My doctor just diagnosed PCOS and I took my first 500mg of Metformin last night (so far, so good). However, I've been suitably terrified by the drug information! It seems like you can't take anything with this drug for fear of interaction. So, I wanted to ask those of you with experience...
1. What pain medication did/do you take while on Metformin? I saw something somewhere about not combining it with NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
2. Do you take vitamins? Is there anything in vitamins that you have to avoid? Again, I saw something somewhere about taking niacin, which I thought was was one of the B vitamins.
Finally, does anybody escape with few/no side effects on this drug? So far, I feel okay, but I know it's early days. I just want to be prepared!
Thanks for your help in advance. It's great to be able to throw some questions out there.
1. What pain medication did/do you take while on Metformin? I saw something somewhere about not combining it with NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
ok well u shoudlt take painkillers if u can help themon the meds ALSO if your on clomid or TTC it can react ive been told - best off talking to your doctor if u need some.
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2. Do you take vitamins? Is there anything in vitamins that you have to avoid? Again, I saw something somewhere about taking niacin, which I thought was was one of the B vitamins.
niacin is B3 - from what i know you should not take vitamins at the same time as metforminas it will stop he metformin abosrbing well as it shud! but in turn metformin also can casue the body to not take in as much vitamins as it should so i take a multi nutrient with all the vits as well as calcium maganses and chromium. but at lunch time as i take my met in morning and evening
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Finally, does anybody escape with few/no side effects on this drug? So far, I feel okay, but I know it's early days. I just want to be prepared!
i was a silly thing the first time i started but this time round im ok for the first few days i do recommend if its unreal have some immodium to hand -( i still do now lol) if u watch what u take it with - try yog in morning helps to stop ur tum reacting so bad to it also just cutting down on carbs and coke and caffine and sugar should help!! more trial and error everyone is differnt xxx hope anyof this help
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Hi There!
I am also relatively new to Metformin. I actually kept the prescription in my cabinet, untouched, for 3 weeks because the Metformin board here terrified me! One night, I actually walked around with the tablet in my hand for an hour, then put it back. LOL. I am nuts. Anyway, I eventually bit the bullet and gave it a try.
-I do take Ibuprofen with Met....and I'm still here. I am not sure why the two may be contraindicated, but maybe someone can tell us. Maybe something to do with the kidneys or liver. I probably take 400-600 mg a week.
-I also take a pretty hefty dose of vitamins. I take the Women to Women (www.womentowomen.com) brand twice a day. I think they make me feel much better overall. So far, I've experienced nothing that seems like an interaction.
-I am now up to 500 mg a day of Met and my side effects have been existent, but NOTHING like I imagined them to be in my head. It is true for me that if I eat lo-carb, and drink plenty of water things go much easier.
I think Met has been great so far. I have no more foggy-brain in the afternoon, my extra hair growth has slowed and I no longer crave carbohydrates like I used to. I am not TTC, so Met is really just to improve my quality of life. And, it has.
I hope this helps. I hope the Met is good to you.
Amanda
__________________ Me (32) DH (31)
DD (4) DS (1)
DX 7/2006
My 2007 Resolution: EXERCISE! (Please encourage me!)
"If we meet no gods, it is because we harbor none." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thank you for your advice! What is TTC? (Come to think of it, what's DH?)
I'm about to take my second Metformin. So far, I don't really feel sick, but I don't feel very inclined to eat either. My biggest problem is swallowing them!
TTC means Trying To Concieve and DH mean Darling Husband
I hope that helps
__________________ Monique(27) DH(31) Dx: PCOS-1999, Diabetes II-2005 Aiden James born 6/17/08 1 Angel Baby due to pPROM and Inc. Cervix (7/20/06) 1 Furbaby Brownie the Chihuahua
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1. What pain medication did/do you take while on Metformin? I saw something somewhere about not combining it with NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
2. Do you take vitamins? Is there anything in vitamins that you have to avoid? Again, I saw something somewhere about taking niacin, which I thought was was one of the B vitamins.
Finally, does anybody escape with few/no side effects on this drug? So far, I feel okay, but I know it's early days. I just want to be prepared!
I don't know anything about NSAIDs being contraindicated while on metformin. http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/metformi_ad.htm reports "In healthy volunteers, the pharmokinetics of . . . metformin and ibuprofen were not affected when co-administered in single-dose interaction studies." I suppose high doses or prolonged administration of NSAIDs may increase the risk of lactic acidosis since they're hard on the kidneys. Probably nothing to worry about if you have normal kidney function and don't use NSAIDs unusually heavily. I take ibuprofen for headaches and cramps myself.
The same source indicates that nicotinic acid (niacin) may lead to loss of blood glucose control, and suggests monitoring patients taking both niacin and metformin. Probably more of a problem for diabetics than non-diabetics taking metformin.
Metformin can cause malabsorption of vitamin B12, so it's a good idea to take supplemental B12 (a B-complex is probably sensible) to avoid a deficiency. You may want to take folic acid as well.
And yes, thankfully we don't all get the horrible side effects that seem all too common. I had problems with my blood sugar for about a week after upping my dose to 1500mg of met ER, but that was pretty much it. In retrospect I would have increased my dose every two weeks rather than the every week the doctor recommended.
Something that I havn't seen mentioned anywhere else, but apparently you should not take any more than one aspirin per day while on Metformin - not sure why but every box I have bought so far has this warning sticker on the front.
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To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. May 2006: 227lbs
25 Oct 2006: 185.6lbs (84.2kg)
Goal: sub 150lbs (below 65kg)
Dx Hypothyroid: 1990
Dx PCOS: 1991
Started Met: 21 Aug 2006
Metformin and vitamins/other meds + side effects 
I had problems with my blood sugar for about a week after upping my dose to 1500mg of met ER, but that was pretty much it. In retrospect I would have increased my dose every two weeks rather than the every week the doctor recommended.
