What’s going on? I would really appreciate some help here! I started on the met back in February – and after the initial s/e’s, I lost several pounds, had loads of energy and got AF back. I started and still am on 1500mg a day. I then moved from standard metformin to Glucophage SR, but since mid-April have noticed the tablets have just…stopped working. No AF. Sugar cravings returned (I want diet coke and chocolate, when previously that revolted me!) And my weight has gone back up L I am really struggling with this – and just don’t know what to do. Trying low-GI – no difference, trying spinning classes ad nauseum – no difference. Do you think I need to start taking 2000mg? Could it be the slow release? Has anyone else experienced this? It’s depressing me so much Lara
Lara,
I have not made it past 2 months of Met and will probably refuse to take unless dr can prove I need it for my sugar. However, I do know that you need to be tested every 3 months to check sugar levels and kidneys. Most drs advise not to go to 2000 mg unless you have been tested because it can cause hyperglycemia if you take too much Met.
Do you have an exercise routine? As with anytime you are trying to lose weight, you will hit a plateau and need to change up your routine/diet.
If you are still concerned because things to not seem to be going anywhere, I suggest calling your dr to have more tests run.
__________________ Me
DSS 5/30/04 (always will be mine)
thanks, SandV - yep, I've really upped and changed my exercise. Going from treadmill three times a week, to walking 30 mins + a day and spinning and RPM classes.
I am going to try and see my GP next week, because the AF and weight gain are just depressing me... :-(
With any med you take on a regular basis, your body can build up a tolerence to it. Your problem could be the switch from Met to glucophage. I'm not sure what it is, but there is a slight difference in the two.
Are the sugar cravings all the time or are they something that you can associate with PMS? I have to take another med for my PMS/PMDD, or else I'll eat nonstop. The cravings come one after the other, and I really can't physically control myself. One month I ate 5 lbs of chocolate in 2 days, another month, I ate a whole pan of brownies. Finally I said 'enough is enough' and went to dr for something to help.
__________________
~35 ~ PCOS/IR ~ LAVH due to fibroid, kept ovaries ~
I have found information that stated Glucaphage (non-generic) in both the extended-release and non-extended release, as well as Metformin (generic) extended release (SR) do not show the same weight-loss benefits as Metformin (generic) non-extended release. I also did not see weight-loss benefits until I increased my dosage from 500mg twice per day to 1,000mg twice per day (total 2,000mg). And during my PMS week, when normal cravings for sugar are higher, I up my total daily dosage to 2,500mg (1,500 in the morning and 1,000 in the evening).
I typed this into Google search
"is non-extended release metformin better for weight loss than glucophage"
and found information to support this.
Also, try typing this into a search bar:
Metformin decreases food consumption and induces weight loss in subjects with obesity with type II non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Oh, you've made me almost burst into tears with joy!! I moved from Metformin quick release to Glucophage SR, and about a month later - things kind of stopped!
Went to my GP this morning, and she put me back on Met short release - and at 2000mg.
Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for your post, it's filled me with optimism after a really hard few weeks. I was bawling my eyes out in the docs surgery - it's really hard to be counting calories, watching carbs, spinning, training and still gaining!
Hang in there! I'm glad this information could help. I know it is so hard! I have my own post about stopping and then re-starting Metformin if it stops working or stalls in weight-loss. I have been on it for 16 months and lost 35 pounds in the first 11 months. Over the first 11 months, I had about three plateaus where I didn't lose weight for 2-4 weeks and just when I thought I had finally maxed out the benefits, then the weight loss would start again. Finally at a year it appears that it really has maxed out for me now, so I am trying to see if anyone has had success stopping for a while and then re-starting Metformin again (to see if it will jumpstart weight loss again). Don't be disouraged if you do hit some plateaus though since that is normal. If you come across anything on stopping and then re-starting, please let me know. :-)
I swear this stuff loses it's efficacy after a certain amount of time. I have worked up to 3 X 850mg/day...I had a period for 6 months straight - clock work and then it just stopped in December - cold. I do low carbs, workout 5 days/week 45 minutes and not losing weight and no period
I swear this stuff loses it's efficacy after a certain amount of time. I have worked up to 3 X 850mg/day...I had a period for 6 months straight - clock work and then it just stopped in December - cold. I do low carbs, workout 5 days/week 45 minutes and not losing weight and no period
Seriously angry and frustrated
Hey sillychick - I feel your pain, I am on a similar regime with no weight loss success.
Can I ask - when you initially started the Met did you lose weight? I;ve only been on it for about 2 months and if anything just got bloated and gained. That was 1500mg daily though.
I'm wondering if upping to 2000mg will kick start me into losing?
Help! Can met stop working?! 
Hate on for met 
