FAQ About Metformin - Page 6

babsnwv · 05-26-2005, 12:16 PM

Hello! My RE just prescribed Met 1500 mg/day - starting off slow with one a day for 1 week, then 2 a day for 1 week then up to three 500 mg a day. He seems like an intelligent doctor, but if I hadn't read up on PCOS (thanks for the info!!) before I went, I wouldn't have gotten much from him at all.

My periods have been out of whack for 17 years, yet he says he cannot diagnose me with PCOS because my last three periods have been relatively on time - even though all my other symptoms fit too well. I did fight for a 3 hour GTT, which came back normal. My DH thinks I had already diagnosed myself before we went. Maybe so, but I don't feel like I should have to fight for tests or drag info out of the doctor.

Anyhow, I asked about spironolactone, which he hadn't mentioned, and he said we'd wait to see how the Met worked.

I guess maybe I'm frustrated, having suffered the weight gain, excess hair and acne for so long. I've started being really careful about carbs and trying to squeeze in some exercise. Suppose my gripes aren't much different than anyone else's.

Thanks for letting me vent!

rshukla · 06-14-2005, 01:27 PM

I have been on metformin and spironolactone for about 8 months now. I reached my weight goal about 1 month ago and have been adding calories to slow the weight loss. However, it isn't slowing, and if i lose another pound, I will be classified as underweight. I didn't know if this could have something to do with the metformin. I also recently went back on the pill (yasmin) to try to regulate my cycle some. Before the past 2 months (ie.. before i went back on the pill), my period went from non= existent for 3 months to coming every other week. Could the bcp be causing the continual weight loss? I am mildly concerned because my nutritionist seems to think my PCOS was instigated by my previous anorexia (when i was young); i am afraid a low BMI and too low weight could screw my body up more again? YIKES! Any ideas?

christyz · 06-14-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

I didn't know if this could have something to do with the metformin

Metformin isn't a weight loss drug, so it shouldn't be dropping weight on you. Met lowers your b/s to normal levels and keeps your body from storing high circulating insulin as fat, but it doesn't cause us to lose the body fat we already have ..don't we all wish!

Just puts us on an even playing field to lose weight like normal people when we have the proper lifestyle.

I think any time you are unable to maintain your weight, you need to see your Dr. There could be any number of things (including something from your history) that could be causing it. I would give him/her a call.

All the best...Hope you can get to the bottom of this!

Boink · 06-14-2005, 03:22 PM

Whoa, I read about getting tired/drowsy/sleepy on metformin, but I just fell asleep at work! I think I slept enough last night, so I don't think it's that. My body doesn't feel tired, so that's weird.

Thanks for any feedback.

I keep posting about Met on different topics, sorry of that makes it harder for the mods!

newgamommy · 07-08-2005, 05:29 PM

I saw the FAQ about not being IR and not being obese and taking Metformin, but what about not being IR but being obese?

NicholeMarie · 07-11-2005, 05:46 PM

I get really bad leg cramps with the Met and have to take Quinie Sulfate for them. I can live with the other side effects. I wanted to know what is the max doseage for Met im up to 2550mg now. I just really want this to work.

Thank you for your info it is really helpful...

