New To Met...Have Questions

soul2bleed · 10-21-2008, 01:49 AM

I'm suppose to start 1,000 mg of Met and I'm really scared. I don't tolerate meds very well and I really don't want to be sick. I'm also suppose to start Clomid.
My cycles vary from 20 days to 36. They bounce around. So, I do get a cycle. I am worried that the benefits will not outweigh the side effects. I guess that I am looking for some positive support and maybe some ideas. Thanks.

BrensJen · 10-21-2008, 08:52 PM

I just got met prescribed today too. Doc wants me to take 500 mg twice a day.

I have never taken met before, but my advice to you is to try not to worry. Obviously, your doctor thinks this is something you need and may help you. I'm hoping that once I start the met, I will feel better. I have been super tired, losing hair, getting facial hair, and having ovarian pains for the last three weeks. Just try to focus on what good may come from taking the met and clomid. Are you trying to get pregnant or just regulate your cycles?

boxergurl · 10-21-2008, 10:25 PM

My hubby just picked up my prescription today. I'm going to start it Friday evening, with 500 mg. I wanted to start over the weekend so I at least know how my body will handle it (I'd rather not learn the side effects at work LOL). I'm going to take the 500 mg for a week or two, and then go to the 1000 mg. I read through the entire thread on tips for taking met. Hubby already agreed to run and get me some Immodium if I need it, and he picked up a vitamin B complex for me to take with it. If you haven't read that thread, I would recommend it. I think there was a lot of great information!

HarleyGirl93 · 10-21-2008, 10:32 PM

Soul & boxergurl - Will you be taking the extended release Met (Met ER) or just regular Met? Regular Met can have worse GI side effects than the ER version of it. When I started I actually cut my regular met 500mg tabs in half to take one in the AM and one in the PM, so that I started with 500mg for the day but it was better proportioned across time. After several days of that, I took one whole tab in the AM, and another 1/2 tab in the PM to get to 750mg. Finally I worked up to 2 tabs a day... Even so, I still had some pretty bad GI issues... I've been on it for 2 months now and don't have those s/e that often anymore, unless I eat rich or fatty foods. Good luck with it. My blood sugar levels have dropped from 115 fasting down to the low 80s. HTH Dianna

Sunsicle · 10-21-2008, 10:37 PM

Hi Ladies

I am going to give you some positive feedback about met!!!! First, so you know.... it worked very well for me. I rarely O on my own... and with met, I O'd three weeks after starting it and I got my BFP!!!!!!!

To make it easier on your systems... start off slow. Met can be very harsh on your tummies...... so be cautious. What me RE recmmended (and it worked) was to take 500 mg a day at first - HOWEVER SPLIT THE PILL IN HALF!!! Take one half in the am and one half in the pm - WITH FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That way your body is only taking 250 mg at a time. I found that I had no s/e to the 500 mg, so by day 5 I upped it to 1000 mg. I would take 1/2 a pill in the am (250 mg), 1 whole pill at lunch (500 mg) and another 1/2 (250 mg) in the pm. By day 10, still no s/e, so I added the last pill of 500 mg.... bringing me to a total of 1500 mg a day.

I actually started metformin again today as we are hoping to get preggo again. I'll keep you posted if I get any s/e this time around. I plan on following the same system as last time.

Good luck ladies and let me know how it goes!

soul2bleed · 10-21-2008, 11:07 PM

I'm trying to get PG. I have a 7 year old daughter and we are having trouble ttc. I've had hsg's with two totally different results. First blocked, then again 7 months later, not blocked.
My dr has prescribed met and clomid to see if that helps. I have all the physialogical signs of pcos, but my bloodwork is normal, except for the one that tests for adrenal issues and another one (I can't remember which one) the ob just said that it was elevated but still in the normal range.
I just hate the thought of putting myself through illness. I'm VERY sensitive to meds. I guess, I just wish it will be alright. I can handle the GI problems just fine, its the nausea that I'm worried about. I'm a huge wimp when I don't feel well.
I guess I will try to cut the Met (reg.) in half tonight and do it that way. I was actually thinking about that, but didn't know if I could.
I really appreciate all the responses.

Peg

BrensJen · 10-22-2008, 12:49 PM

All of you that divided up your doses to make it easier on your gut....

Did your doc tell you to do that or did you just decide how to do it on your own? I'm thinking about dividing my 500 mg doses in half at first and then working my way up to 1000 mg in a day (which is what the DR prescibed). I'm on the regular met, not the ER kind.

Did anyone take met into their pregnancy? I've heard it can lower chances of miscarriage and gestational diabetes. My doc said he would take me off of met when we conceive, but I'm not sure I'd want to stop taking it if it could help with those things. He said the body naturally takes over when you're pregnant. I also wondered if taken during pregnancy, when do you have to stop met if you want to breastfeed? I have read met passes into breastmilk.

I'm hoping to feel better soon and maybe this will help us get a BFP!

HarleyGirl93 · 10-22-2008, 01:31 PM

Brens - I just did it on my own... I did a lot of reading on SC about how hard it can be to get used to Met and most folks warned against taking the full dose right off the bat... Since I am kind of cautious on taking pharmacueticals anyway (like not wanting to take cold/flu/headache meds unless I absolutely have to - I'd rather feel the symptoms), I decided to cut them in half... It's an inexact science, but got the job done to gradually ease me onto regular Met.

