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Does Diabeties Medication Cause Pain,swelling And Bending Of Joints?

Posted on Sat, 29 Mar 2014

Question: I have phoric arthitis and diabeties, however when taking diabeties medication my arthities is unbearable- my hands,feet etc swell and become bent. The last time my doctor concerned that my sugar levels were high and had to go back on metformin- which I did- left hand was swollen and painfull and started to bend, along with this problem I became constipated and been so for over 2 weeks.Taking every drug for constipation to nil effect.Have seen various specialist regarding this problem - the only answer is take double dose for 3 months and see what happens. Please let me know if you have heard of a similar case and if there is someone that can help.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer: No Detailed Answer: To the best of my knowledge no such case has been reported in published medical literature. However this does not discredit your symptoms. All we know is that hitherto, no such report has been shared in peer reviewed papers and that no evidence based guideline includes this finding. So in no way am I am discounting your symptoms. There are associations of diabetes with arthritis, such osteo arthritis in those who are obese or overweight, and with frozen shoulder, to give you a couple examples, among other joint/cartilage related associations. But I am not aware of direct pain swelling and bending of joints from diabetes. Furthermore, metformin can cause various side effects on the gut, which are often temporary and improve gradually over weeks as the body gets used to it, especially when dosed correctly ie started at a low dose and escalated slowly to the optimally tolerated dose. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc but not constipation so commonly, although this can occur too.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (1 hour later)

swelling of the joints do not occurr from the diabeties but from the medication, within 2 weeks of taking them the psoriac arthritis is so bad that I can hardly move etc. by stopping the metformin it takes about 2 weeks to stabilise. I am not overweight 73kg and walking. the people I work with - I tested myself - started to take the diabeties medication, and within the 2 weeks of 2 tablets a day, I could hardly walk or use my hands, as well as my hands starting to deform. I know this is very strange unfortunatly no one believes it could happen.The only specialist answer I can get - increase the dose and come back in 3 months time. While I have had these ailments for a number of years, the more medication I take the worse the arthrities gets. At some stage I took about 5 different medication and spent most time in bed, and I am not an inactive person. Just wanted to see if there is some one that might believe me.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: Follow up Detailed Answer: I do believe your complaints. Just that as an endocrine expert I can reassure you that neither metformin nor thyroid medication is known to cause this problem. I cannot speak for other medications that you are on, as they do not fall in my specialty

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (15 hours later)

please explain why when taking the metformin and other diabetes related medicines that this problem occurs. I have been told a few times that is impossible but no one is willing to monitor this. I am fine normally by taking metratexate soon as I take the others the systems start. I know it is unusual but no one is willing to look at the possibility - however if you google the syimptons there are others in the same situation. I know I am beyond help but was just interested if this had occurred with any other patients. Thank you for your help.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (10 hours later)

Brief Answer: Second follow up Detailed Answer: It has not happened to any patient of mine taking metformin and I have prescribed it to thousands over the last decade or more. I have hundreds of endocrinology colleagues worldwide and they have prescribed it to many thousands of individuals with diabetes, and not one person has shared this with me so far. But as I said above, I am not ignoring your symptoms. Its unfortunate it has not entered published medical literature yet as well known side effect. Perhaps if the doctor you are seeing in person can compile your case and submit it for publication in a peer reviewed journal, it will make the world take cognizance of this debilitating side effect you are experiencing. And finally, how can I (and for that matter , anyone in the scientific community) explain why this happens when this is not believed (at least of of now) as a proven aide effect of metformin.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (10 hours later)

thank you for your answer much appreciated. Sorry I led you to believe it was metformin alone - it is most diabetes medicines, as well as the daily injections I started. I really appreciate you listening was beginning to think I was halucinating.