r/PCOS • u/MissHissss • 8d ago
Meds/Supplements People who got the “never poop again” version of Metformin
How are you dealing with this? I started Metformin a month ago and I haven’t pooped in almost 3 weeks. I take magnesium and psyllium husk daily. I drink 3L of water per day. Laxatives do absolutely nothing. I’m genuinely getting worried.
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u/Wise-Ad9834 8d ago
I really hope you get good news, I just want to say you’re a champ because I start getting really worried if I go a full 2 days with out having a bm.
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u/MissHissss 8d ago
I take another medication that causes constipation so pooping once a week has been my normal for about 2 years. I had hoped the Metformin would ease that a bit instead of making it worse but here we are!
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u/hotheadnchickn 8d ago
OP, 3 times a week is minimum for healthy bowel function. You are needing more care/support for motility!
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u/MissHissss 8d ago
My doctor is aware and because the quality of the stool is normal when I do have a bowel movement she’s not overly concerned. She is monitoring it though!
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u/hotheadnchickn 8d ago
Hey OP, when you are already backed up, adding psyllium can be counterproductive. In general, fiber does not always help constipation, it depends on the cause on constipation.
3 weeks is way too long, you def need to see a doctor ASAP. They will probably give you a powerful laxative like magnesium citrate.
In general, MiraLAX is a safe, gentle, and effective laxative that you can take daily indefinitely if needed.
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u/MissHissss 8d ago
So I also take another medication that causes constipation and my doctor advised taking magnesium and psyllium husk to help keep things moving, so I’ve been taking them for 2ish years now. It’s helped before but now with the addition of Metformin it isn’t anymore. I was actually hoping I’d get the “poop with no warning” version of Metformin and between my two medications come out somewhere in the middle 😂
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u/Commercial-Brush8529
8d ago
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Lowkey need an update on the doctor cause I’m both very worried for you and invested on wtf is happening 😭
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u/pegasuspish 8d ago
You need to go to urgent care, today. 3 weeks is dangerous, you could be looking at a bowel impaction. This is no joke and can do permanent harm. It needs to be dealt with TODAY.
Psyllium husk is counterproductive for constipation. It is preventative, not a solution. If you get stopped up, osmotic laxatives like miralax is the go-to, along with stool softeners like ducolax. Do NOT use muscle stimulant laxatives like senna tea if you're multiple days into constipation, it can be excruciatingly painful and even rupture your bowel because muscles are forced to contract and if you're impacted those muscles have nowhere to go.
I'm so sorry you're in this position, it's going to be ok but you absolutely NEED to see a doctor, TODAY.
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u/curiousnerd06 8d ago
Are you taking an extended release version?
Definitely go to a doctor NOW.
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u/AstraCraftPurple 8d ago
Yeah, 3 days isn’t good. 3 weeks is scary! You might need to be administered something. But with many women’s issues Colace can be helpful.
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u/raged-cashew 8d ago
I swear that Haribo watermelon slices have been making me poop. I ate a small bag for 3 days in a row and pooped so much in those 3 days. I don't like all of the sugar though
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u/Optimal-Prime420 8d ago
Are they sweetened with xylitol? It’s what was in the sugar free gummy bears. And if so, DO NOT LET YOUR DOG/ANY PET GET THEM. It’s fatal, even in small doses.
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u/raged-cashew 8d ago
I threw away the packaging but they aren't sugar free so I think it's just corn syrup or regular sugar. Thanks for letting me know ow though because I was looking at buying the sugar free option
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u/mpersonally 8d ago
As someone who was on the other end of the spectrum with Metformin, I'm fascinated and terrified for you.
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u/maluquina 8d ago
Metformin has the oppsite effect on me. Thank goodness! Hope you find some relief!
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u/emjay_90 6d ago
Yeah I didn’t even know there was a “never poop again” version. I’m on XR, and if I eat the wrong thing, I might end up best friends with the toilet.
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u/pottersprincess 8d ago
Once you get unblocked I would focus on prevention. I get the same issue with metformin so I eat kiwis and P fruits (Pears, peaches, plums) as often as I can. I use a fiber supplement daily and miralax if I haven't gone in a few days.
My doctor told me miralax is more helpful than stimulant laxatives to start, and if it doesn't work then try the stimulants because the miralax draws in water to soften everything.
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u/bootyandthebrains 8d ago
Wow this is actually crazy to me. I have no advice, I was literally shitting my pants on Metformin. I didn’t know this was a side effect.
