Hello all. I am new to this site. I recently found out two and a half months ago that I have PCOS. I am glad to finally know what was casuing me to have irregular periods which started back in 1996. I was diagnosed with Diabetes a little over two years ago. I wish that I had know that I probably had this disease then because I may could have saved myself from developing full blown type II Diabetes. Anyway, I was taking Glucophage XR, a 1000 mg per day to control the diabetes and it was keeping it undercontrol wonderfully(HbA1C 6.4). When I found out that I had PCOS I went to see a reproductive endocrinologist and she changed my meddication from Glucophage XR to plain metoformin 1700 mg per day. It does not seem to be helping any. In fact I have had some pretty awful bowell movements to frequently that I did not have on the Gluco XR. I am loosing my hair, I have dark patches on my skin, my hair and face are very oily, I have mild acne and very little facial hair. All of my weight seems to be gathering around my waist. I was always so thin you until 2000. That is when I started putting on the weight. I had been weighing 210 since I found out I had diabetes but since changing my medication, I have gained 10 pounds. I just don't understand this disease at all. I feel really depressed and desperate to get my weight down(160 pounds would be great). can anyone out there relate?
Sorry to hear of your problems. Everything you have described there are classical symptoms of PCOS.
But from what you are saying that a change in medication is aggrivating these symptoms and causing them moreso than before, then I would be inclined to ask whoever it was that changed the medication why and explain to them that it is making things worse. I would demand that I changed back (unless there is good excuse not to) or try another medication.
Try not to panic and get yourself a good doc/specialist who will listen to all your concerns and help as much as poss.
Sounds like your symptoms are getting worse on Metformin... am I reading your post correctly? I was changed from Met to Gluc XR not too long ago, and I have also been experiencing loose BMs. (Sorry if TMI) I think that anytime you have a change in Meds, you're likely to have some side-affects such as that.
As far as your weight gain, hair loss, dark skin, etc... Those ARE classic PCOS symptoms. Are you on any kind of birth control pill? And perhaps you should ask to be changed back to Gluc XR if it worked better for you.
I'm sorry you're having so much trouble, but once you find the right combination to the PCOS lock, things will get better. Its just a trial and error type thing for awhile. My best to you.
__________________ Amber (30) & DH Joshua (28) My Dx:Hypothyroid age 16 Syndrome X including Hypothyroidism, PCOS, High Cholesterol, & Insulin Resistance age 21 Vitamin D Deficiency age 30 My Rx:Synthroid, Lipitor, Yasmin, Vitamin D Supplement, Align
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Take this for what it is worth and I fully admit I am not a doctor. My understanding is that Metphormin and glucophage are the same medicine. HOWEVER, glucophage XR is an Extended Release form. My doctor told me they recently did some studies that showed that PCOS patients did better with the non-extended release form than the extended release form. BUT some patients do not tolerate the non-XR medication as it is rougher on your stomach. I am on the non-XR form and my loose movements cleared up after a while. However, if you are gaining weight and having acne and dark patches more so than before, I would make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. It could be that the timing of when you are taking the metphormin is different and not as effective as when you took the glucophage XR. (I assume you took the XR once a day and are currently taking the metphormin multiple times a day). It also might just be that the XR works better for you. Truth be told, I did not see a difference between the two. And I am a type 1 diabetic so I was continually monitoring blood sugar levels and measuring how much insulin I was taking.
I am not diabetic, but I have taken gluc xr. met. and regular glucophage. Personally, I found that there was an unbelievable difference for me between the regular and generic. I just don't think that I absorbed the generic the same way. I too had a flare of sypmtoms when on the metformin. It could be that you are sensitive also? I also noticed a huge difference between 1500 a day and 2000 a day, so you might want to ask your doc for an increase in your dosage. Or maybe the extended release just works better for you.
Any suggestions? 
