Does diarrhea from metformin cause weight loss?

When I was prescribed metformin, I had bad stomach issues and loose motions for the first two weeks, and I did lose some weight. Once my body adjusted to the medicine, the diarrhea stopped and my weight stabilized.

The weight loss from diarrhea is mostly fluid loss and can make you very weak. If your doctor allows, try doing very light walks instead of heavy workouts while your stomach settles, and focus on staying hydrated.

I started metformin last week and my stomach is in such bad shape, I'm already seeing a drop in my weight. Is this normal or should I be worried? Did anyone else experience this much stomach distress initially?

Yeah, metformin can really upset your stomach in the beginning and cause some quick fluid weight loss. Try having small, light meals and give your body a couple of weeks to adapt to the dosage.

You can try drinking buttermilk with roasted cumin or ginger tea to help calm your digestion. However, if the diarrhea from the medicine is too severe and causing major weight loss and weakness, please see your doctor.

The initial weight loss is due to dehydration and poor absorption. Focus on eating simple, non-spicy vegetarian food like bananas, curd rice, and applesauce to help your gut recover while you are on this medication.