Meds that Worked for PCOS ...

jealusie · 01-09-2004, 10:12 PM

To better inform myself of EVERYTHING that is out there and available, as well as the newbies that join practically every day...Why don't we all list what meds worked best for us (or at least what meds we take and what didn't work for us, etc)??

For instance, if you are using Vitex and it took you 10 days of continuous Vitex supplementation to get your period then put exactly that!

However, if you're using Vitex (like me

) and nothing has happened, then say that too!

This includes ALL meds including Rx as well as Alternative Remedies!!

Please inform EVERYONE of your discoveries!

(For those who are new to SoulCysters: Please understand that this post is meant to help you determine what MIGHT work for you. Just because one person says NPC worked for them doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for you too! Please understand that everyone's body is completely different and will react to different meds and herbs individually. Do not allow yourself to get discouraged if one doesn't work for you. Move on to the next one, it might be just right for you

)

I will start...

I tried NPC (from WalMart - Generic Brand I think) twice daily without really measuring the dosages. I did so for approximately 2 days (no AF) and bought Vitex (because I want things to work for me IMMEDIATELY, no patience here! hehe). I took Vitex for a little over a week (1000 mg daily) and still no AF. I then went back on the NPC (around the same dosages as before) and plan to wait this one out! Today is day #3. Bring it on!!!!!

Anyone else want to share for others?

Manda

Chrissy · 01-11-2004, 12:09 PM

Great Idea!

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

Helped PCOS symptoms such as excess hair and acne. Caused regular AF and seemed to keep hormones stable. I mean when you go for a year without a period and you're all out of whack hormonally it was nice to have some regularity and stagle hormones even if they were synthetic! Liked ortho cyclen, demulin, and ortho cept.

AVANDIA

Cuased more regular cycle and one O as of late. Slight improved skin and more regular hormonal pattern. Hasn't done much for excess hair yet (3 months into it)

LOW CARBING

DIdn't notice much benefit except maybe a loss of 5 pounds or so. I am relatively thin so was trying it to help hormones. No change in cycle.

indiana_troll · 01-11-2004, 12:58 PM

BCP's
Made me an even more hormonal b****. Got major migraine headaches

Avandia
Didn't do anything for me.

Clomid
Took it off and on for 11 cycles with no success. I had endometriosis also. That's probably why it didn't work for me

Glucophage XR
My lifesaver. After being on it for just 2 weeks, I was feeling so much better. I have been on it for over year now and am up to 2250mg

Spironolactone
After a couple months on it I started seeing some results with decreasing facial hair. But all of a sudden the results stopped and the hair was growing back with a vingeance

Dexamethasone
I was diagnosed with LOCAH a couple months ago. I've been taking this steroid in hopes that it will bring down my androgens which are sky high. So far I think it is working but I won't know for sure until Feb. 15. I will have bloodwork done again then.

Esclim
Since I had a complete hysterectomy I am doing HRT. Estrogen is great. It has given me so much engery and really helped in the libido department.

Patty

Mathisk · 01-14-2004, 05:12 PM

Here is my history: Now age 44

Took Spiro for many years starting at about age 28 into late 30s. Stopped cyclical acne and made hair growth thinnner and manageable.

BCPs' late 30's . All but stopped facial hair and stopped acne. I took for a year or so but got scared as a smoker so I stopped.

Metformin- did nothing , I dont have IR

Antibiotics-- minocin and tetracycline stopped cyclical acne then stopped working. Amoxicillian clears me completely.

Sprio at age 40...Cant tolerate any longer. Makes me feel dizzy and hormonal and dries out skin a lot more.
BCP's age 40---cant take any more, Makes all symptoms worse and causes depression.

NPC-causes irritability- I do have reg AF so i probably don't need extra progesterone.

HRT- same as bcp. Makes all symptoms worse.

Sarafem- for pms and perimenopausal stuff.
Helps mood stabilized and helps me lose weight, wow what a blessing.

Retin-a- Reduces acne and cysts for sure. Reduces look of old scars. My face looks better now than it has for a while.

Evening Primrose Oil.- Hasn't helped much with hot flashes but makes skin seem less oily and one pimple that i did get went away fast instead of taking weeks.

Low Carb- Have lost weight but have not seen symptoms lessen. I need to reduce weight further.

Candace · 01-14-2004, 05:27 PM

I take

BCP-Yasmin 3 1/2 years. Good pill, good for cystic acne until this past month, had a minor breakout. Plan to take this till menopause, I am not a smoker. Skin is normally clear as a bell, and NO OIL YEAH!!!!