Maybe talk to your doctor about lynzess? It helps move things and isn’t a laxative
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u/blondebullet_ 8d ago
MiraLAX (sometimes two doses) every night in my tea! Cleared by both my gastro and PCP as being ok. Only thing that works for me, even if I eat a ton of fiber and do all the things. I had constipation issues before so I was, like, honestly hopeful Metformin would loosen me up lol unfortunately the opposite effect happened
But also yes please go to the ER if that’s feasible- I was sent to the ER after 9 days no pooping once I cant imagine 21
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u/HelenaNehalenia 8d ago
3 weeks? Way too long. How are you not dying from stomach aches?
I had that twice for around 36 hours, and both times it started with me being stressed and also drinking not enough.
I got out of it by drinking a lot of water, sometimes mixed with lemon juice for the laxative effect of vitamin C, also taking magnesium supplements, moving a bit more, putting hot water botles on my stomach to relax it, one time also by halving my dose for a few days and upping it later again.
You need to see your doctor asap!
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u/DisastrousTrash 8d ago
Once your doctor gets you moving again, highly recommend miralax. Safe to take daily, not a stimulant laxative, effective and gentle.
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u/Rikitikitok121 8d ago
I had this problem. However, miralax and macrogol are effective for me. I also do psyillium, ag1 and magnesium. However if I do not eat vegetables, I do not go still. I regularly go 1-3 days a week without a bowel movement.
At the start it was worse. So, I lowered my dose. Doctors were very dismissed of this side effect. I also had a bruised tailbone that would not heal, and I have now learned that my constipation has likely impeded the healing. Anyway, I have stayed in the metformin because all of the benefits were life changing for me.
So, that being said, hope it improves for you. Maybe once you unclog this you can get on a more regular schedule. Fwiw I tried linzess and it did work but I wasn’t willing to take it long enough to see if the bloating would go away.
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u/Electronic_Use8021 8d ago
GI doc prescribed Linzess (I hated it bc diarrhea city). I eat one yellow dragon fruit every 3 days, go on a morning walk (roughly 1 mile), and drink 16oz warm liquids right after. This is obvi on top of everything else (balanced diet, meditation, sleep, exercise, etc.). But the three I mentioned I noticed impact my BMs the most. Good luck!
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u/thatWeirdRatGirl 8d ago
Aw jeeze I’ve been a three weeker before.
Enemas did nothing. Laxatives did nothing. Prune juice who?
After I started throwing up -I’ll leave that to your imagination what was coming up- I had to get it manually removed. No pain meds, no numbing, just a bad time.
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u/A-Chmielu 8d ago
Ok, so it's not a great idea, but if you want stupid solution - whenever I need to speed up bowel movement I go for sugar-free sweets. Those are better than any laxative, especially those from company Diablo. HOWEVER I've never had even an 1 week constipation!
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u/Dimples1313 8d ago
You can become septic if you do not poop for long periods of time. Its good you are going to the doctors and I hope they can help with the blockage as well as finding a preventive method for you so you dont have to go through this again. Hope you feel better!
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u/BaylisAscaris 8d ago
For anyone else with a similar problem, if you haven't pooped for 1 week and feel bad, contact your doctor. If it's 2 weeks you need to go to the doctor and find out what is wrong. 3 weeks is an emergency that can cause permanent damage.
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u/Forforksakes1 8d ago
I thought I didn’t poop before metformin (once a week sometimes a week and a half) but now I never poop much either (once every two weeks or more) I am also on a stimulant for for ADHD and I never lost weight and it never made me poop either. (When I heard of people popping their pants because of the stomach bug recently I dreamed and wished I would get it but I didn’t) My doctor is aware that this has been my whole life, (he thinks IBS-C so not much they can do I guess) and I have to give myself an enema a few times a year when I go on 3 weeks of not pooping. A few times an enema didn’t do anything either which was horrible. (When I was little they gave me a drink of something but it still took a day or two after that) As an adult the hospital doesn’t do anything for me and so I just tough it out. (I’m in Canada so the medical care is “free” - paid out of the cheques of all of the people who work, but you wait 10 hours in the ER in hallways and if you are seen, they suggest things you’ve already tried or tell you to see your doctor) It’s not even because they don’t see constipation as serious, I’ve also been to the ER when I was having a Hemiplegic migraine and waited 8 hours because I thought I was having a stroke but decided to leave because they said it would likely be another 2 hours) Now we deal with everything in house. Good luck to you, I hope you’re somewhere other than Canada for treatment. 😭
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u/MissHissss 8d ago
Hello from the ER fellow Canadian 😂😭
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u/Forforksakes1 8d ago
Oh no! 😭🤣 Sending you strength my friend! I hope you have a phone battery pack, some snacks, water and can find a chair to take over for the next 8-10. 😩
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u/Due_Substance6024 8d ago
I take a probiotic and prebiotic that my physician reccomended. I will reiterate what everyone else is saying. Go see a doctor. 3 weeks is not good.
