500mg Met enough?

KDS25 · 09-03-2004, 01:06 PM

Hi Ladies,

I'm a thin/average PCOSer. I'm 26 and have been ttc for 2 years. I've done 5 cycles of clomid and 1 cycle of injections. My last 3 medicated cycles, my RE added 500mg Met. I started having much better response to the meds at that time. Then, I needed an emotional break, so for the last 2 months I've been completed unmedicated during which time I've had no cycle (as is normal for me when unmedicated), acne flare ups, etc. SO, right now I'm more interested in PCOS & cycle management even more so than TTC, so my Dr put me on 500mg Met. I'm just worried this dose will be too low to help. Most seem to take 1500mg or more. Anyone else out there on 500mg and seeing results?

PCOS symptoms:

3:1 LH:FH
elevated testosterone
string of pearls ovaries
thinning hair
excess body hair
moderate acne

nikkisix · 09-04-2004, 04:47 PM

My DR put me on 500 mg of met as well, and all I could think about was my next appointment and how I could get him to up my dose... but then I had AF, and my face started to clear up. Now I am having 21 day cycles. So it works for me at 500mg. My DR told me that the "thinner" you are the less dosage you need (?? - I don't know, but it makes sense ??). Maybe your DR just wants to moniter you, and will adjust your dosage accordingly.

Good Luck!
Nicole

fawn · 09-05-2004, 12:02 AM

I'm thin, yet my doctor gave me 1,000mg/day of met and 2mg of avandia. She said i'm suppose to have my period after 6 weeks.

i'm taking the med for more than a week now.

I heard 1,500mg is the therapeautic range.

nikkisix, how long were u taking met at 500mg before u had ur AF?

nikkisix · 09-05-2004, 08:28 PM

Fawn... I was on met for about 2 weeks when AF showed up, I can remember thinking it was just "time", but then 23 days later she came again! It's been constant 21 day cycles since starting met.

I thought the therapeautic dose was 1500mg as well, but my DR wants to keep me on the 500mg, becuase it's working. Ovulation is another thing all together though

Are you TTC?

fawn · 09-06-2004, 03:33 AM

Wow that early huh? My doctor told me i may have my period after 6 weeks. I take metformin 1,000mg and avandia (2mg) per day.

i'm not TTC, i'm just 24

and single

YOu must be lucky,500mg works for you. It's cheaper, u only have to take one tab/day

(i'm not sure if meds u take are covered in ur insurance, coz we have to pay for our own meds here in where i live)

explora · 09-06-2004, 05:48 PM

i too am ony on 500mg currently. my dr. had tryed a higher dose initially then lowered it after 4 months. i was getting the shakes if i didn't eat enough. I am also average ht and wt. 500mg seems to do the trick for me

it took about 6 weeks for me to establish a normal cycle.

nikkisix · 09-07-2004, 02:55 AM

I'm actually quite lucky, the company I work for has a great benifits package. 30 met pills cost me about $0.73-- sounds great but we have the highest taxes in North America!!

I'm actually going to the DR on the 13th, becuase I have been having AF too much-- 15 day cycles. Oh, I just wish I could get this figured out..

fawn · 09-07-2004, 03:05 AM

Oh my, i hope everthing is ok. Keep us posted

kloc12 · 09-07-2004, 03:30 PM

I have a question. I am a thin non-IR PCOSer. I started Met in Feb '04 w/ 500mg. I worked up to 2000mg of met w/in 4-5 weeks. I received my period after only 12 dayse on Met. THe following month i received it exactly 28 days later. THen I received it 39 days later. I have not received another cycle since May. I am wondering, is there an optimal dose for the thin non-IR's that we should be on? Is the higher doses actually too much for our bodies? What do you guys think?

fawn · 09-08-2004, 03:03 AM

Are you Kristin from another forum?

I guess no one has ever experienced what u are experiencing now huh? I hope someone will turn up

I'm a non IR PCOSer, been taking met(1,000mg/day)+avandia(2mg/day) for 2 weeks now, and so far i havne't got my AF. I'm suppose to have my period 6 weeks of taking the medicine

kloc12 · 09-08-2004, 02:08 PM

Yeah I am Kristin. I have a Repro. Endo appt in 2 weeks so hopefully she can advise me. She supposedly has some experience w/ PCOS women. Thanks though!

fawn · 09-09-2004, 03:20 AM

I hope everything will be cleared out on ur next appointment. keep us posted!

psuchick14 · 09-09-2004, 03:46 PM

I was Dx with PCOS last month and I was also put on 500 mg of Metformin. I've been on it for 5 weeks and no AF (cd 36).
I was really confused too b/c it seemed like everyone on these boards are on 1500 mg +. I have an appt. with my Endo. tomorrow so hopefully I learn a little more about my treatment.

btw - what is Spiro (can't remember how to spell it)?

I guess it makes sense that they take your weight into consideration with your dose.
- Holly

nikkisix · 09-11-2004, 05:21 AM

Hi Holly...."Spiro" is spirolactone. Technically it is a water pill, a diuretic. Mainly for women with pcos it is used to help with the unwanted hair that can be a side effect for some women.

Honestly, there is no rhyme or reason with pcos (if I may rant for a minute) some women have no outward physical symptoms, and some have ALL the classic symptoms. I don't know why I have reacted so well to the 500mg while other women have no success with 2500mg doses... BTW Fawn, any luck yet for you?
It's almost impossible to find a doctor who even knows what they are talking about when it comes to pcos, and they are the ones you are supposed to trust to treat you!
Anyway, it just frustrating, sorry for the rant

psuchick14 · 09-13-2004, 01:05 PM

Well I just went to the doctor on Friday and they increased my dose of Metformin. I'm now on 1000 mg with direction to increase up to 2000 mg. I'm going to take 1000 mg for a least 2 weeks in hopes it will jump start my cycle (I'm on CD 40). It's made me sick to my stomache, but I'm hoping that will go away with time.

- Holly