing on the exercise & eating correctly thing?
: The"met" part of Avandamet is our old friend metformin (you probably
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
: else it only works if you eat correctly & exercise.
: Good luck!

I found that using the extended release form of metfrmin stopped my
gastric problems which were major unless I wsa on immodium. doesn't work
for everybody, but it did for me. ask you Doc to cange yu to this and
thak the Avandia seperately.

Wendy

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Jenny - 09 Jan 2006 15:25 GMT

gtenhol@charter.net wrote: I was taking 4 mg Avandia in the

> morning along with Glipizide (don't recall amount just now) also once a
> day in the morning. In the past I had tried the Metformin and Metform
> time release and didn't tolerate either well. My doctor told me
> Avandamet is about the end of the line for me. So if I can't tolerate
> it, what next? Is it possible I just need more Avandia?

Your doctor wasn't listening very well. Avandamet IS metformin mixed
with avandia, and if you can't tolerate metformin, it was a dumb thing
to prescribe.

If you are maxed out on Avandia, more won't help.

The next step, drug wise, would probably be adding a once-a-day basal
insulin. No, don't panic. This is NOT the big deal you may have heard
it is, and it can really help control your blood sugar which needs much
better control. And it does NOT hurt. Really! Make sure your diabetes
educator helps you select a very thin needle that is the right size for
you, and that your doctor will work with you to find the correct dose,
and you might be in much better shape than you are now, without the
gastric distress.

The only other approach you might consider is to cut way, way back on
your carbohydrate intake, because if you are still eating starchy food,
even the so-called "low glycemic" ones, you are pushing your blood sugar
way up after every meal, way beyond what any oral drug can handle.

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/newlydiagnosed.htm explains how to
bring your blood sugar down using dietary change.

Hope this helps!

--Jenny

http://www.geocities.com/lottadata4u Diabetes Info

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/newlydiagnosed.htm Get Your Blood
Sugar Under Control

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