Metformin vs. glucophage

tupelpeach · 09-12-2002, 10:45 PM

Anyone having better luck with the name brandGlugcophage)instead of the generic(metformin)?I have been taking the name brand and have some luck with it. My drug provider keeps calling my Dr office and they send me the generic(metformin)They dont even talk to the doctor!!I have had to go the last time and get a new percription and send it iin saying no subsitite.........they send me the name brand one time and then on refills when i call them in .they send me Metformin the generic.It is a real hassle to say the least. Just wondering if any one thinks the name brand works betteror should I try the metformin with is generic.I called a local pharmacy and they told me that they have had some people on the generis (metformin) that there blood sugar was higher on it and it did not bring it down like the glucophage(that was for diebetic people) I am IR. Thanks for any help!

terilynn112 · 09-13-2002, 10:41 AM

the glucophage has less side effect, than the met. So to avoid the problems with met he gave me a prescription for glucophage xr, as they don't make a generic time release. I don't have personal experience with it. But I haven't had a lot of the GI problems people that refer to it as met, do. I've got diarrhea about once a day, and not even every day.

Keep fighting!

good luck

andrena · 09-13-2002, 04:13 PM

I tried the generic metformin for one month - my acne started coming back with a vengeance! My endo didn't care if I went back to brand name gluc. So I asked my pharmacy to put in their computer that I want the brand name NOT the generic. Since they did that I haven't had any problems. Before that I would have to fight with them to get the brand name, they wanted to fill the generic every time! I definitely think it's worth it to get the brand name.

CTCyster · 09-13-2002, 05:09 PM

I have been on both the brand name (Glucophage0 and the generic (Metformin). I can tell absolutely no difference in the side effects or how it effects my body. I honestly cannot tell the diference.

I asked my RE (who does PCOS and Met research at Yale) about this the last time I was in because it is such an active topic on this board (Metformin vs. Gluc). He told me that the formulation of the drugs is identical and the only thing that is different is the name. That is it. The difference lies only in the name on the bottle and the shape of the pill.

It is interesting, however, that so many people claim to notice a difference between the two.

*Aimee*

Stacie M · 09-13-2002, 05:26 PM

As of right now I had to go off of it because my insurance (which I actually do not have anymore anyway) would NOT let me get name brand unless I paid a PENALTY!! I started out on Gluc and the pharmacy switched it to met and I became ill. The whole time i was on it(a few months) I was nauseous, had diarrhea, gassy, and HORRIBLE indigestion. I had NO side effects from Gluc. Well, anyway, when i get insurance again I am going back on GLUCOPHAGE because I really think it was beginning to help before they switched me

StaciieM

Chula · 09-13-2002, 05:43 PM

Staci now on Glucophage I still get the gassy feelings, then the diarrhea comes but I have always had it, it never went away

hate to say it but I have gotten used to it. But I can say the 2000mg was not for me it drained me so low that I couldn't even walk to my car!!! Get out of bed NOTHING! BUT IT was working but not with me so to say... So she lowered my dosage and I am not as hungry CAN YOU BELIEVE that one? Now that I am just 500mg less I have the good affects of not being hungry how about that

ANNNNNNNNNNNND I have a bit more energy. Now I am looking into the IR book thinking about getting it. I never got to get on the Met I always perferred the brand name there are differences!! My Mom says she doesn't like the Met but it's the only one her old peoples Insurance will pay for. Well that is my opinion good luck to all of you!!

123different · 09-13-2002, 05:50 PM

I was on the brand name and once generic became available my inusrance company wanted me to change or pay the difference. I tried it for two months and had blood tests, insulin levels were back up and i could tell a difference so I went back to the brand name.

shenacat · 09-13-2002, 07:07 PM

CTCyster, you were lied to! blatantly!!!

For one thing, generics are formulated with different "Fillers" - the part of the pill that is supposedly inactive and simply binds the pill together. Sometimes they use lactose (horror for those of us who are lactose intolerant). People will occasionally have allergic reactions to the fillers in pills and totally not tolerate the generics at ALL. (My grandmother got hives when using generics.)

Furthermore, generics are formulated by different companies. So, their equipment can be off by up to 5% and so they may consistently formulate a pill that is 5% less active or 5% off in one specific ingredient etc. They also can use different sources for the ingredients, like how some vitamins can be gathered from plants or animal sources... some people find that one or the other causes some kind of adverse reaction, or isn't as effective.

As you can see there can be quite a bit of variation ...

For me, I stick with the brand name Glucophage. The generics are NOT tested in trials like the brand names are. The brand names have proven success rates etc., while the generics are just formulated and put on shelves (and may not be as effective IF included in trials...).

CTCyster · 09-13-2002, 07:14 PM

Yes- but the ACTIVE ingredients are the same. I don't think my doc wants harm to befall me, believe me, he is on my side. I never experienced any side effects due to the fillers, I guess I am just lucky.

Guess I am just lucky then that both work equally well for me. I was on Glucophage 1500mg and switched to generic about 6 months ago, not uder the advice of my doc, rather, to save money. My recent bloodtests including my 2hr GTT all came back great! So I guess I am just a lucky girl.

*Aimee*

ssivakami · 09-17-2002, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CTCyster
I asked my RE (who does PCOS and Met research at Yale) about this the last time I was in because it is such an active topic on this board (Metformin vs. Gluc). He told me that the formulation of the drugs is identical and the only thing that is different is the name. That is it. The difference lies only in the name on the bottle and the shape of the pill.*Aimee*[/color]

Thats exactly what my gyn told me too. I dont think there's any major difference ... but I could be wrong.

- S.

RACHEL MOSS · 09-21-2002, 03:38 PM

does anyone know which one is better for acne??
When I was on metformin for about a year, my acne got worse, especially along the jaw line?
Will glucophage be a better alternative, caus Ive put on weight recently by piggin out on junk food, and want to lose it now and start a low carb diet.

Thanks

Love

Rachel

LilCountryHoney · 09-21-2002, 08:19 PM

I was on Glucophage XR, and I had no period. I still got acne, but I lost weight.

I am now on the Metformin, and I have periods. My side effects are no worse on the Metformin than they were on the XR. As a matter of fact, I dont have as BAD side effects as I did on the XR. When I was on XR I had horrible diarrhea and gas, and on the Met I dont have it as bad, especially if I am good and watch my diet.

I have lost the same amount of weight on the Met as I did on the XR.

Everyone is different, so different things might work with different peoples body chemistry.

The fillers might be different, but I would say the active ingredients are the same, or else the FDA would not allow substitution one for the other.

shenacat · 09-23-2002, 02:58 PM

CTCyster - the active ingredients can be pulled from any number of sources, like I said, and the labs will mix it up their own way. It is no guarantee that the labs took as much care as the brand name, or that their mixture of ingredients are all pulled from the same, trusted and potent sources.

I simply do not trust a drug that isn't tested before put to the market. Generic drugs are not tested. They are formulated, and we are just supposed to trust that they followed the recipe...

Bridget · 09-23-2002, 06:37 PM

I'm on 2000 mg Metformin. Never tried the name brand. So far, it's been fine, depending on what I eat especially if it's greasy, etc. I'm using the generic for money purposes and if it works, great! I go back in Nov. to recheck my labs to see if it does work.

I feel no doctor would give you something that they feel won't help you. Each person is different - Meds work differently too, in my opinion.

Bridget

PS. Not to sound goofy - but what in the heck does IR mean?

LilCountryHoney · 09-24-2002, 10:12 AM

Insulin Resistant. Some PCOS-ers have Insulin Resistance, some don't.

Whatta wacky syndrome PCOS is!