Glucophage XR-Metformin ER-Just switched to generic for insurance purposes. 3 1/2 years. Amazing drug. Initially lost about 20 lbs with a small change in diet and exercise. Now have lost 37 lbs with major change in diet and exercise. I also found my brain (which I thought was lost) three years back. I take 1000 mgs a day all in the a.m.

Glyset-Endo just added. I have been complaining with him about fatigue after meals. He added 50 mgs three meals a day. I am feeling much better physically and have read up on the drug being used with PCOS. (Same family as Acarbose) (It is also been shown to help reduce acne).

I also take Allegra-D for allergies. I am one sneezing girl without it. (Sneezing and stuffy!)

I never imagined being on this much medicine at my age.

OH WELL! I feel soooo much better. I didn't know there was a better life to be had.

Candace

Chrissy · 01-16-2004, 06:52 PM

THis is great ladies!!! Keep the replies coming! It is nice to get a picture of what other women have tried and use. The successes and the failures are important here.

Canary · 01-20-2004, 06:03 PM

Not many meds yet, bit of a novice.

Spironolactone

50mg twice a day.

First two weeks or so I had bad nausea, dizziness and fatigue. I kept with it and found a slight reduction in facial hair and complete loss of hair from the back of the shoulders. Caused irregular periods but on the whole a winner.

Diet

I have followed a low carb diet and exercise 5-6 times a week as well as walking to and from work every day. I lost 46lbs in the first 6 months but have not weighed myself since then, (August 2003). I drink at least 2 litres of water a day and have found this improve my skin and help weight loss.

missmelanie23 · 01-21-2004, 12:27 AM

Ok, here goes:

BCP: Ortho-something, Ortho Cyclen, Diane -35, all made me so darn moody, depressive, suicidal.. you name it.. though diane 35 did increase libido and reduced acne on the two weeks i could stand it but brought on major hair loss and still losing after not being on it since sept 03 (will this ever end?)... Now on Alesse 21 for over 5 yrs (minus the two weeks of diane 35).. keeping me sane, headache free, pretty much acne free, and I'm able to get through days with no complaints and a smile on my face.

Androcure: Didn't see much results, took it for about 6 months.. increase in libido.

Multivitamins: Helps combat fatigue

Spiro: its been a year, no major differences... some say it could now relate to my hair loss due to having been on it for so long.

Metformin: WOW! is all i have to say.. since i started taking it, its as if my life took a turn for the better.. its helped with my 67lbs loss over the last year and 1/2, amoung many other things, though i don't know if tests results are showing anything.

New: (new 1 month)

Green tea extract 300mg. no seen result with helping hair growth.. but i am feeling great on it non the less.

Flax seed oil 1000mg... face a little oily but acne has disapeared very nicely in lowerback - this could be due to it being combined with the green tea..

with the above i've also noticed that acne scars are fading quite well also.

New (3 days! and afraid of this medication for some reason but although I don't like my doctor, i still trust her judgement):

Proscar 5mg (taking only 1/4 of a pill as recommended by pharmacist): This pill seems to be helping the regrowth of my facial hair.. so far shaved this morning and there's barely a stubble where as by mid day - 5 days ago i'd probably have to shave again just for sake of calming paranoia... this is supposed to help with hair loss though i think i had more in my hands today than ever before

... oh well, i'm desperate, will give it a try.

So that's it for me, for now! ha! i'll update again soon, it may change as i am looking for a new doctor to treat PCOS.

indian_beauty · 01-23-2004, 06:38 AM

here's a list f my meds:

BCPs: I used ot take them for 6 months and then off till my next missed af....usually a 6 months course helped me have regular af for 1.5 years....then i ha to have another course....it helped me feel normal tho' i did have moodiness and a bit of pms...but since i knew i'd be moody i took care not to get angry or touchy and remeber to keep calm....

now i'm TTC #1 so no BCPs for me...

Clomid: Took 2 cycles of 100mg...had no effect....no Ovulation...am going for the third cycle next month...so the jury is still out on it...had no s/e so to speak of...

Metformin: 1500mg....GREAT!!! even tho' i'm a borderline IR....it made a great difference in my energy levels.......i'm feeling more alive than i did in the past few years.....it's been only 3 weeks since i started it so can't say much about weight loss....but it did bring on my af and i'm happy about that.....

hope this input helps...if there r any more questions feel free to pm me..

