Can Metformin Stop Working??

FrankieH · 09-29-2008, 07:27 AM

Hi,

I'm new to this site and I've been suffering on my own with PCOS for around 5 years so I'm so glad I found this.

About 18 months ago I started taking Metformin after not having a period for nearly 3 years. About 4 weeks into taking the drug I had my first period and I continued to have regular periods until a few months ago. I'm now close to missing a third period! I've been taking 3 x 500mg per day. Can Metformin just stop working???? I would be very grateful for some advice on this.

To make matters worse my doctor is now telling me that Metformin never started my periods again in the first place and it was just a coincidence that they came back as I started taking the drug! This goes against everything I've read about Metformin. This is very frustrating because my doctor first prescribed Metformin for my periods! Now she refuses to say that Metformin has anything to do with it. I am also of normal weight, not pregnant and haven't been under any excess stress recently.

If any one has any advice on this I would much appreciate it.

Thank-you

katiekeen · 09-29-2008, 09:13 AM

Wow, I was surfing the met forums looking for exactly this topic! You sound exactly like me! I started met around 2 years ago, my periods became fairly regular - I was really happy about it. When my RE upped the dose to 3 x 500mg/daily, I became even more regular. Then it just seemed to stop working (around 5-6 months ago, similar time-frame to you), my cycles grew longer and longer until this latest - I'm on CD60-something now. I'm also of normal weight/not preggo/not stressed and exercising regularly.

AND... my GP told me that met had nothing to do with my periods regulating or making me O. Soooo frustrating. Sorry I don't have the answer for you, but I hope someone does! I

GlitterStar · 09-29-2008, 11:55 AM

Same thing here. I started out at 1000 mg's and that was enough to give me a period, although they never regulated normally. Then they started missing for months at a time again so my dose was upped to 1500 and eventually 2000. I did start having periods again, that is until Feb. of 2007. They stopped for over a year. My doc then gave me provera and that gave me a period all right....a month long period, and huge pimples and leg cramps and another whole array of issues and then once I got back the initial month long period, I started having them every 12 days. Did that for a few months until they finally stopped again. I started flutamide about 5 weeks ago now and so far, that's been the best thing. I started spotting and that carried on for about 2 weeks but the last 3 weeks, I've been fine. So I'm hoping that within the next week or so I'll get a period and that will kick off a normal cycle.

swisscyster · 09-29-2008, 12:12 PM

weird weird.... i know this. when i started Met 1700mg a day I had two regular ovulatory cycles right away after going on for about 6 month without a period. that was it. no more period after this. my doc also told me that obviously it was just a coincident even though i could tell by the way he said it that he wasnt so convinced about what he just said. i am a thin cyster as well... the bad thing is that i was soo happy that Met seems to work and then the disappoinment was even bigger...

cemomster · 09-29-2008, 01:14 PM

Thats when I had to increase my dosage and it started working again.

TheGigglingFrog · 09-29-2008, 03:00 PM

You might want to get a clarification from your Dr about what she means when she says the Met isn't what caused your cycle. She might have been speaking more literally, meaning that the Met didn't directly effect your cycle, it effected the insulin hormone which then effected your other hormones which then effected your cycle. or she might have meant what she said, you will only know once you give her a call (she could have also been having a bad day and misspoke) Please call the office and ask, that is what they are there for, you don't have to have an appointment to talk to the Doc.

It may also be that you just need your dose adjusted, call the office and ask if your dose can be adjusted... save your co-pay, this doesn't require a visit, just a request and then your Dr will fax the pharmacy.

It is always a good idea to call or email your Doc with questions, this helps them to learn where they need to provide better information for their patients and you end up helping other women... also, it is their job. You have hired that particular Doc to be your support partner in caring for your health, they can't be your partner and support if you don't communicate with them... and if you have one that you aren't comfortable communicating with, then please find one that you are comfortable with, your life might depend on it someday down the road...

klmcconne79 · 09-30-2008, 11:45 AM

Like another poster said your dose might need to be increased. Metformin gave me WAY too many side effects to continue taking. My dr. is going to put me on something else similar but with less side effects. I found however that when I increased my exercise and lost just 10% of my weight my cycles became more regular on the Met. Not sure if you are a thin cyster or not so that advice might be moot.