Canadian Cyster with a ? - Metformin vs. Avandia?

dreamy28 · 08-02-2004, 03:22 AM

Hello Cysters!

I am living in Canada and am currently taking Metformin, 1,500 mgs per day (I take 500 mgs three times a day.) I have been taking this since March of 2003.

I have not had a natural period since being on metformin - it's as if I haven't taken metformin at all. I am also on 100 mgs of Aldactone a day and 50 mgs of Wellbutrin, as well as 25 mgs of hydrochlorothiazide. I am wondering - have any of you cysters out there NOT had success with metformin so your doctor switched you to Avandia or another similar medication and you had success with that medication as opposed to the metformin? If so, what medication was it and do you know if it is available/prescribed in Canada?

Any input you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

-Kelley (dreamy28)

dreamy28 · 08-02-2004, 10:04 PM

Just thought I'd bump this out there again in case anyone didn't see it earlier...

PCOSinDC · 08-08-2004, 10:25 PM

Hi Kelley,

I was on 1500 mg of glucophage and still not cycling. My doctor switched me to 4mg/day of Avandia. That worked pretty well, I started cycling somewhat normally right away. But my hormone levels were still a bit whacky, so he put me on 500 mg of glucophage in addition to the 4mg/day of Avandia. I stayed on that for ~6 months or so, during which time my LH and FSH went back to normal. I really like the avandia, I didn't have any side effects at all. The downside (?) is that you have to go off of it if you become pregnant. I was very nervous going off of it because I was scared of miscarriage, but 11 weeks in- everything seems ok.

I hope that helps!

Erica

dreamy28 · 08-09-2004, 09:55 PM

Thank you so much for your input Erica! It helps a great deal. I am going to make a doctor's appointment tomorrow. By the way, were your blood sugars normal? (My Glucose Tolerance Tests were normal, as was my fasting blood sugar test, but FH, LSH, testosterone level are wonky) Congrats on your pregnancy by the way!

PCOSinDC · 08-09-2004, 11:46 PM

I had bouts of hypoglycemia, where my sugars would drop to the 30s or 40s. But, we never did a GTT or anything like that. I suspect that they did not ever go super high. Although, my fasting blood sugars were 100-110, which my endo thought was too high for someone of my build (I'm a thin cyster).

Have they tested your thyroid? I know that sometimes PCOSers also have thyroid issues, so if they're drawing blood - you might want to have them throw in a thyroid panel. Mine was off, and fixing that seemed to help my other levels as well.

Good luck with your appointment, let us know how it goes!

Erica

p.s. I had horrrible side effects on 1500mg of metformin - when I switched to avandia and had no side effects, I considered going and kissing the people who invented avandia!! I love the stuff - tiny pill and it worked like a charm for me.

*Ellie* · 08-10-2004, 12:48 AM

I have to give a HUGE thumbs up to Avandia! I took Gluc XR for a long time and it didn't really do much for me except give me GI problems. About three weeks ago my doctor switched me to Avandia and I couldn't be happier! I feel SO much better than before! I haven't gotten AF yet, but I just started spotting today, so hopefully this will be my first non-Provera induced AF, thanks to Avandia!

Good luck!

PS Erica, congrats on your pregnancy! When did you discontinue taking Avandia? I'm a little concerned about that, as we are TTC.

PCOSinDC · 08-10-2004, 06:34 PM

Flutterby,

I discontinued Avandia as soon as I got a BFP, as per my doctor's instructions. I'm still on the metformin, same dosage as before I got pregnant. Good luck to you in your TTC journey!!! Avandia worked really well for me!

Erica

lil lizzie · 08-13-2004, 07:59 AM

My doc switched my met to avandia b/c the met really wasn't agreeing with me at all. It really bothered my stomach and just wasn't doing it's job. I don't think I ever got AF on met. But since I've been on Avandia, I've actually got AF. It's still not what I'd call regular, but hey, it's a start. Good luck.
luv
amber

fawn · 08-20-2004, 04:02 AM

How come my endo prescribed me:

Avandamet (combination of avandia and metformin) 2mg/500mg after breakfast

Metformin 500mg after dinners

Ur suppose to try metformin the first time, and if didn't work, switch to glitazone (avandia) isn't it?

gracie381 · 09-25-2004, 06:19 PM

I've been on the Metformin 2000mg. for a year and a half. I never got AF while I was taking it. I always had to take prometrium to start AF. The even switched me to Glucophage XR for a while and it didn't work either. I hope this Avandia is the key the everything. What I would give to at least have a chance to conceive. If you don't have AF, you don't have much of a chance. Good luck to you on Avandia! I'll be sure to let you know how it works for me. Keep your fingers crossed!!