Letisha · 07-18-2005, 10:33 AM

HEY EVERY1 I WAS WONDERING... WHAT IF ALL THESE TEST I JUST TOOK COME BACK AND SAY I HAVE PCOS BUT MY DOCTOR WONT PUT ME ON METFORMIN? IM GOING THERE TODAY AND IM GOING TO SAY I WANT IT.. WHAT IF SHE DONT LISTEN IM 17 285 LBS. 5'3 AND I HAVE EXCESS HAIR , ACNE, I TEND TO THINK ALOE VERA WORKS ALITTLE AND TANNING BUT I DUNNO.. AND RIGHT BETWEEN MY CHECT I HAVE BROWN SPOTS IT BOTHERS ME BUT A FEW DAYS AGO THEY STARTED TO PEEL AND I HAD BROWN SPOTS UNDERNEITH THE PEELING OF TH EOLD ONE AND THEY HURT... I WAS LIKE WOW IM GLAD IT'S CLEARING UP BUT IM GETTING MORE SPOTS??? LOL.. WILL MET HELP FOR THESE? IM OK WITH THE HAIR I SHAVE WAZ YOU NAME IT.. JUST TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK!!! I HATE IT.. I WEAR MAKEUP WHEREEVER I GO .. I CANT LIVE WITHOUT IT.. I HAVE DARK CIRCLES ON THE UPPER EYELIDS I DUNNO I JUST HATE IT SOMETIMES.. DO YOU GUYS HAVE THAT HUMP IN THE BACK OF YOUR NECK? IT'S WEIRD I FEEL SO TRAPPED YET PRETTY WHEN I DO MYSELF UP I DUNNO ITS WEIRD I JUST WISH I COULD LOSE WEIGHT AND BE EVEN PRETTIER.. YOU KNOW.. CAN YO ULET ME KNOW HOW MET WILL HELP I READ THE THING.. I GOT SOME INFO OUT OF IT THAT I WROTE DOWN TO SHOW MY DOCTOR SO THAT DAMN SKINNY ***** BETTER GIVE ME MET OR I WILL SNAP... I HATE DOCTORS WHO SAY PCOS AS LITTLE TO DO WITH UR WEIGHT GAIN YOU JUST NEED TO EXERCISE MORE.. BLAH BLAH BLAH FRICKEN BLAH... GIVE ME THE DAMN MET FOR THIS HAIR, ACNE, MISSED PERIODS, CRAZY PERIODS, NO PERIODS AT ALL, WEIGHT GAIN, INSULIN, SCARS, YOU NAME IT IM TIRED OF IT LOL... SHOOT... JUST GIVE ME IT LOL... I HATE WHEN SKINNY DOCTORS LOOK AT YOU DUMB LIEK YOUR A BIG GIRL PERSON WHO JUST SITS AT HOME AND EATS 50, 000 CALERIES A DAY AND GAIN WEIGHT CAUS EIN REAL LIFE WE DONT. AND IT'S DEPRESSING REALLY... I NEED MORE INFO ON MET OR ACNE TREATMENTS OR HAIR THINGS.. I DUNNO ANYTHING TO DO WITH PCOS... THANK YOU
SINCERELY
lETISHA
SORRY ABOUT BEING SO RUDE OR WHATEVER.. IM JUST MAD ABOUT THIS... NO DOCTORS REALLY KNOW WHAT THEIR TALKING ABOUT... AND I AM TIRED OF IT... AND I JUST TOOK 3 BLOOD TESTS I GO TOMORROW FOR THE RESULTS BUT WHAT MAKES ME MAD IS I HATE NEEDLES AND FOR THE 3 TIMES THEY POKED ME 8 FRICKEN TIMES... OMG I CRIED....
THANKS FOR LISTENING

LETISHA
17YRS OLD
285 LBS
NO MEDS
DONE TESTS
HOPEFULLY GET PUT ON MET SOON..
THANKS

christyz · 07-18-2005, 12:37 PM

There are a few things you mentioned that met won't be curing - skin spots and scars for example have nothing to do with insulin resistance, so the meds probably won't touch those issues. And met by itself doesn't lose weight for you...I totally wish,

I had to seriously commit to diet and exercise and it still took me 3 years to take off the 60 pounds I had to lose. If you're Insulin resistant than it can put you on an even playing field with normal women, but it won't dissolve weight. Only our lifestyle can do that.

My advice to you is to keep pestering Dr's until they hear you out about your symptoms. I saw 6 before I had one who gave me the time and consideration my symptoms needed and if the labs don't solve it, you need to find a Dr willing to follow up and see you through this. Medicine is a service industry. If your Dr doesn't take the time with you, then take your business elsewhere. Be proactive.

Hope it helps!

Letisha · 07-22-2005, 06:36 AM

thank you for all the info
i started met 4 days ago
love
LEtisha

Tia38 · 08-17-2005, 09:55 AM

Just wanted to say thanks for the FAQ! It's quite comprehensive, but yet easy to read and follow. It's VERY nice to have all the info in one convenient place!

-Tia

christyz · 09-06-2005, 10:25 PM

You welcome, ladies! Glad it helped. I have added another article on Type II diabetes and met to the original post.

christyz · 09-20-2005, 02:36 PM

Thread has been updated with a Question regarding met and onset of periods.

As always, if you find any broken links, be sure to let me know.

christyz · 09-23-2005, 12:11 PM

Update: Added a couple of great new articles to Question #10 regarding diet and exercise.

Lou H · 09-26-2005, 04:34 PM

thankyou so much for your Q & A list, I've learnt more about met in the last 10mins than I've learnt in the 3 months I've been diagnosed with pcos.
I brought myself of it as thought it wasnt agreeing with me, but it seems I wasnt takin it right. I was takin it at 9am and 5pm (500mg per tab), but by the looks of your info I should of been takin it closer together. Is that correct?

christyz · 09-26-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

I've learnt more about met in the last 10mins than I've learnt in the 3 months I've been diagnosed with pcos.

I'm glad!

I guess it depends on if you are on regular or XR. If you're on XR you can take them together once a day, but regular needs to be about every 5 hours or so for people on 3 tabs a day. For people with 2 tabs daily like us, you can take them about the same time as you have been with food. I just try to make sure I take it with my larger meals to most help my insulin.