There are many classes of diabetes drugs that can cause you to have loose stools when you taken them. This is a side effect in an effort to gain tighter control of your blood sugar levels. Knowing which medications can lead to loose stools can help you manage your diet or talk to your healthcare provider about different options to control your blood sugar levels.
Alpha-glucoside Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are alpha-glucosides that slow down the breakdown and absorption of starch in your intestines. These two medications are taken with your meals to delay glucose release into your blood stream. In an effort to delay glucose release, these medications may cause loose stools or diarrhea. Both medications are taken with each meal, three times a day to help control blood sugar or glucose levels.
Sitaglipnit
Januvia is the newest class of diabetes medications. Januvia is the brand name for sitaglipnit and works by improving insulin production after meals. According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, sitaglipnit also helps your body release less glucose between meals. Sitaglipnit is in Januvia and also the drug, Janumet, which a combination drug of sitaglipnit and metformin, which may lead to diarrhea as well.
Biguinades
This is a class of diabetic drugs that suppresses your liver from releasing glucose, sugar into your bloodstream in between meals. According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, Glucophage, Glucophage extended release, Fortamet, Glumetza and Riomet are all forms of metformin with different release times that increase the incidence of loose stools or diarrhea. You are recommended to take these drugs with meals to decrease gas and diarrhea.
Fixed Combinations
There are many diabetes medications on the market that contain metformin in combination with another class of diabetes medications as listed with the Joslin Diabetes Center. Glucovance, Metaglip, Avandamet and Actoplus Met contain metformin and may possibly cause you to have diarrhea because of the metformin component in the drug combination.
