Metformin and Fenugreek

Roxykitten9 · 10-09-2008, 06:36 PM

Does anyone know if it is possible to take these two together?

HarleyGirl93 · 10-15-2008, 02:32 PM

Roxy - here's a really good drug interactions website, where you can enter whatever drugs you are taking or thinking about taking to check for interactions. I take both (500 Met 2x, and 500 Fenu 3x) and don't have my blood sugar levels get too low. But everyone is different. HTH Dianna

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Interac...,4109,,00.html

FENUGREEK may interact with METFORMIN (in Metformin Tablets)
Taking fenugreek may lower blood sugar levels. When it is used together with drugs like metformin that also reduce blood sugar levels, fenugreek may cause blood sugar to get too low--a condition called hypoglycemia. Signs that blood sugar is too low may include feeling weak or shaky, having a headache, or being confused or nervous. Inform your doctor before taking metformin together with fenugreek or any other herbal supplement. Your doctor may want to monitor blood sugar levels more closely and possibly adjust doses of metformin more frequently than usual. If you experience problems, you may need to stop taking fenugreek. You may want to ask your healthcare provider about this potential interaction if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered minor in severity.

finallyamomoftwins · 10-16-2008, 01:38 AM

This may be a dumb question but why would you want to take Fenugreek and Met at the same time? I took Fenugreek to help with my milk production while I was breastfeeding. Are you trying to take the more natural approach to treating your PCOS?

HarleyGirl93 · 10-16-2008, 08:49 AM

Finally, while fenugreek is probably best known as a galactogogue, it also can help to control blood sugar levels. So the OP is probably just investigating alternative methods for controlling blood sugar and insulin resistance, rather than just metformin. HTH, Dianna

Roxykitten9 · 10-16-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finallyamomoftwins

This may be a dumb question but why would you want to take Fenugreek and Met at the same time? I took Fenugreek to help with my milk production while I was breastfeeding. Are you trying to take the more natural approach to treating your PCOS?

Yes I was asking because even with just the Metformin my milk supply is not holding up and I have twins, so this was going to be my next attempt in keeping up with breastfeeding. I guess it also could be a potential way to keep my PCOS under control...I never thought of it that way.

HarleyGirl93 · 10-16-2008, 02:49 PM

Roxy – I took fenu when I was BFing DS, but the quantities I needed to help with milk production (rather than IR) were a lot more than what I take now (and I wasn't taking Met then)... I think then I took 1500mg 3x a day... (9 pills total) Be prepared to smell like maple syrup! LOL... I think at the reco'ed galactogogue quantities, you will need to be careful of low blood sugar issues when taking it with Met. You might want to build up slowly to whatever level of fenu you are thinking about taking, and just make sure that you still feel okay at those levels with your Met dosage, rather than jumping straight to the full dose right away. Good luck with the BFing! HTH Dianna

finallyamomoftwins · 10-17-2008, 02:13 AM

Thanks for the responses. Man I learn new stuff everyday I read through the boards. Fenugreek really helped with my milk production. But now only did I smell like maple syrup but so did my babies. LOL

water25 · 10-17-2008, 05:04 PM

You can try it and see if you do ok on both. I could not do it. My blood sugar always dropped too low, too quickly and I would be throwing up, so I had to drop the fenu.