Likewise, I've read Met can be beneficial during pg, both to help prevent m/c and gest. diabetes later on, but haven't yet had to cross that bridge, still trying... Also don't know about BFing and Met... Good luck to you! Dianna

BrensJen · 10-22-2008, 01:42 PM

Harleygirl - I noticed in your signature that you take cinnamon. Do you take that in addition to met? I've taken 1000 mg cinnamon a day for 1 1/2 years since I got off Avandia. I wonder if I should stop taking it with the met. I don't want to have a low blood sugar crash.

HarleyGirl93 · 10-22-2008, 02:25 PM

Brens - I also take cinnamon when I am not in the 2WW. (Cinnamon can cause miscarriage and uterine contractions). I take 3g a day (which is a lot!), or two 500mg tabs with meals 3 times a day. I take it with 1000mg Met, and don't seem to have any low blood sugar issues. But every person is different. I started trying to control my IR with just Met (only 1000mg), but after several weeks, I still wasn't seeing my fasting blood sugars come down to a level I was happy with (I check with one of those monitors you can buy from Walmart - my mom is diabetic, so I have always watched my BS levels). Before Met, I was around 115 to 125 mg/dl. After Met, I went down to 105 or so (below 100 is considered in the normal range). So I did some research on IR, and then added Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Chromium Picolinate, plus regular cardio exercise at a moderate level... Since then, my fasting BS levels are down to the low 80s... which I am happy with. Prior to my PCOS/IR issues, my fasting BS was in the 70s, so I figure low 80s is pretty close to that level while I work on getting the excess weight off.

Since several other SC ladies have mentioned low blood sugar issues when taking both, I would recommend going with Met first and then gradually increasing the cinnamon to make sure you don't feel bad with taking both of them. Dianna

Sunsicle · 10-22-2008, 04:37 PM

Brens - My RE recommended splitting the tablets. It is definitley not a problem.... and it worked well for me. As well, I took metformin (1500 mg) while pregnant. I wanted to stay on it longer but stopped taking it somewhere between 6-8 weeks, because the RE did not want me on it. I was very nervous to stop.... but had a successful pregnancy!

So far - Day 2 on metformin..... I took 500 mg yesterday.... and will take 750 mg today. I had a wee bit of nausea last night, but really nothing major. So far, no other symptoms!

Raquel10 · 10-22-2008, 04:46 PM

I recently spoke with my Dr. about Met because I was having trouble taking more than 500 mg a day. I am susposed to take 3 a day. The first two weeks I only took one a day, now I am able to take 2 a day. Next week I am going to try to take tha three as prescribed. I guess it is taking my body a little longer. She had told me to take my time and let my body adjust, also stay away from carbs and fatty foods and always eat a full meal before taking it. When I did this, I wasn't throwing up anymore.

shirlita · 10-22-2008, 05:47 PM

I have been taking 500mg twice a day of the Metformin for 3 weeks now. I have had diarreah on and off and have never actually felt sick. Its not that bad. But of course everyones tolerance is different. I usually get every side effect possible. but occasional diarreah is not that bad.
I do have a question though. How long before it actually starts working? I am going on 1 month and am not seeing any improvements its like Im not even taking it. I know things take time but i was really hoping it wouldnt.
The Endo who prescribed it to me says that it will not help me lose weight because I am under 40 years old. Is this true? He wants to start me on a diet pill called Phentramine or something like that if I dont lose weight within 1 month. I have less then a week to go and have not lost anything. He put me on a Low Carb diet for 2 weeks to speen up the weight loss. I have cut out carbs and still not weight loss... SO SO SAD. Any advice Cysters?

boxergurl · 10-22-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyGirl93

Soul & boxergurl - Will you be taking the extended release Met (Met ER) or just regular Met? Regular Met can have worse GI side effects than the ER version of it. When I started I actually cut my regular met 500mg tabs in half to take one in the AM and one in the PM, so that I started with 500mg for the day but it was better proportioned across time. After several days of that, I took one whole tab in the AM, and another 1/2 tab in the PM to get to 750mg. Finally I worked up to 2 tabs a day... Even so, I still had some pretty bad GI issues... I've been on it for 2 months now and don't have those s/e that often anymore, unless I eat rich or fatty foods. Good luck with it. My blood sugar levels have dropped from 115 fasting down to the low 80s. HTH Dianna

Thanks for the input on the Met. I'm just taking the regular stuff, but I'm open to any and all advice! It's great to hear REAL people's experience rather than just hearing a doctor tell you what you may or may not experience. I'm actually looking forward to starting it!

Kamillah · 10-23-2008, 01:25 AM

Hi,
Thanks to everyone that suggested breaking the pill in half, I was about to say, "to heck with the MET!" I started taking 500mg last month, everything was fine, a little diarreah every now and then. My dosage has been increased to 1000mg, and boy am I SICK!! Major tummy issues. Starting tomorrow I am going to half my morning dosage. For the experienced Met users, did you experience any typing of spotting (more like streaking) in between your cycles will taking Met? Is this normal? Any input/info is greatly appreciated.

Kamillah