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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Diabetes / March 2006What does your Metformin smell like?
I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very noticeable. I'm rather concerned about this as I'm highly allergic to seafood. I've been trying to find information on how metformin is made, but nothing so far. The metformin with the smell was from Walmart. previously, I've bought it from Costco and didn't notice a smell. Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? > I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. > I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? Mine smells like dish soap. It has a sweetish detergent like smell and a pretty similar taste, not that I eat dish soap but sometimes a pill doesn't go down easily and I get the taste. Paul >> I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >> I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >pretty similar taste, not that I eat dish soap but sometimes a pill doesn't >go down easily and I get the taste. Thanks, that jogged my memory. I remember my Metformin from Costco being like that. Looks like I'm heading back to costco from now on! > Thanks, that jogged my memory. I remember my Metformin from Costco > being like that. Looks like I'm heading back to costco from now on! Chris, I just sniffed mine, and it does have a faint fishy smell. I'm sure it's not from fish, though, it's sort of like the fish smell on raw silk clothing, but fainter. Susan I just had a vision that put a smile on my face. I imagined that all of us on metformin ran to our bottles and sniffed them for fishy smells simultaneously across the world. :-) Loretta -- In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism. >I just had a vision that put a smile on my face. I imagined that all of >us on metformin ran to our bottles and sniffed them for fishy smells [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Loretta Not sure if I was simultaneous - but I did, from half a world away:-) Ours come in individual blister packs, so the smell, if any, is not concentrated. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg  SignatureEverything in Moderation - Except Laughter. >I just had a vision that put a smile on my face. I imagined that all of >us on metformin ran to our bottles and sniffed them for fishy smells [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Loretta Hi Loretta! That sure bought a smile to my face... :-) My metformin smells like lobster, thank you very much. :-) -- Cheri >>I just had a vision that put a smile on my face. I imagined that all of >>us on metformin ran to our bottles and sniffed them for fishy smells >>simultaneously across the world. Cheri, if my metformin smelled like lobster, I would take the whole bottle and boy would I then be in trouble. lol Loretta -- In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism. >x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Susan Thanks, Susan.. By any chance, do you get yours from Walmart? > >> I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. > >> I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Thanks, that jogged my memory. I remember my Metformin from Costco > being like that. Looks like I'm heading back to costco from now on! Ayup - Costco these be. Cheapest Metformin I can buy. Paul : I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. : I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very : noticeable. : I'm rather concerned about this as I'm highly allergic to seafood. : I've been trying to find information on how metformin is made, but : nothing so far. : The metformin with the smell was from Walmart. previously, I've bought : it from Costco and didn't notice a smell. : Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? I don't think I woudl worry as you would have known had you gotton an allergic fish reaction to the med, judging from your experience on the ship:-) That kind of thing is hard to miss:-) Wendy. Maybe your walmart pharmacist was a bull dyke................ ;) My metoformin actually smells a bit like Kaopectate - first time I have ever sniffed the container! > : I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. > : I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Wendy. >Maybe your walmart pharmacist was a bull dyke................ ;) > >My metoformin actually smells a bit like Kaopectate - first time I have ever >sniffed the container! Thanks!!! This sems to show that it's either the source (walmart) or a bad batch. >>Maybe your walmart pharmacist was a bull dyke................ ;) >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Thanks!!! This sems to show that it's either the source (walmart) or a >bad batch. Chris, I agree with Wendy. Knowing the severity of your allergy, where even a wok that had fish cooked in it some time ago can cause you a reaction, if there was a problem you would have reacted by now. Don't worry about it. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg SignatureEverything in Moderation - Except Laughter. >>>Maybe your walmart pharmacist was a bull dyke................ ;) >>> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >time ago can cause you a reaction, if there was a problem >you would have reacted by now. Don't worry about it. I'm still concerned enough to get rid of my present supply (I've located a T2 who is delighted to get some for free, so it won't be wasted). The problem here is my allergy isn't always consistently reactive. Sometimes a minor exposure does nothing. I haven't had anaphalactic shock in years, but that was similar; it varied. I know I'm probably just being paranoid (especially after reading OldAl's explanations of the smell) but it's worth it to me to do this. There is also a silly psychological factor: the smell of seafood utterly nauseates me, so taking the pills is very difficult. >: I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >: I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >allergic fish reaction to the med, judging from your experience on the >ship:-) That kind of thing is hard to miss:-) ROFL! Yes, it would be. <G> The problem is I have another reaction, not always, just sometimes. My throat constricts. It starts as a "sore throat" feeling, and gets worse fast, choking me. The other day I had a slight soreness on one side, that went away, and that's what got me wondering. >I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? I have noticed the peculiar smell of the bottle of pills, also, but it seems to diminish when cooled in the fridge... Just a suggestion. Will, T2 >>I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >>I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >I have noticed the peculiar smell of the bottle of pills, also, but it >seems to diminish when cooled in the fridge... Just a suggestion. Thanks... But, in the interest of safety, I'm going to get a batch from Costco tomorrow, then throw these out. I don't trust them. Don't you have to worry about Humidity if they are put in the fridge....? I know allot of my pills say to store in a dark dry place...Just wondering. Jacquie >>I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >>I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Will, T2 > Don't you have to worry about Humidity if they are put in the fridge....? > I > know allot of my pills say to store in a dark dry place...Just wondering. > Jacquie You might have a point, Jacquie, although I have not noticed a problem, yet.... I have experienced the "smelly pill" problem, though, and I recently thought of this as one way to cut down on what might be degradation of the metformin.... I have not noticed any problems so far, but then again, I have not really been keeping the pills extra cool for that long.... I suppose condensation could get to be a problem, though. Will, T2 Chris. my pills have no smell. I wonder if it is just different manfacturers. Loretta -- In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism. >Chris. my pills have no smell. I wonder if it is just different >manfacturers. That's what I'm thinking. I'm wondering if Walmart is using crushed shells, or something similar, as the base or filler? Hmmm... I had a smelly batch a year ago, but the odor diminished after awhile. The pills worked just fine. Lately, the pills have little or no smell. They work just as well. >>Chris. my pills have no smell. I wonder if it is just different >>manfacturers. > > That's what I'm thinking. I'm wondering if Walmart is using crushed > shells, or something similar, as the base or filler? >I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? Smelly metformin has been mentioned several times on the diabetes newsgroups. I took a look at the structure. I can't see any way that it is "derived from fish". Fishy smells are caused by amines. One amine with a pronounced fishy odor is methylamine which, AFAIK, has no relation to fish but is used in the manufacture of metformin. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the decomposition products of metformin was methylamine. Methylamine is very odoriferous; a little bit goes a long way. I have worked with methylamine. If you encountered any serious amount of methylamine in your pill bottle, I think you would describe it as "took the top of my head off" rather than "fish-like smell". It is manufactured in small amounts in the body and usually present, again in small amounts, in human urine. Regards Old Al "oldal4865" wrote in message > I have worked with methylamine. If you encountered any serious amount of > methylamine in your pill bottle, I think you would describe it as "took [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > in > human urine. Bygod Al, that's what I think it smells like! I have bought metformin at Walgreen's, CVC and by mail order. It all smells like diaper pail scent to this mommy's nose. >"oldal4865" wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >Walgreen's, CVC and by mail order. It all smells like diaper pail scent to >this mommy's nose. Diaper pail smell? I haven't smelled that since my 34yo was a 1yo - and I still remember it too well. Some things are truly unforgettable, no matter how hard you try. And yes, I was a Dad who changed nappies, back when they were made out of cloth, not plastic and paper. Thank goodness the Aussies source their metformin from a different supplier to you and Chris. