post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects - Page 32

Rachelle-Nychole · 05-01-2008, 04:46 AM

Hi, I got DX with PCOS in Feb and started met towards the end of March. I am now taking 1500mg a day. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones in that I didn't have any s/e at all until I got to my top dosage. And even then, I only got them when I ate too many carbs. But at the same time, although I exercise 5 days a week and follow a low G.I. Diet, I have not lost any weight and after doing provera to bring on the cycle and taking metformin, I'm on CD 37 with no AF in sight. The only s/e I do have, is that if I dont eat enough, or I go to long without eating, I get SEVERE heartburn. Rather than a hungry feeling, thats what I get.

tamas · 05-03-2008, 10:45 AM

I've been on 2000 mg for 11 months now. I haven't felt this normal for years. But, I've started to experience numbness and tingling on the bottoms of my feet and toes. Could this be the Metformin? Does anyone else experience this? If so, what did you do?

flissfloss · 05-04-2008, 11:57 AM

I feel so much more normal now that I know that these side effects happen to most. I started on 100mg last week.

SunshineGirl47 · 05-07-2008, 11:48 PM

So I've taken metformin many times over the last 8 or 9 years since diagnosis, only once previously with any success - by success, I mean being able to take it for more than a month and with any desired results.

The first time I took it (2001) - I was ok on the side effects. The next 5 or 6 times, I couldn't get past the GI side effects, including just a general malaise feel.

This time, I've been taking it for about a month at 500 XR, and I'm starting up to 750 XR this coming weekend, with NO side effects.

This is what I do:
- take the pill with acidophillus (take this first) - it really helps. You can buy 100 acidophillus pills at CVS for like $6, keep it in the fridge
- take it right before bed

I honestly have felt little to no side effects. It's pretty incredible. Maybe this will change with increasing doses, but I hope not. I know I'm at low doses now, but I've already started losing weight and my Acanthosis nigricans has improved significantly in the last 3 weeks. (It's not just the meds, I've really improved my diet as well.)

P.J. · 05-07-2008, 11:59 PM

Great thread! Thanks!

BayaRN · 05-08-2008, 12:48 AM

Thanks everyone for the tips on dealing with side effects of Metroformin. I am taking it now for 3 days only at 500mg. My doctor said that I should gradually increase my intake. I was just diagnosed with PCOS 3 days ago. So far side effects I experienced are bloated, gas pains and yesterday had LBM.

MeLsWeEtIe · 05-08-2008, 12:56 AM

I just make sure I go to Dollar General and buy their brand of anti-diarheal (sp?) pills...and keep a bottle at home and in my purse at all times.

leopardgirl314 · 05-13-2008, 09:45 PM

For those of you that take B12, when do you take it?

Criosaidh · 05-14-2008, 04:37 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the site, but not to PCOS!

My Doctor has just put me on 1500 mg of Met. Yesterday was my first day, and I have to say I feel sick as a parrot. I know this is normal in the first few days, so I'm fine with it, I know it'll be worth it in the end.

The posts here have been really helpful, I'm so glad I found this site. Other people's success stories make what I'm feeling now seem a lot more "Worth it"

Right now I feel incredibly nauseous, despite not having eaten anything yet! (It's 8.30 am here) seriously debating staying home from work, but not sure how my boss will take it.

Is anyone else here just starting on Met?

flissfloss · 05-15-2008, 05:20 AM

Hi. I've been takin 1000 for 3 weeks now. I still get the runs every so often but I'm getting used to it now - how strange does that sound!! Anyway, I'm wondering how long before we see weight loss generally?!
cheers
x

Criosaidh · 05-15-2008, 07:42 AM

Hey flissfloss,

Glad to hear you're getting there with the s/e. I'm having kind of a hard time with it right now. I can't even think about food right now!

Work are being really good to me, thankfully, and my partner is as ever, very supportive, but I'm sick of the nausea and ahem, the DHRH.

On the bright side, though, I've only been on it three days now, and (probably due to water loss) I've already lost a couple of pounds!

Chris

flissfloss · 05-15-2008, 10:51 AM

Hi Chris
You'll be pleased to know that the side effects wore off after a couple of weeks. I started on 1000 in two 500 doses. I cut it down to 500 when my tummy was really bad. I ate alot of rich tea biscuits!!!! Have you tried ginger? That helps as well apparently!!!
My weight is staying steady at the mo' I'm hoping this is because of my sudden burst of excerise is turning ym fat into muscle!!!!
Good luck

xxx

MeLsWeEtIe · 05-15-2008, 02:43 PM

I've noticed weight loss within a couple of weeks of taking Metformin. I've stopped and started it probably about 3 times for various reasons. Each time when I go off, I go back to REALLY craving bad foods and end up gaining weight. Usually after about a week of taking it, (I've started back recently, trying to build myself up to 2000mg but now at 500mg, around 4pm (I work 8am-noon, come home for a 4 hour lunch and return to work from 4-8pm) and I can usually hold off the diarrhea until I get home. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I just can't stand to wake up in the middle of the night to have to run to the bathroom because then it takes me forever to get back to sleep. Kinda sucks because I work in a call center and I HAVE to be on the phone constantly to take incoming calls and they're really strict about only going to the bathroom/get drinks or snacks on breaks only. So yeah, it makes it a little difficult but this seems to work best for me right now.

