Is it the Mounjaro making me so sick of the combination of that and Metformin?

[JoeyK74]

So sick on Mounjaro I stopped it for a month but I wonder if I stop Metformin completely on only take Mounjaro will that lessen stomach issues? I’ve been on Metformin for years but didn’t help much until I added Mounjaro.

Dr told me to continue 2000 (1000 in the morning and evening) of Metformin extended release while on Mounjaro. I was having diarrhea and then throwing up. I was up to 7.5 mg but had bad diarrhea even at 2.5. I lessened Metformin on my own to 1000 per day but didn’t help. So I am wondering if I am off if completely and only took Mounjaro would that help. I am just so worried because I can’t handle the throwing up and nausea.

 

[ZakAP]

You have a physician prescribing both for you? If so I would message their office tbh. Changing the dose of the medication they are prescribing without at least letting them know is a bit frowned upon. And it sounds like you are having significant side effects that imho would be best managed by someone licensed. Bad, persistent diarrhea PLUS nausea at only 2.5mg tirzepatide sounds like you are not tolerating it well at all. I doubt any advice here is going to be better than the prescriber - since they have your full medical history.

 

[JoeyK74]

My endo doesn’t help much. He acts like my side effects are unheard of. They said I need to come in to address the issues but don’t have any available appts for 2 months.

 

[ZakAP]

Do they have a triage phoner line or a "mychart" account? I would message/call them and try to be persistent that you need some advice like asap. Your side effects are very common ones on tirzepatide (Mounjaro) so if they are dismissing those side effects I would say they are a poor provider and maybe it is time for a change.

If that doesn't work I can see what I can do to help. There are also some NP/MD on here that could possibly chime in.

 

[JoeyK74]

They won’t advise anymore help through MyChart. Won’t do phone calls. Only my internist will. I was just there in Sept and I have an appt again in March but they won’t give me anymore advise except to lower my dose.

 

[ZakAP]

They won’t advise anymore help through MyChart. Won’t do phone calls. Only my internist will. I was just there in Sept and I have an appt again in March but they won’t give me anymore advise except to lower my dose.

That is absolutely terrible. TERRIBLE. SO you need an appt but can't get one for months and they will not help you on the phone or mychart? So what are you supposed to do? That is seriously terrible.

 

[Sunflower]

Wj

So sick on Mounjaro I stopped it for a month but I wonder if I stop Metformin completely on only take Mounjaro will that lessen stomach issues? I’ve been on Metformin for years but didn’t help much until I added Mounjaro.

Dr told me to continue 2000 (1000 in the morning and evening) of Metformin extended release while on Mounjaro. I was having diarrhea and then throwing up. I was up to 7.5 mg but had bad diarrhea even at 2.5. I lessened Metformin on my own to 1000 per day but didn’t help. So I am wondering if I am off if completely and only took Mounjaro would that help. I am just so worried because I can’t handle the throwing up and nausea.

What dose of Mounjaro did they start you at? And what dose did you begin to have these intolerable side effects?

 

[hotdog!]

How much food are you able to eat before taking the metformin? I am also on Zepbound 7.5 and Metformin extended release, 1500 mg. I tend to get loose stools sometimes but less so if I take the Metformin with more food in my stomach than less. If I'm not able to eat a meal because of the Zepbound effects, my Dr. said not to take metformin on an empty stomach so I skip it. Since this is effectively the same thing they are telling you (to lower your dose) that seems prudent for now.

But really I would press the doctor's office on this, be the squeaky wheel and start trying to get a different doctor if at all possible. You are having intolerable side effects and they need to manage them, that's their job. This is exactly what drives patients to make their own potentially dangerous, uninformed medical decisions. The doctor refuses to inform! At the very least, document this with emails, letters, etc in case it ever comes down to insurance issues.

Between the 2 medications, Mounjaro has the most effect on all diabetic and other health markers. Metformin is an old drug with small effects and you say yourself you've been on it for years without it helping much. But if Mounjaro even alone is what is giving you the intolerable side effects, then maybe it's not the drug for you. Either way, you can't continue with both regular diarrhea and vomiting, you'll end up with severe dehydration.