Metformin Smell (Page 5) (Top voted first)

why does it smell like fish?

REPLY

REPORT

This last refill of my Metaformin stinks so bad. I haven't been feeling well at all. I got them from CVS here in Sacramento.
And today my stomach hurts across my pancreas area. I have no Health Insurance....I wish I did. I can't afford to use test strips. We have both been out of work for over a year and half.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

okay, I just scanned thru and read more of these posts....the one that medicine is made ...something about horse urine....that is disgusting! Is that a joke?
Omg, if it isn't no wonder I feel so bad....

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

No, it's true. Medication is made out of a lot of worse stuff, believe me. I've quit taking it, have been fairly successful controlling my BG using diet and my glipizide.

As far as test strips, check your local Wal-Mart, there's a company that makes a disposal BG tester, comes with enough strips for a month, and it's only ~$20. Much better than the $100 per month I used to spend!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I used to get mine at CVS and I don't remember an odor but I get mine at Wegmans now and I get the smell. It took me months before I figured out where it was coming from.I suppose that is whats to be expected when they are generic and they are the $10 for 90 day supply special

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Glucophage (Metformin) for several years now. When I refilled my script at Target pharmacy in September, I noticed the God-awful smell. I thought maybe since I had quit smoking, that I was smelling things better, but my husband confirmed that the pills had never had a smell before. I have talked to several friends who go to many different pharmacies, and all of their Metformin has the same embarrassing smell. I agree that whatever manufacturer is currently supplying the pharmacies, needs to take a serious look at these complaints and do something about it. I also have bad gas, and even burp almost constantly with a smell of bad eggs. Unfortunately, my insurance will only cover the Metformin since I am also on Lantus and Victoza to control my sugar.

I guess all that can be said is to either switch prescriptions, or put up with these new and irritating side effects.

If anyone has gotten relief somehow, please let me know!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I'm so glad I finally looked this up. The smell is horrible. I'm also having the gas and digestive issues that I've seen reported here. I'm going to ask my doctor at my next visit, but he's usually hesitant to switch medications. I get my prescription at Walgreens.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Our local Walgreens (Florida) is carrying a new manufacturer. It's a company called Mylan, and the pills come with a berry scent to cover up the stink. Just started them today.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

omg! what a stench! I don't know whats going on. I am from Canada and we have those stinky pills too.
I have been on metformin for years and they have never had an odor before. I thought the pharmacy had given me old pills as older pills usually have a smell. I can't stand it either. I am going back to pharmacy to complain.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on metformin 500mg 3x day for over 3 years now. I never had smell problems in the beginning. One day I picked up my script and it was atrocious! It makes your urine smell like rotten asparagus in beer. I found that using aloe vera capsules help with diarrhea. Took about a month to get into my system. Before that I couldn't even take a sip of water if there was no bathroom around. They use it to treat poly-cystic ovary disease for me. What they don't tell you is that it can cause hypoglycemia. Be carefull and make sure to research medicines like this. I didn't and now looks like I may be stuck on it for the rest of my life. Good luck. I found the smelly vs. non-smelly work the same for me.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been taking Metformin for almost two years. I never noticed any smell until I got a refill a couple days from Wal-Mart, the pills smelled fishy. They have a very bitter taste. I am going to ask my Dr. for a different med. This was not the first time I had gotten them from Wal Mart, the first time they smelled.I did call the Pharmacy. He acknowledged they have a order.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My phamacist told me that it is derived from salmon and that is why it has a fishy odor.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on metformin for years, the smnell fishy, also had non alcoholic stelatic liver and the metformin made it really bad, i have scaring and I was told the metformin did it. I am in stage 2-3 and there is nothing they can do to help. I would suggest get your liver checked periodictly SP?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was receiving my Metformin from Teva Mfg from a mail order co.and my fingerstick BS's were never lower than 138 and were frequently as high as 280 throughout the day. When I changed pharmacies to Kroger's from that mail order co. my BS is 110 to 120 in the AM and never over 130! I am so happy! Please tell your pharmacist if your BS does not improve with medication from some companies. Teva didn't work for me.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I get my Metformin at Walmart, I asked about the smell. I noticed that when the Metformin is in white enclosed bottles it has no smell. The bottom of the bottle says Sandoz. I asked the clerk about the smell when I got Metformin in brown clear bottles. She said the ones in the brown bottle are used when they are out of the regular Metformin in white bottles which hold 60 pills.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Do not associte the smell wiht expiraiton. THis is an inacurate correlation! It could cause people to stop taking them the compound has that smeill regardless of its freshness

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Um I do not know your qualifications, but the smell is EXCACTLY like the smell of the pills. Ketoacidosis is a different thing and the smell is different as well.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I think all metaformin smells the same but the good ones encaplulate the drug so you dont smell it. It is not a filler as far as I can tell.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I had my blood work-up recently and my doctor increased my metformin due to a higher a1c level. I was taking 500 mg with no 'bad' ill effects. When I increased to 2 pills a day, 1 in the morning and 1 at dinner time (they say to take it while your eating a meal), after 2 days I got the runs - bad! Needless to say, I dropped back down to 1 pill a day. The runs stopped. I suggest you speak with your doctor and tell him/her your experience. They may prescribe a different med.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Is it possible that one generic Metformin 500 mg works more effectively at controlling glucose?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Thanks for calling it what it smells like. My generic bottles of acetaminophen began to smell like urine the last two bottles. I am not going to use them. I bought a different brand generic and the urine smell is not there. I a going to throw the other two bottles of generic away. I got those through my insurance OTC meds.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

metformin smells ## Yes, Metformin is well known to have an odor and it can vary, somewhat, from manufacturer to manufac...

3 REPLIES

Aurobindo - SHUT THEY DOWN! When a manufacturer changes we should be notified. After all, it is our money going to these...

1 REPLY

I called the pharmacy that I always order from and they they told me they had no recalls on these 500 mg Metformion tabs...

2 REPLIES

My dr stopped my metformin abruptly cause it made me sick now I having symptoms Muscle cramps headaches foggy vomiting b...

45 REPLIES

Can I use Metformin for weight reduction? I wanted to know about the side effects of Metformin... ## I wouldn't coun...

29 REPLIES

What does a Metformin pill look like? What is the lettering on the side of the pill? ## I have been taking 500MG Metform...

17 REPLIES

I have been on this drug for almost 4 weeks now. I have had diahrea really bad. It is always like water. Everything I ea...

15 REPLIES

i recentaly knew that metformin is available with alpha lipoic acid.. is it true? can you suggest me the brand name of t...

15 REPLIES

What is the difference between metformin hcl tab 500mg 93/48 and metformin 500mg tab sandoz? ## Only the manufacturer, j...

14 REPLIES

SIDE AFFECT OF METFORMIN HCL500MG TAB ## Metformin, a generic for Glucophage, is used to treat Diabetes. Side effects ma...

11 REPLIES