In a letter published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, physicians from the Medical College of Georgia described two adult men with Type 2 diabetes who complained of a “dead fish” odor of metformin that had led both men to stop taking the medicine.
Some people with diabetes compare the smell of insulin to the scent of Band-Aids, printer ink, Lysol, or new plastic shower curtain liners (4).
Pharmacists and patients are well aware that metformin may come with a fishy smell when you open the bottle. The smell does not mean the drug is spoiled, it's just due to it's inherent characteristics.
“Taking medication like metformin, and most others, disrupts the digestive system, thus most will cause excessive smelly gas.
But weight loss results on metformin vary. One long term study published in 2019 found that 28.5% of those taking metformin lost about 5% or less of their body weight during the first year. And those who lost weight on metformin during the first year had the greatest success with weight loss during years 6-15 (14).
Thus, metformin is capable of accelerating the oxidation of fat in the liver, thereby leading to a decrease of visceral fat or body weight.
In a letter published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, physicians from the Medical College of Georgia described two adult men with Type 2 diabetes who complained of a “dead fish” odor of metformin that had led both men to stop taking the medicine. Searching the medical literature for more information, author J.
The olfactory side effect -- a "stinky fish" smell -- appears to have been previously unreported in medical literature, and physicians may be prone to confusing the nausea induced by the foul smell with the well-known gastrointestinal pharmacologic side effect from metformin, according to Allen L.
As much as possible, avoid white bread, white rice, white pasta, candy, soda, desserts, and snacks like chips or crackers. Eating foods that can spike your blood sugar will not necessarily make the metformin not work, however, it will increase the burden it has to work against.
Common causes of a fishy odour include poor hygiene, gingivitis, bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. Advanced kidney or liver disease may also cause this condition.
The administration of metformin, as glucophage retard, at bedtime instead of supper time may improve diabetes control by reducing morning hyperglycemia.
Generally, if you're prescribed metformin, you'll be on it long term. That could be many decades, unless you experience complications or changes to your health that require you to stop taking it.
On the other hand, poorly managed diabetes can worsen your blood sugar levels and it can even rise to dangerous, deadly levels. One such sign of high blood sugar is peculiar body odours, especially in your breath. It is crucial to be aware of these signs and seek immediate medical treatment.
If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of diabetes-related ketoacidosis. High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity. In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.
Diabetes and kidney disease, for example, can both lead to a change in body odor. Anyone who suspects that they may have such a condition should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
Many drugs alter body odour, through various mechanisms. Some increase sweat production, including adrenaline, amphetamines, pseudoephedrine, tramadol, the antidepressants fluoxetine, paroxetine and venlafaxine, pregabalin, gabapentin, codeine, omeprazole, and drugs that trigger hot flushes.
Examples include amphetamines, adrenaline, pseudoephedrine, certain antidepressants (fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine), tricyclic antidepressants (desipramine, nortriptyline), opioids (tramadol, codeine), pregabalin, gabapentin, pilocarpine, omeprazole, thyroid medications, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
If you stop taking metformin abruptly, your health may suffer. You may experience side effects such as higher blood sugars, an increased A1c, and even weight gain. Over time, higher blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes complications, including: Retinopathy and blindness.
Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.
If you eat a lot of sugar while taking Metformin, your body will have to work harder to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range, and the Metformin will not be as effective for weight loss. However, if it happens infrequently, you should not suffer too many negative side effects. The key is moderation.
Physiologically, metformin acts directly or indirectly on the liver to lower glucose production, and acts on the gut to increase glucose utilisation, increase GLP-1 and alter the microbiome.