How do you know if you are on the correct dose of Metformin?

momof2pugz · 09-02-2009, 04:15 PM

How do you know if you are on the "correct for you" dose of Metformin?
Does your Dr. do some sort of test?
How do you feel?

NikiAngel · 09-02-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momof2pugz

How do you know if you are on the "correct for you" dose of Metformin?
Does your Dr. do some sort of test?
How do you feel?

First before they put you on the Metformin they should do a whole bunch of tests including Kidney function to make sure it is safe for you to take, followed by glucose tolerance. They will then base your dosage I believe on what's right for you. They should monitor your hormone levels, glucose tolerance, whether you start O'ing, lose weight with the Met etc.

I went on and was not IR, but not O'ing. Unfortunately it didn't get me started O'ing. The doctor didn't take me off because I am ttc and if I do get pg, some studies show that it can prevent early m/c which I've had so we're sticking status quo. Though the doctor isn't sure I need it.

I am on 1500 mg 500mg 3xs per day. This is a somewhat high dose for someone in my situation with no weight or IR issues.

Good luck to you, feel free to ask any questions.

I have no side effects wtih the met. Did for about 1 month now I'm great, but I am pretty resilient and very healthy.

momof2pugz · 09-04-2009, 02:33 AM

Thank you. That info helps. My doctor put me on only 500 mg and I am worried that it is too little. However, it has helped with my dizzyness if I wait too long before eating. I'm crossing my fingers.

sissa30 · 09-11-2009, 01:22 AM

I wonder about my dosage as well. I am on 500 mg twice a day. I worry about asking my Dr. if I need to increase the dose due to the crazy tummy issues. Sometimes I think I am crazy to put up with the tummy issues to help find some additional relief. I also notice that I get REALLY cranky if I go too long without eating. Does anyone else have the same issue? Is it the drop in insulin? Thanks everyone!

CaliAmandalyn1981 · 09-11-2009, 02:18 AM

I knew I was on the right dose, because I started my period for the first time (on my own and not on bcp) since i was a teenager!!!

I started out on 1000mg, but that wasn't doing anything. So 3 months later the Dr upped it to 2000mg. 3 days after I took my first 2000mg dosage, I started my period!

I've been having them monthly for over a year now!!!

~Traci~ · 09-11-2009, 11:31 AM

I was on 850mg & got more b/w 6 wks later only to find out that my insulin was even higher so RE upped me to 1700mg (850x2). You should get more b/w done to see if your insulin has lowered after being on it for a while (some drs wait 3 months)

duramater · 09-11-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sissa30

I wonder about my dosage as well. I am on 500 mg twice a day. I worry about asking my Dr. if I need to increase the dose due to the crazy tummy issues. Sometimes I think I am crazy to put up with the tummy issues to help find some additional relief. I also notice that I get REALLY cranky if I go too long without eating. Does anyone else have the same issue? Is it the drop in insulin? Thanks everyone!

sissa - I feel the same way. I thought metformin was supposed to make you eat less, but instead I'm getting hungry every few hours. I guess it could be the lower blood sugar, but I thought that wasn't supposed to happen....

If you increase the dose, you'll probably feel sicker! I'm sorry that you're having so many side effects.

NikiAngel · 09-11-2009, 03:00 PM

Hey ladies, I don't know how long you all have been on Met/or your dose....what I can tell you (for me) is that it gets so much better! I have been on 9 months now. 1-2 months were real rough. I do eat more now, but it also changes your hormone balance I guess so you will actually weigh less or the same. I was not on it for weight reasons, though some are. I found that if I just ate really small meals frequently it helped. The only thing I found counterproductive was that the only thing that seems to curb the nausea is carbs, and we should be avoiding carbs, so if you still to complex carbs and small frequent meals you may feel better. Worked for me, but everyone is different. Now I don't even notice I'm on the stuff.

elsewhere · 09-14-2009, 12:00 AM

I really don't know. I think Met works to regulate our bodies in some women, and not so much in others. I'm on 2000mg of Met a day, and I'm not seeing any difference. I am not getting AF and I don't feel any side effects. So many people talk about SE, but I could probably down a whole bottle and feel fine. Ok, not really, but you know what I mean! So basically, is Met working for me? Probably not. I am not diabetic, so I sometimes wonder what I'm taking it for..I will continue to take it though. I would like to start Clomid.

momof2pugz · 09-14-2009, 06:12 PM

Thanks for all of your replies. I really think that I am on an okay dose for now. I have been in a much better mood. I feel like I have taken a 360 degree turn. I haven't started my period yet, but I feel like metformin has helped regulate my blood sugar drastically.

KcJen80WI · 09-15-2009, 04:51 PM

I agree with some of the earlier posts - it does get better. I was suffering from major tummy probs a few years ago. When I moved and found my new doctor he informed me that I should have been on the ER version (Extended Release). That helped tremedously. No tummy probs - even when I start back up after not taking it for some time. I also notice that if I eat really sugary items (like a DQ Blizzard) or lots of "bad" carbs (like white breads and pastas) I get bad tummy issues again. Since those items aren't good for PCOS symptoms anyway I just take them in stride. I've lost 19lbs which is probably a combination of Weight Watchers and finally taking the Met. on a regular basis. At 15lbs I started experiencing some strange symptoms (nausea, dizziness, fatigue, mild cramping). I'm making a dr's appt to determine if these are early PG symptoms or a sign that my dosage possibly needs to be reduced b/c of the weight loss. We'll see...

ambysmiles · 09-15-2009, 10:52 PM

It's so interesting reading some of these posts. I was on metformin starting in 2001 - 2007. I never had ANY tests before they put me on it. I was on 1000mg a day. Then over the course of 2006-2007 I lost about 90lbs altogether and slowly I noticed when I took the pills I got extremely nauseous, dizzy, and faint. One night I took it and woke up at 2 in the morning and almost fainted as I crawled to the kitchen to get water and crackers. After that I stopped taking it and I've never looked back.

However, just recently when I went to my new OB-gyn she said that Metformin isn't even really prescribed anymore, but judging by this thread, it obviously is. Are you having success on it?

I did drop 20lbs the first year I was on it.

Leigh74 · 09-16-2009, 01:41 PM

This is an interesting thread! I was diagnosed in 2000 and put on 500 mg a day of Metformin. I have been on it since with no increase or decrease in mg per day.

My Endo hasn't seen me in 6 years, my GP just monitors me. And I have to wonder if I am on the correct dosage?

How often do you all see your doctor or specialist to monitor your PCOS? I still have symptomes and just live with it. Maybe I shouldn't be so accepting of the Status Quo and get back into see my Endo to get my levels tested again..

I too get hungry between meals, sometimes it just sneaks up on me and I get really irritable and start to feel dizzy and sick due to the sugar changes.

Zolt Bolt · 09-16-2009, 02:01 PM

Saw a doctor who is REALLY well versed in PCOS (he is also a Fertility Specialist) and he said 1500MG is really the most effective does...anything more is really kind of pointless. He said that the studies that have been done show that 1500mg really is the max dose.

Who knows! I swear I could see 10 diff docs and get 10 diff answers.

I know it seems like Met has leveled the playing field for me. I did ovulate on it last month, but it was CD 36...so maybe it is helping. We shall see. I do want to start TTC, and I was told it helps carry thru the 1st tri-mester.