Criosaidh · Yesterday, 06:28 AM

Hiya MelSweetie,

Can I ask, whereabouts do you work? I don't know too much about US employment law, but for my sins I actually work as a manager in a UK call centre. The management are obliged to make such changes to your working environment as are deemed necessary by your doctor or a doctor appointed and paid for by your company. If this means extended or shorter, more frequent breaks to make it easier for you to manage the s/e, then they have to comply.

ahem, Employee Law student hat off......

Do you have a team leader or a team manager? Speak to them for advice, or alternatively speak to your Doc.

If you are in the Uk, you may fall under the DDA, and then they REALLY can't mess wit' cha!

Best of luck with your meds, and your work.

Big hugs

Crio

abph07 · Yesterday, 11:40 AM

I was on Met for 1 week and had to stop because it made me feel like I was chronically hung over and exhausted. I took it with food and took it in the evening. I am a thin cyster with no insulin resistance so I had to throw it out. I feel normal again!

05-07-2008, 11:48 PM	#469 (permalink)
SunshineGirl47 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 32 Points: 494.79 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 494.79 Donate	What's helped me with metformin So I've taken metformin many times over the last 8 or 9 years since diagnosis, only once previously with any success - by success, I mean being able to take it for more than a month and with any desired results. The first time I took it (2001) - I was ok on the side effects. The next 5 or 6 times, I couldn't get past the GI side effects, including just a general malaise feel. This time, I've been taking it for about a month at 500 XR, and I'm starting up to 750 XR this coming weekend, with NO side effects. This is what I do: - take the pill with acidophillus (take this first) - it really helps. You can buy 100 acidophillus pills at CVS for like $6, keep it in the fridge - take it right before bed I honestly have felt little to no side effects. It's pretty incredible. Maybe this will change with increasing doses, but I hope not. I know I'm at low doses now, but I've already started losing weight and my Acanthosis nigricans has improved significantly in the last 3 weeks. (It's not just the meds, I've really improved my diet as well.) __________________ Single, no children, age: 27 Diagnosed w/ PCOS: 1999 Meds: 100mg spironolactone, 750mg metformin XR, Ortho Tricyclen Lo, Acidophillus, B6 and B12 vitamins To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Next goal: 238, a 10% loss!

05-07-2008, 11:59 PM	#470 (permalink)
P.J. Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 16 My Mood: Points: 356.92 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 356.92 Donate	Great thread! Thanks! __________________ DX: August, 2007 Symptoms: Amenorrhea Infertility & Miscarriages Morbid Obesity Acne Oily Skin Thinning Scalp Hair Facial Hair Depression & Irritability Acanthosis Nigricans High BP & Cholesterol Heat Sensitivity Poor Healing Insulin Resistance Acrochordons Medications: Metformin ER, 1000mg/daily Handfasted to Shannon: August 16, 2007 Fur Babies (Cats): Pukanu (age 4) Peewee (age 1) Nana (age 17!)

05-08-2008, 12:48 AM	#471 (permalink)
BayaRN Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2 My Mood: Points: 117.06 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 117.06 Donate	Newbie Thanks everyone for the tips on dealing with side effects of Metroformin. I am taking it now for 3 days only at 500mg. My doctor said that I should gradually increase my intake. I was just diagnosed with PCOS 3 days ago. So far side effects I experienced are bloated, gas pains and yesterday had LBM.

05-08-2008, 12:56 AM	#472 (permalink)
MeLsWeEtIe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 46 My Mood: Points: 763.90 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 763.90 Donate	I just make sure I go to Dollar General and buy their brand of anti-diarheal (sp?) pills...and keep a bottle at home and in my purse at all times. __________________ Smile; it makes people curious.

05-15-2008, 02:43 PM	#478 (permalink)
MeLsWeEtIe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 46 My Mood: Points: 763.90 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 763.90 Donate	I've noticed weight loss within a couple of weeks of taking Metformin. I've stopped and started it probably about 3 times for various reasons. Each time when I go off, I go back to REALLY craving bad foods and end up gaining weight. Usually after about a week of taking it, (I've started back recently, trying to build myself up to 2000mg but now at 500mg, around 4pm (I work 8am-noon, come home for a 4 hour lunch and return to work from 4-8pm) and I can usually hold off the diarrhea until I get home. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I just can't stand to wake up in the middle of the night to have to run to the bathroom because then it takes me forever to get back to sleep. Kinda sucks because I work in a call center and I HAVE to be on the phone constantly to take incoming calls and they're really strict about only going to the bathroom/get drinks or snacks on breaks only. So yeah, it makes it a little difficult but this seems to work best for me right now. __________________ Smile; it makes people curious.