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg SignatureEverything in Moderation - Except Laughter. Alan S wrote in message ... . . .(snip).. .. And yes, I >was a Dad who changed nappies, back when they were made out >of cloth, not plastic and paper. > >Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. . . . . Same here. They made marvelous house rags when the kids finally finished with them. (I potty-trained both of mine. I sent my wife out of town, took time off from work, and did the jobs over 3-day week-ends. We kept score on a blackboard so we could "surprise mommy when she came back". The medium of exchange was jelly beans) We are finishing off the diaper business with my second grandson. The plastic and paper jobbies are much nicer. Regards Old Al >We are finishing off the diaper business with my second grandson. The >plastic and paper jobbies are much nicer. > >Regards > Old Al Hello OldAl, Yes, I agree, the plastic and paper diapers do seem more convenient. That was mostly what we used with our youngest, Henry. With the daughters, who are now grown, we used the cloth diapers. I sometimes wonder about the environmental issues associated with the paper and plastic diapers, though. I periodically hear that they could be considered a major part of nonbiodegradable waste, unless they have altered the plastic somehow, so that it and the paper decompose in land fills. Just a stray thought. How have you been, lately? Will, T2 W.M.McKee wrote in message ... >. . .(snip). . . >Just a stray thought. > >How have you been, lately? > >Will, T2 Mostly superior. I have more or less recovered from the hip surgery so that I can return to aerobics. I started in Old F*rt aerobics-with-two-canes in early February and last week tried a "Young Matron" class. Went to bed early that night and basically didn't do anything the next day but I survived the whole hour. You can't believe what a full bore aerobics class does to sugars the rest of the day. A Michigan February is like being in jail so we all welcomed March. Then we got 10 inches of snow so it's starting out as a true Michigan March. Regards Old Al >W.M.McKee wrote in message ... >>. . .(snip). . . [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >Regards > Old Al I am so glad to hear that you are on the mend, Al. I have missed you, of late. Take care. Will, T2 > I have more or less recovered from the hip surgery so > that I can return to aerobics. I started in Old F*rt > aerobics-with-two-canes in early February and last week tried a "Young > Matron" class. Oh wow, what a progression : ) Glad you're mending so fast. Nicky. SignatureA1c 10.5/5.4/<6 T2 DX 05/2004 1g Metformin, 100ug Thyroxine 95/74/72Kg Al is doing famously well a neighbour of mine had her hip replacement done in early Dec......... that's now over 3 months ago she still isn't walking because it 'hurts too much' it's not supposed to hurt THAT much... you have to stretch it a bit every day or it will seize up on you i suspect she has seized well done Al ! ! ! kate SignatureJoin us in the Diabetic-Talk Chatroom on UnderNet /server irc.undernet.org --- /join #Diabetic-Talk More info: http://www.diabetic-talk.org/ http://www.diabetic-talk.org/freeveggies.htm I have no medical qualifications beyond my own experience. Choose your advisers carefully, because experience can be an expensive teacher. > > I have more or less recovered from the hip surgery so > > that I can return to aerobics. I started in Old F*rt [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Nicky. >Alan S wrote in message ... >. . .(snip).. .. And yes, I [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >Regards > Old Al I must admit I got a shock when I changed my first plastic one on the new grand-daughter and asked her mum what to do with the old one. I think the garbagemen would have gone on strike if we had put those old nappies in the bin back then; apparently that's normal now. I can still remember pinning them to the clothes line and using a high pressure hose. The grass always grew best under that clothes line, down the bottom of the back-yard:-) Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg SignatureEverything in Moderation - Except Laughter. >>I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >>I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Smelly metformin has been mentioned several times on the diabetes >newsgroups. >I took a look at the structure. I can't see any way that it is "derived >from fish". For the Metformin Hydrochloride, I agree. But I wasn't so sure about the "inert" ingredients. >Fishy smells are caused by amines. One amine with a pronounced fishy odor >is methylamine which, AFAIK, has no relation to fish but is used in the >manufacture of metformin. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the >decomposition products of metformin was methylamine. Methylamine is very >odoriferous; a little bit goes a long way. Thanks.. I didn't know that... It would explain why the recent batch was worse then the previous one: Perhaps Walmart's supply isn't exactly fresh. Thanks, Al! You have eased my mind a great deal. I'm still going to get a fresh supply, though. >I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? Mine are diaform, a generic, and odourless (at least to my nose). Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg SignatureEverything in Moderation - Except Laughter. Alan, I consider you one of those "wordy" people that I read all the time, let me hug you here, and thank you for all the advice and research you give, and Alan, I so hope your numbers and all the rest are doing well. Also, you haven't told us lately, but how is that grandaughter doing? She must be at such a cute age now. :-) -- Cheri >>I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >>I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >-- >Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. >Alan, I consider you one of those "wordy" people that I read all the >time, let me hug you here, and thank you for all the advice and research >you give, and Alan, I so hope your numbers and all the rest are doing >well. Also, you haven't told us lately, but how is that grandaughter >doing? She must be at such a cute age now. :-) Hi Cheri My apologies - I missed this one when the ISP went crazy a few days ago. Thanks for the kind words. My numbers are great - I presume. Another four months has passed - vampire day and Cat Scan Friday. I reckon I'm fit as a fiddle so I'm going to assume that until told otherwise:-) The young lady can now say a few words - in two languages. She's visiting her other grand-parents in Mainz at the moment. She will probably be correcting my English in a couple of years. And of course she's cute - thank goodness she takes after her Grandma and not her Grandpa. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg SignatureEverything in Moderation - Except Laughter. Sounds like the young lady has your brains, and I so hope your cat scan and everything goes well. I'm sure it's always a nervous time for you. :-) -- Cheri Alan S wrote in message ... >Hi Cheri > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >-- >Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. > I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. > I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Has anyone else noticed smelly metformin? You've popped pills from TWO bottles w/o incident, and NOW you are worried you will drop dead in your tracks because of an odor coming from your third bottle of the same meds because it came from a different store? You are one hell of a drama queen! Dave >> I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >> I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >your third bottle of the same meds because it came from a different >store? You are one hell of a drama queen! Why, thank you Dave! Likewise, I'm sure, and I'll even flatter you by mentioning that I find your reading comprehension skills right up there with your renowned diplomatic skills. Please note, I said TWO bottles. That's not quite the same as three, you know. To be specific, I noticed a faint odor in one, but the one I bought a few days ago was much stronger, and both are from the same source. I thought I'd like to sort this out before actually taking any of the extra-smelly ones. >>>I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >>>I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > source. I thought I'd like to sort this out before actually taking any > of the extra-smelly ones. Seems YOU can't read properly. I said you survived the first 2 bottles, yet you are afraid of the third. did you not actually take any pills from the first 2 bottles? are you just collecting bottles? You want to smell something fishy, try Eukanuba Lamb & Rice dog food! Dave >>>I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. >>>I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > source. I thought I'd like to sort this out before actually taking any > of the extra-smelly ones. yeah, 3, 2, whatever, you think you are receiving a different drug and you'll drop dead from it? even though you've survived taking metformin before? "Anal" doesn't even cover it anymore... dave >>>You've popped pills from TWO bottles w/o incident, and NOW you are >>>worried you will drop dead in your tracks because of an odor coming from [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >before? "Anal" doesn't even cover it anymore... >dave Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you posted advice in favor of discarding questionable insulin? Yet here you are, carping about me asking a question about a strong smell in a med THAT DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HAVE IT. The change in smell alone is grounds to suspect the quality of the meds, just like an insulin that's cloudy (If it's a type that's supposed to be clear). Finally, we have the anaphalactic shock issue, which I would have thought would be self-evident grounds for a modicum of caution even if the chance is small. > Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you posted advice in favor > of discarding questionable insulin? good question Chris. I'm not SURE I've mentioned dumping questionable insulin, and I'm not going to google my past posts, but that sounds like something I'd consider. I think in 29 years of insulin usage, I threw out ONE bottle before it was empty because I had unexpected highs. I've used over 800 bottles in that time... Dave >> Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you posted advice in favor >> of discarding questionable insulin? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >but that sounds like >something I'd consider. Much as I would be suspicious of an unusual strong smell from a med. :-) >I think in 29 years of insulin usage, I threw >out ONE bottle before it was empty because I had unexpected highs. I've >used over 800 bottles in that time... I was curious as to how you deal with high temps, being a pumper. Bear in mind that I don't know much about the subject, but I thought it was unwise to keep insulin at temps over 100 degrees for long. So, how do you manage if you are in hot weather, and the temp is well over 100? I realize that given the climate of your area, this probably isn't an issue unless you travel, but I've been curious as to how pumpers handle it. Insulin for MDI can be kept cook in evap packs, but can you do the same with a pump? >>>Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you posted advice in favor >>>of discarding questionable insulin? [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > handle it. Insulin for MDI can be kept cook in evap packs, but can you > do the same with a pump? I have NEVER, EVER had a problem while basking in the sun for hours on end, or spending the day outside in 100+ heat. people have this weird idea that insulin is going to self destruct in a few hours when it's warm. That just doesn't happen. If I'm sunbathing I might put my pump in the shade (under me, or turned it around so it's inside my swim trunks). but that's because I don't want the electronics to overheat. I've been pumping 10 years next month and have yet to have an issue with weakened insulin. Maybe someone else has proof positive that their insulin died on them? Dave >> I realize that given the climate of your area, this probably isn't an >> issue unless you travel, but I've been curious as to how pumpers [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >weakened insulin. Maybe someone else has proof positive that their >insulin died on them? Thanks... I have no real idea if short term heat exposure is that bad for insulin, I'm just going on the manufacturer's (probably very conservative) recommendations. I was thinking more along the lines of spending several days where the temp never drops below 90, even at night, such as camping. On the other hand, that would put the daytime desert temps around 120, which might not make for a fun camping trip, regardless of the insulin situation. 120, even in the shade, gets very draining after a while. > >> I've noticed a fish-like smell from my last two bottles of metformin. > >> I've never noticed this before, but this last bottle is very [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > source. I thought I'd like to sort this out before actually taking any > of the extra-smelly ones. Mine has always smelled weird. Doesn't matter if I got it from Walmart or another store. Even the glucophage I get straight from the manufacturer has a weird smell to it. Suzi A1c 6.4 T2 DX 10/2002 Glucophage 2 x 1000mg Lipitor 20mg (3 days a week), Enalapril 20mg >>On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 22:56:43 -0800, David <David@invalid.com> > [quoted text clipped - 75 lines] > Glucophage 2 x 1000mg > Lipitor 20mg (3 days a week), Enalapril 20mg Gee, I never thought to post messages on Usenet to ask about the smell of Prevacid, or many other drugs I've taken over the years. Maybe I should inquire about restroom odor as well. that can be pretty gross... oh, I forgot, the OP is deathly afraid he'll go into anaphylactic shock from metformin because he thinks they smell fishy. :) Dave Hi Chris, This may be useless info, as I'm in the UK, but here is a list of added ingredients to the metformin I have (according to the leaflet, to aid dispersion) sodium starch glycolate, maize starch, povidone, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, hypomellose, titanium dioxide, propylene glycol, macrogol 6000 and purified talc. (Yum? :-) Amy >Hi Chris, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >(Yum? :-) Thanks, Amy! Mine was very similar (or identical), but I don't have it in front of me at the moment. I wonder why the heck they put titanium dioxide in it? As far as I know it has no preservative properties whatsoever, and is merely a pigment (often used in white paint). "I wonder why the heck they put titanium dioxide in it? As far as I know it has no preservative properties whatsoever, and is merely a pigment (often used in white paint)." Hi Chris, Having only recently begun my relationship with Metformin, and after reading that sickening list of chemicals, it had better work! But, if not, I guess I can always crush them and paint the walls :-) Amy |
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