post your tips on dealing with gluc/met side effects
let's post all the tips here and make it a sticky for easy reference.
i'll start. i just started gluc xr on 12/18/02, so i'm still seeing what effect it will have on me. so far it's just some gas & bloating. but, it's not too bad.
for g.i. problems:
-taking 2 big spoonful of plain yogurt a day(i take this for mild ibs and it helps, so, i think it'll fit here)
-ginger(fresh or capsules) is really good for g.i. problems(i blend several fresh slices in my morning smoothie.)
-chamomile tea, also very good for g.i. prob.(i found this in my research, but i've not tried it)
note: ginger & chamomile are herbs. from my research, i didn't find them to interact badly with gluc/met. you may want to do your own research, especially if you take other meds. check out this site for herb/drug interaction. http://www.everybody.co.nz/otc/herbals.html
for those taking gluc xr:
-take it with evening meal or before bed time so you may be able sleep through some of the side effects
tips in general:
-no greasy/high fat foods or alcohol
__________________ peppermint tea ttc since 12/99
lost my precious baby in may, 2001 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
started glucophage xr 12/18/02
taking 1500 mg as of 12/20/02
5/13/03 actos 15 mg & met 500 mg
5/17 increased met to 1000 mg
6/6 increased met to 1500 mg
6/12 increased actos to 30 mg
7/11 reduced actos to 15 mg due to swelling
reduced met to 1000 mg due to severe diarrhea
rx meds: met & actos
9/5/03 i ovulated for the 2nd time in my life. wow!!!
new cycle 9/21
nettle infusion, almond, brewer's yeast, flax seed, standardized black cohosh
After 4 years on regular Met, here is what I have learned:
1) Try to take your pills at the same time every day
2) Take your pills with food
3) Try to not consume a lot of greasy/sugary foods
4) Keep hydrated - it just seems to lessen the effects
Good luck!
__________________ Me 43 & DH 41 (my hunky triathlete!)
Mama to 4 angels (1/04, 4/05, 8/05, 9/08) and 1 miracle!
2 half marathons completed; training for my first full!
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1) Increase your dose slowly
2) Don't be too far from a bathroom in the early days
3) Take with a substantial meal
4) Avoid fatty foods and carbs
5) Drink lots of water
6) Cut back on alcohol...a drink or two is ok, but make sure you follow it up with lots of water!
7) Ask your Dr if you can switch from the regular to the xr (or vice versa) most cysters suffer less side effects on the xr, but you may just have a problem with the binders and fillers*
* My Dr would not allow me to switch from the regular to the xr. His position was that the studies are not there yet for treating pcos with the xr, so he wanted to stick with what he KNOWS works!
thanks, cysters. keep those tips coming. mods, let's make this a sticky for easy reference.
__________________ peppermint tea ttc since 12/99
lost my precious baby in may, 2001 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
started glucophage xr 12/18/02
taking 1500 mg as of 12/20/02
5/13/03 actos 15 mg & met 500 mg
5/17 increased met to 1000 mg
6/6 increased met to 1500 mg
6/12 increased actos to 30 mg
7/11 reduced actos to 15 mg due to swelling
reduced met to 1000 mg due to severe diarrhea
rx meds: met & actos
9/5/03 i ovulated for the 2nd time in my life. wow!!!
new cycle 9/21
nettle infusion, almond, brewer's yeast, flax seed, standardized black cohosh
you should take it at the same time daily. drink some milk with it if you're not having a meal at the time or have some food, so you're not taking it on an empty stomach.
__________________ peppermint tea ttc since 12/99
lost my precious baby in may, 2001 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
started glucophage xr 12/18/02
taking 1500 mg as of 12/20/02
5/13/03 actos 15 mg & met 500 mg
5/17 increased met to 1000 mg
6/6 increased met to 1500 mg
6/12 increased actos to 30 mg
7/11 reduced actos to 15 mg due to swelling
reduced met to 1000 mg due to severe diarrhea
rx meds: met & actos
9/5/03 i ovulated for the 2nd time in my life. wow!!!
new cycle 9/21
nettle infusion, almond, brewer's yeast, flax seed, standardized black cohosh
1.) Chewable Immodium AD was my best friend for awhile.
