Sorry if this thread is redundant. This is my first cycle of Metformin (1000 mg/day), Femara, baby aspirin and acupuncture. All were prescribed by my Gyn.
Today, the acupuncturist suggested that I take cinnamon and honey (2 teaspoons of each in hot water). When I came home to do a quick Internet search, it sounds like cinnamon does some of the same things that Metformin is supposed to help with, among other things.
Given that they may have the same function, is it safe to take cinnamon and Metformin together? At the very least, I hope the cinnamon can help with the awful bloating I've been having from the Met! Thanks for any advice!
I am currently on 1500 mg of Met and take cinnamon in the morning. It's hard to say what the effects of taking both are, but I'm feeling great and have started to lose weight after about a month of taking both.
I've often heard that natural remedies help the body heal itself and that modern medicine is more immediate, but only treats the problem superficially, if that makes any sense. It should be fine to take both and I believe that one actually compliments the other.
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Dx 2003
2000 mg Metformin - Cycles now regular
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From what I've learned cinnimon helps stabalize glucose, I've taken them both together (cinnimon caplets) and the only "side effects" I've ever gotten was about 10 minutes after I take it, it makes me burp and it tastes like cinnimon...not unpleasent at all if you like the taste of it noramlly. Try it, you never know it may work really well for you.
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Kitty - I get the same reaction to cinnamon. when my friends/family see me burp and I say "oooh, cinnamon" (I like the smell and taste of cinnamon), they all laugh!
In response to the initial question, I have been on met for almost 4 years. I have been lucky that I have not had any bad side effects. Although the "good" side effects have been that Met has regulated my cycle to be like clockwork - every 30 days, my acne has cleared up, the hair on my chin and calves is thinner/less noticable and I know that I am ovulating more than I was. Which is helping our TTC journey a little more.
I've been taking cinnamon (capsules - 2000mg) for the last 6 months or so and I have not noticed any difference. I should be getting my A1C bloodwork results today/tomorrow and will know more if it is helping.
Why not ask your doctor? He/she seems progressive since you were prescribe acupuncture. Anecdotal stories are fine, but you need to get treatments cleared through your doctor.
Farmgrrl - I did actually see my dr yesterday regarding my A1C bloodwork and my glucose has gone down a little (about 5 points) since taking the cinnamon and I told him I was taking cinnamon and he was fine with it. I have also told my infertility dr the same thing and he is fine with it also. the IF dr actually highly recommends low dose injectables and trying natural remedies along side conventional treatment options.
Sounds good. I hope I didn't come across as snarky. I just see a lot of women asking for medical advice on these boards when they are in the care of doctors and it really seems like they should be talking to their doctors. I am not saying you should believe everything your doctor says, but at least they have training. You can always get a second opinion. I'm going for a second opinion next Friday in fact!
Well, I have started taking the cinnamon & I have noticed that it seems to curb my appetite some. Aside from that, I haven't noticed anything yet. I'm hoping it will help me lose some weight & conceive.
Thanks everyone for your advice. For the record, I wanted to ask for other people's opinions since my doctor tends to be very liberal. He almost has an "anything goes" approach. I have seen a couple of different doctors so far, and I've found that opinions can differ quite a bit even among the medical community. It helps me to hear what personal experiences other patients have had and also what they have been told by their doctors.
I started taking 2000 mg of cinnamon yesterday with my Metformin. I need to be retested in 2 months so we'll see then if it has helped my insulin levels. I figure it can't hurt though.
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Carrie
PCOS with Insulin Resistance
Hypothyroidism
DX April 2008
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I started taking 2000 mg of cinnamon yesterday with my Metformin. I need to be retested in 2 months so we'll see then if it has helped my insulin levels. I figure it can't hurt though.
Just wanted to say that herbals CAN hurt. It really IS medicine, and needs to be treated as such. I hope you will be fine, but I would run it b y your doctor ASAP.
Cinnamon AND Metformin? 
I'm going for a second opinion next Friday in fact!
