Metformin Smell (Page 3) (Top voted first)

why does it smell like fish?

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I called my script provider today about the stench of the Metformin 500 mg they sent me. The harsh odor occurred twice before with different manufacturers. I presented it as 'an unwashed hillbilly' but, the yeast infection i read earlier was more accurate!
In any case, Express Scripts Pharmacy Department stated that, "If you leave the cap off the bottle for a few days, the smell should dissipate." She also said the smell is due to something they add in the mix (forgot what she called it) during the process. Good grief! :)

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I am having the same problems with b oou dynamic odors with my last metformin refill. The pharmacist said the fishy smell of the pills is because of the new manufacturing company so next refill I plan to request a different manufacturer.

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I've been taking merformin for years and it never stunk, until this year and it seriously smells like dead fish, I'm calling my doctor Monday cause I believe this is what is causing me to have the poo's..... Plus headaches.....

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Received out Metformin from Medco for years with no problem. Switched to CVS Caremark and it smells like fish. I see where someone described it as a woman with a yeast infection and they are right. this came from China and if they put lead in kids toys and our dishes what are they putting in our drugs. FDA is not protecting us. Wish I knew where we could get this stuff analyzed to see what is really in it.

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I have been taking Metformin 500 mg 2x day for 1 year now. I purchased from Walmart. The latest prescription I refilled at Bobs Usave. I noticed the new pill was different in shape and had a terrible rotten bitter smell. It upset my stomach after taking it and I noticed my chest and abdomen felt a lot of pressure and tightness. I gave it a few weeks and felt worse along with my bg almost doubling from low 100's to 190. After taking the new med it took 5 hrs for my bg to reduce to 160's. Every time I stood up I'd almost blacked out. Terrible headaches, memory/cognition loss... I finally went to 2 doctors and shared with them and they suspect "a BAD BATCH" of the metformin. The PCP called the pharmacy and told me to take it back to them no questions asked. That was not the case. They still expected me to pay for it and gave me a hard time. The first medicine was marked with Z 70 white round tab. The second was marked G 10. Can you advise manufacturers name and country of both, please? Has anyone else suffered these side effects? Also, dizzy, lightheaded, tired, loss of appetite, aching, flu like feeling, weakness, headache, body aches, increased back and neck pain...

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I got fishy ones from Walgreens this month, made by Sun Pharma. They have 397 on them. Gross, can't take them. I will switch to a new pharmacy that carries the other ones I have been taking for 20 years, never smelled anything like it. Smelled like rotten fish. I don't want to end up smelling nasty too. Ewww.

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I used to gag on my metformin pills they smelled so bad. But I found a brand, Zydus Pharmaceuticals, which doesn't smell and have not had a problem since. I had to have CVS special order them. Make sure it's marked with a z on one side and the number 70 on the reverse.

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Re: Verwon (# 2)
Heck yes it is something to worry about especially if you work in tight areas with a lot of other people or your family. I found that the smell was oozing from every poor and everything I cam in contact with picked up the smell. I was changing my sheets daily! I finally realized what the issue was and called the pharmacy. Thank goodness I did not last more than a couple of months on this version from Tagi. My pharmacy has flagged my account and will no longer dispense anything to me from Tagi. I think they need to rethink their inactive ingredients. I have nothing nice to say about this.

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Re: K (# 111)

Those are the ones I've been taking for years (z, 70 by Zydus). They don't smell like urine or fish but they are very bitter. I'm looking to find one that's coated because it's hard to take bitter pills. Besides stomach upset and frequent bad diarreah, the bitter odor comes out of my pores. I'm also not too happy to find out they put horse urine in them! Eck! Lastly could metformin be whats causing a red rashy face and puffy eyelids?

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Re: Verwon (# 2)

Please tell me the name of the manufacturer that makes metformin that doesn't have that awful smell. Its embarrassing to go urinate at someone else house as it smells the whole bathroom up bad
ly!!!!

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I can't take the fish taste and smell in the Metformin I've been receiving; also the odor on my clothing. Is there a pharmacy that carries Metformin without the fishy smell?

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Re: Verwon (# 2)

If the smell of the meds makes the urine & body in some people smell very badly, it most certainly is a problem!

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I finally went to Target and yes they smell bad too even when they used a different manufacturer, but I am no longer feeling the pressure on my chest. Altough I am having this weird sweet taste on my tongue in the middle of the night like I have been sucking on a hard candy with no flavor.
I wish somebody would respond to my earlier questions and this one...after taking the smelly metformin pills did you loose control and were forced to take insulin?

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Walgreens began giving me the fishy metformin in August but after a few weeks I felt like it was not working as well as the previous ones were. Then I got the meds from Walmart and no more fishy smell and I've started losing weight again. My blood sugars seemed to be out of whack too, but I'm not sure as I don't have to check them yet. I'm very grateful to hear that others have had issues with this new fishy product. Strangely, the fishy metformin was manufactured by the same company as the ones I was taking previously (I checked with Walgreens today).

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The pharmacist from Target told me that Teva bought out the competitor that were producing the 4331 pills. Teva allowed the 4331 surplus to run out then substituted their stinky pills. I'm still having issues with the new ones from Target they smell too but not as bad and they are causing low sugar spikes unlike the 4331. I need to check my wieght I have a bad feeling that these pills are making me gain weight. My doctor might need to increase my dosage for this new brand. Oh and they are affecting my memory too.

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I also filled Novo Metformin at Costco. Had nausea and headaches. Costco called company & they did replace it with another supplier. It took me 3 days to get back to normal.If you don't feel well do not use.

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70 Z 500 gives me stomach and muscles pains. My thighs seems as if they were on fire. I called walmart and they had another brand that seems to work now. I was on 397 at the base

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this smell made me go and have std test. i thouhght my husband had an affair, but i found out it is the med. if this is the best they can do i would rather do without the meds and suffer

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i actually thought i was losing it! i have been on metformin for almost 6 years and this is my first refill that had the fishy stench! i usually fill at walmart and never had a prob... i got a refill at target and they reek! awful!

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My daughter was put on Metformin 500mg and every refill we have gotten smells and tastes like rotten fish! When she was in the hospital they gave her their Metformin pills and the were smaller (which was good) and had no smell or taste. Her pills at home are manufactured by Zydus and have Z/70 embossed on them. The hospitals version is manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma but I can't find them anywhere. I went to Walmart to see how those smelled and theirs was fishy too. The pharmacist told me that they all prett much smell the same way unless they were the extended release pills. Evdently the extended release tabs are coated and dont smell. Does anyone know of a pharmacy that has the rugular Metformin 500mg that doesn't smell? Please help, she has started to hide pills or spit them out when I turn my head!

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