Is metformin, in high doses, ok for pre-diabetes?

Question

I've been on a regimen of metformin for going on a year now. THis is for numbers that were considered to be pre-diabetic. I believe I was in the 104-108 range when tested initially, and again 3 months later. The dosage was started at 1000mg once a day.

I moved out of state after being at this dosage for some time, and changed doctors and pharmacies in the process. My new doctor dispensed the same prescriptions in the same amounts to my knowledge. However, the metformin, when going through the mail order pharmacy I have to use, came back at taking the 1000mg twice daily instead of once.

I'm not the best at taking my morning meds, but have been for about the last month. For the last month I have been experiencing symptoms that are undoubtedly related to hypoglycemia. Just in the last hour, I had an attack bad enough that it took me a while to get somewhere to get something sweet in my body.

My question is, before asking the doctor if he mis-wrote the prescription, or the pharmacy for mis-filling it, is 2000mg a day even a safe dosage for pre-diabetes? Is it possible I'm doing hard to my body now? Is it possible permanant damange could have resulted?

Answer 1

2000 mg a day is not unsafe but seems excessive if your FBG is still in the 104-108 range.  Metformin is not supposed to cause lows, any idea how low you went?  Did your dr prescribe a meter and test strips for you so you can keep track of what different foods do to you?

Answer 2

2000 mg of metformin is the maximum they would give someone before starting other meds, so no it is not an unsafe dose,just the maximum of that medicine, but if youre having low blood sugars you should obviously call your doc and get a lower dose of meds prescribed