kjones25

Hi Fellow PCOS sisters!

I wonder if anyone can help me? I briefly took a trial of Actos for my PCOS which helped regulate my cycle in the first 30 days (I was one who would have a cycle 1-2 times per year when off OC and Metformin made me ill). The problem is it gave terrible water retention like the doc warned, which was double jeopardy for me b/c I already retain water. My feet swelled so much I could not wear shoes..even with the lasix (water pill) he gave me to try to control. I got off that stuff quick! Anyway, I wonder what would be the herbal equivalent to Actos since Hyponidd is the equivalent to Metformin. I know Actos works via a different mechanism on insulin than Metformin, which is why it does not cause the GI side effects. I'm hoping an herbal equivalent may not produce the water retention just like the hyponidd does not produce the GI side effects of Metformin, which would be fabulous for many of us. I'd appreciate any feedback any of you may have on this notion.

Hi, Pearl!... I noticed you've done quite a bit of research on this and you mentioned your brother was a physicain. Might you or he have some info on this?

Thanks, Ladies!

Pearl1981

Hey there

I am not sure what Actos is but I am intersted now! I will research and get back to you.

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Concveived withLowCarb Diet&Exercise.2000mg cinnamon.4xHyponidd.1200mg inositol.Bvitamin complex&C.Milk thistle.Omega 3 3000mg.Zinc 15mg.Garliccapsulesx4.Iron.Kelpsupplements.Organic food Jasmin Born 25/06/08 @ 41 weeks + 6 days! Now on all above PLUS vitamin D , inositol 2600mg[FONT=Arial Peony & Licorice 5000mg per day of each for stubborn hirsutism[/font]Diet and exercise are key!

August

I am not certain that Hyponidd is the "herbal equivalent" of Metformin - it is just reported to be as effective as metformin. I believe that Metformin's primary effect is to alter or slow the liver's release of glycogen (similar to gulcose) and that it also may have some insulin sensitizing effects at the cellular level that are not well understood.

Hyponidd is a blend of over a dozen herbs that seem to have a variety of effects that might affect glucose/insulin metabolism (see thread Hyponidd Ingredients Chart - Very Informative!) - although perhaps not everything about how Hyponidd might work is completely well understood either.

I have heard that there is a herb called something like "goat rue" that might have some similarities to metformin in the way that it works. I do not know of any cysters using it.

I believe that Actos and similar drugs do having an insulin sensitizing effect at the cellular level and that that is the primary beneficial effect. They might work by having some effect on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). It might also work by activating Protein Kinase C-zeta. (PKC-Z). This article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/44409.php suggest that the undersirable effects of another drug in the same class as Actos, Avandia, might be due to the activation of Protein Kinase C-beta.

Exercise might be though of as something of an 'equivalent' to Actos - without the water retention/weight gain/edema. Exercise can a significant insulin sensitizing effect (perhaps greater than insulin-sensitizing drugs) and I believe it also effects PPARs and PKC-Z.

There may be herbs that affect PPARs or PKC-Z in a beneficial way - but I don't know what they are.

One herb that is purported to have insulin sensitizing effects - that I think is interesting is Banaba Leaf Exract. I don't know enough about either Actos or Banaba to say if there are any similarities in the way they work or how they might compare in effectiveness - I also don't know about using Banaba is you are trying to conceive. (note the 2nd to the last letter in the word is a 'b' not an 'n'.)