05-01-2008, 04:46 AM	#466 (permalink)
Rachelle-Nychole PCOS & IR in ITALIA!! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Napoli, Italia Posts: 14 My Mood: Points: 390.45 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 390.45 Donate	Hi, I got DX with PCOS in Feb and started met towards the end of March. I am now taking 1500mg a day. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones in that I didn't have any s/e at all until I got to my top dosage. And even then, I only got them when I ate too many carbs. But at the same time, although I exercise 5 days a week and follow a low G.I. Diet, I have not lost any weight and after doing provera to bring on the cycle and taking metformin, I'm on CD 37 with no AF in sight. The only s/e I do have, is that if I dont eat enough, or I go to long without eating, I get SEVERE heartburn. Rather than a hungry feeling, thats what I get.

05-03-2008, 10:45 AM	#467 (permalink)
tamas Mommy-O Join Date: May 2008 Location: N.J. Posts: 5 My Mood: Points: 145.63 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 145.63 Donate	I've been on 2000 mg for 11 months now. I haven't felt this normal for years. But, I've started to experience numbness and tingling on the bottoms of my feet and toes. Could this be the Metformin? Does anyone else experience this? If so, what did you do?

05-04-2008, 11:57 AM	#468 (permalink)
flissfloss Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 19 My Mood: Points: 898.01 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 898.01 Donate	I feel so much more normal now that I know that these side effects happen to most. I started on 100mg last week.

05-13-2008, 09:45 PM	#473 (permalink)
leopardgirl314 Caryn Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 23 Points: 1,004.66 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 1,004.66 Donate	For those of you that take B12, when do you take it?

05-14-2008, 04:37 AM	#474 (permalink)
Criosaidh Criosaidh Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 4 My Mood: Points: 152.00 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 152.00 Donate	Hi everyone, I'm new to the site, but not to PCOS! My Doctor has just put me on 1500 mg of Met. Yesterday was my first day, and I have to say I feel sick as a parrot. I know this is normal in the first few days, so I'm fine with it, I know it'll be worth it in the end. The posts here have been really helpful, I'm so glad I found this site. Other people's success stories make what I'm feeling now seem a lot more "Worth it" Right now I feel incredibly nauseous, despite not having eaten anything yet! (It's 8.30 am here) seriously debating staying home from work, but not sure how my boss will take it. Is anyone else here just starting on Met?

05-15-2008, 05:20 AM	#475 (permalink)
flissfloss Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 19 My Mood: Points: 898.01 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 898.01 Donate	Hi. I've been takin 1000 for 3 weeks now. I still get the runs every so often but I'm getting used to it now - how strange does that sound!! Anyway, I'm wondering how long before we see weight loss generally?! cheers x

05-15-2008, 07:42 AM	#476 (permalink)
Criosaidh Criosaidh Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 4 My Mood: Points: 152.00 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 152.00 Donate	Hey flissfloss, Glad to hear you're getting there with the s/e. I'm having kind of a hard time with it right now. I can't even think about food right now! Work are being really good to me, thankfully, and my partner is as ever, very supportive, but I'm sick of the nausea and ahem, the DHRH. On the bright side, though, I've only been on it three days now, and (probably due to water loss) I've already lost a couple of pounds! Chris

05-15-2008, 10:51 AM	#477 (permalink)
flissfloss Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 19 My Mood: Points: 898.01 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 898.01 Donate	Hi Chris You'll be pleased to know that the side effects wore off after a couple of weeks. I started on 1000 in two 500 doses. I cut it down to 500 when my tummy was really bad. I ate alot of rich tea biscuits!!!! Have you tried ginger? That helps as well apparently!!! My weight is staying steady at the mo' I'm hoping this is because of my sudden burst of excerise is turning ym fat into muscle!!!! Good luck xxx

Yesterday, 06:28 AM	#479 (permalink)
Criosaidh Criosaidh Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 4 My Mood: Points: 152.00 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 152.00 Donate	Hiya MelSweetie, Can I ask, whereabouts do you work? I don't know too much about US employment law, but for my sins I actually work as a manager in a UK call centre. The management are obliged to make such changes to your working environment as are deemed necessary by your doctor or a doctor appointed and paid for by your company. If this means extended or shorter, more frequent breaks to make it easier for you to manage the s/e, then they have to comply. ahem, Employee Law student hat off...... Do you have a team leader or a team manager? Speak to them for advice, or alternatively speak to your Doc. If you are in the Uk, you may fall under the DDA, and then they REALLY can't mess wit' cha! Best of luck with your meds, and your work. Big hugs Crio

Yesterday, 11:40 AM	#480 (permalink)
abph07 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Points: 128.72 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 128.72 Donate	I was on Met for 1 week and had to stop because it made me feel like I was chronically hung over and exhausted. I took it with food and took it in the evening. I am a thin cyster with no insulin resistance so I had to throw it out. I feel normal again!

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