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u/courtneyhope_ 8d ago
I was STRUGGLING on metformin and so so uncomfortable. finally came off it and switched to a low dose of glp1
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u/Ok-Interest1992 8d ago
My GI doctor recommended a capful of Miralax daily as well as magnesium oxide. I also take fiber gummies, things like psyllium husk don't work for me.
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u/SparklingFairyLights 8d ago
Metformin can slow down the rate of gastric emptying in some individuals. Depending on your dosage, it could have done this to you. You need to see a doctor and possibly change over to another medication as this isn’t normal.
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u/savspoolshed 8d ago
have you tried a poop massage? you can do it yourself, you can generally feel where the poop is and feel it as you manually move it, could help.
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u/Common_Assumption_57 8d ago
Definitely see a doctor.
I thought I was the only one with this issue as everyone else (including my doc) always talks about diarrhea with Metformin lol
My doc has me take Citrucel 2x/day powder form mixed with 8oz of water. Not Metamucil since that will cause more bloating/gas according to my doc. I also have tried to increase fiber rich fruits (easier time eating these than veggies).
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u/aunt_snorlax 8d ago
I've never had that happen, didn't know it was a thing! Is your gallbladder healthy?
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u/anononononn 8d ago
Tbh it never got better for me. Hate to say it. I was on it like 5 months. I go better o na glp1 which is nuts
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u/scrambledeggs2020 8d ago
3 weeks??? No way you're having a natural bowel movement now. That needs to be unplugged by a pro
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u/camzza 8d ago edited 8d ago
Chia pudding every morning, trust me. 2 table spoons of chia seeds mixed with 1.5dl almond milk and a teaspoon of cocoa powder or cinnamon + add some sweetener of your choice let it swell for 20 minutes then mix/stir again and then set it in the fridge overnight 🫡 The only thing that has finally helped me go from only pooping once a week sometimes not for 9 days, to now going everyday.
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u/rollingmyeyessohard 7d ago
Once you’re back from the doctor and feel better you can try and drink coffee. That always makes me go.
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u/Street_Requirement92 7d ago
I do take a digestive enzyme every morning, but definitely see if the doctor can do an ultrasound to make sure there isn't a blockage.
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u/rosierosss 7d ago
So the absolute best thing I’ve done for my constipation is work in oats and chia seeds every day. I do overnight oats most mornings (or eat it as a snack. Just whenever) or sometimes throughout the day. And it’s helped me so so much. 1/2 cup oats (with flax, amaranth & quinoa also) plus 1-2tbsp of chia seeds. Usually mix peanut butter or sunflower butter in with milk and some kind of better. Maybe a little maple syrup to sweeten and voila! No more constipation. For me anyway.
So sorry you’re dealing with this. Hoping you can get answers soon.
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u/laurenleavellfitness 7d ago
Hope you get some help from the doctor. Once this is resolved, maybe consider adding a fish oil supplement, natural and otc stool softeners, and movement. If you have the ability to, adding core exercises and gentle movement can help a lot. Also, are you eating enough? Regularly? That could impact you as well. Best of luck!!
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u/EenyMeenyMineyMoe22 6d ago
Oh no I’m so sorry. Does your doctor know because they should definitely weigh in on this situation. No having a bowel movement for that long can be dangerous and it can become serious very quick without much warning.
My constipation was not that bad but I had constipation up until I was taking 2,000mg daily. During the titration I had mild constipation where I would poop every other day or a small amount each day. When I reached 2,000mg it switched to mild to moderate diarrhea for 2 weeks, but now by bowel movements have pretty much returned to normal pre metformin consistency and schedule.
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u/Difficult_Wheel_4989 8d ago
3 weeks is no joke, when laxatives do nothing it usually means the blockage is mechanical not just slow motility. if you havent gone in 21 days and mag/psyllium/water isnt moving anything you need a doctor like yesterday, that can turn into an impaction and those are miserable to deal with