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A member asked:
Why does metformin cause diarrhea?
7 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Side effect: Diarrhea is a common side effect to metformin that is unrelated to blood sugar control. I do not think the cause for this side effect is known. It can start immediately or years after being on the medication. The diarrhea tends to be dose related, so the higher the dose the more likely for it to occur. Sometimes it will go away when you go to a lower dose or take an extended release form.
Answered 3/15/2020
5.2k views
Yes: Most common side effect, up to half of patients.
Answered 8/21/2020
51 views
Metformin can cause a variety of stomach and intestinal side effects, including diarrhea. The type of metformin one is taking can affect how likely they are to experience diarrhea. About 50% of people taking immediate-release metformin experience diarrhea compared to only 10-13% of people taking extended-release (or XR). Also, taking metformin with food may help prevent diarrhea.
Answered 7/6/2022
0 views
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