Serendipity · 01-23-2004, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by missmelanie23
Proscar 5mg (taking only 1/4 of a pill as recommended by pharmacist): This pill seems to be helping the regrowth of my facial hair.. so far shaved this morning and there's barely a stubble where as by mid day - 5 days ago i'd probably have to shave again just for sake of calming paranoia... this is supposed to help with hair loss though i think i had more in my hands today than ever before ... oh well, i'm desperate, will give it a try.

So that's it for me, for now! ha! i'll update again soon, it may change as i am looking for a new doctor to treat PCOS.

Melanie, (fellow Canadian!

Have you ever tried waxing instead? I have a beard and stash, and I use to scour it off with sandpaper (actually, a product called "Velvet Touch" which just wasn't velvelty at all!) and then tried waxing. I get one full WEEK out of it!! It DOES hurt a bit, but by the second or third time it's so tolerable. It is a Godsend!

You CAN do it at home, takes some practice but well worth it!

Chantelle

JeannieNB · 01-23-2004, 05:22 PM

BCPs - Tried everything under the sun and hated them all. I'm an emotional basket case on them.

Met ER - Took 1000mg from Sept '03 - to yesterday when my dr upped the dosage to 1500mg. No s/e at all. I had AF 6 weeks after starting the Met and saw significant decrease in facial hair growth and on my legs (go figure). 6 weeks later I had another AF. AF was no where to be found after that. Thus, the increase in dosage.

Prometrium - 200mg a day for 12 days to bring AF this month, which worked. The s/e were major dizziness and drowsiness.

oohmercyme · 01-28-2004, 10:49 PM

*sigh* I hate being a walking pharmacy.

BCPs- took for 5 weeks, gave me stroke like symptoms, made my bp 150/90, and made me a basketcase. Can't/ won't ever take them again.

(ever notice when you are an emotional wreck, docs always ask if you are suicidal? I think I am at far greater risk of being homicidal when my hormones are out of wack- but no one ever asks that!)

Provera- worked for a few years giving me af. However, I could only handle 5mg for 10 days every 3rd month cuz I was such a nutbar on it. Weepy, agitated, and again, homicidal

Met- has given me regular af's for 2 months. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO MISERABLE IN ALL MY LIFE!!. Previous to this I was having 2 afs/year, but they would last for 3-4 months (or longer) at a time. Now that I have had 2 regular afs, I am unbelievably depressed, expereincing migraines, had a ruptured cyst, having severe ovarian pain before af, followed by an equally painful af.

I never though I'd say I'd be happy to have the 4 month afs back. My hormones are so out of control I think I am losing my mind.

I wonder if taking Actos or Avandia would have the same results? The problem doesn't appear to be met itself (never had any side effects), the problem is having regular afs! It creats more problems then ever before.

HELP!

Danya · 02-04-2004, 04:21 PM

I had similar SE on gluc. It's been a couple of years ago, but when I started it, I had AF every 2 weeks! RE said I was probably so moody (to put it lightly) because I was PMSing constantly for 2 & half months. I couldn't handle it & stopped entirely.

It was awful! I wanted to either be in bed or the bathroom the entire time! "Don't bother me, don't touch me, in fact, don't even look at me!"

Just started Avandia & haven't had any SE yet. Too early to tell if it effects AF or not.

hopeless · 02-05-2004, 09:35 PM

I've tried a lot...I'll try to be chronological:

BCPs: Started when I was 17, and used Demulen with minimal s/e. Now changed to Alesse. (just started last week)

ROGAINE: Tried it, but just couldn't keep it up. It made my scalp itchy and flaky. I really didn't see much improvement, and gave it up.

SPIRO: I used 100mg for 6 months, then 150 for 6 months. I saw no improvement in my hair loss....in fact it continued to get worse. It helped some with acne (from when I was off BCPs for 5 months) but my face still hasn't returned to how it was when I was initially on bcps.

UNDA: I've tried a bunch of Unda remedies, along with a bunch of other supplements such as Chromium, TAD+ (adrenal supplement), B-vits, etc. No hair improvement. My skin is no better or no worse which doesn't bother me much. (it's my hair that irks me!)

MET: I'm on 1500mg/day. I haven't noticed any hair changes, though I've only been on for about 2 months. I kinda feel yucky when I eat too much carbs.

WELLBUTRIN: I was on 150mg each day, and it helped initially. Then it seemed like it wasn't doing anything. My doc added NEURAPAS (St. Johns Wort, Valerian root, passion flower) for about 2 weeks and it's made a big difference. I haven't felt this good/normal for a long time.

FISH OIL CONCENTRATE: I haven't been taking this long. Only about 2 weeks....

I think that's everhthing....