2.) Upping the roughage in my diet helped tremendously. When my diarrhea got/gets bad, then I eat extra fiber. I usually go for the All Bran Extra Fiber to eat once a day. Some women even use Metamucill.
__________________ peppermint tea ttc since 12/99
lost my precious baby in may, 2001 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
started glucophage xr 12/18/02
taking 1500 mg as of 12/20/02
5/13/03 actos 15 mg & met 500 mg
5/17 increased met to 1000 mg
6/6 increased met to 1500 mg
6/12 increased actos to 30 mg
7/11 reduced actos to 15 mg due to swelling
reduced met to 1000 mg due to severe diarrhea
rx meds: met & actos
9/5/03 i ovulated for the 2nd time in my life. wow!!!
new cycle 9/21
nettle infusion, almond, brewer's yeast, flax seed, standardized black cohosh
Hello, in april 2001 I started on Glucopage XR (1,000mg 1st week,then increased to 1,500,then by October 2000mg), by September I've lost 30lbs, tetosterone levels decreased, which it's good but AF came only 2 times and last between 40 to 45 days each one.
By august I had a CBC and it showed that I have High Platelets, not only that, also it showed that the AST(SGOT) and ALT(SGPT) (liver function) is high as well, does these abnormal results have anything related to GLugophage.
Now I'm off Glucophage XR, I'm still waiting to see an especialist and find out what's going with my liver functions.
At this point I'm very dissapointed and my last AF last 42 days, tomorrow I'll see my new primary physician ( the previous one) closed her practice) which it delayed my visit to a an especialist.I hope that the damages in my liver are not as bad as I think.
Does anyone have experience this? will herbs and natural medicine could be my next step? .
Any comments or similar experiences will be greatly appreciated,I hope that I could still have hope to continue taking care of PCOS without having side effects.
Thanks,
Betsi
__________________ I'm 24 DH 37
I was DX when I was 14 years old
Married for 5 years
TTC # 1
Glucophage april 2002 until october (it damaged my liver functions)
Now taking vitex,dong quai,red raspberry,saw palmetto,flax seed
Although it is high in carbs and I don't recommend it everyday. I usually find a single serving of plain rice (white or brown) will help with the bowel problems while on Metformin. Once every other day worked for me.
Once I was 3 weeks or better on the Metformin the symptoms lessened. Now unless I have a greasy or sugary meal or snack I am generally OK.
__________________ Me 35, DH 52. DSS 22, DD 15
150mg of Effexor
Hysterectomy on Jan 17, 2006
Going back on Meds June 1st to treat PCOS symptoms though ovaries are gone. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Mod for Depression and Diet and Exercise Buddies.
Check out my new message board for Traditional Christian Women
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Today is my second day on met and last night I was as sick as a dog. I tossed, turned, and sweated all night but am glad I have some tips now for dealing with it.
__________________ peppermint tea ttc since 12/99
lost my precious baby in may, 2001 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
started glucophage xr 12/18/02
taking 1500 mg as of 12/20/02
5/13/03 actos 15 mg & met 500 mg
5/17 increased met to 1000 mg
6/6 increased met to 1500 mg
6/12 increased actos to 30 mg
7/11 reduced actos to 15 mg due to swelling
reduced met to 1000 mg due to severe diarrhea
rx meds: met & actos
9/5/03 i ovulated for the 2nd time in my life. wow!!!
new cycle 9/21
nettle infusion, almond, brewer's yeast, flax seed, standardized black cohosh
yes, gluc can alter liver function. there's an herb called milk thistle that may be able to restore normal liver function. do a search in the alt. remedy board for a thread started by mickin. i believe she had lactic acidosis caused by met. she talked about the herb normalizing her liver function.
also, if you can't take gluc, you may want to ask your dr. about other insulin sensitizing meds. good luck.
__________________ peppermint tea ttc since 12/99
lost my precious baby in may, 2001 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
started glucophage xr 12/18/02
taking 1500 mg as of 12/20/02
5/13/03 actos 15 mg & met 500 mg
5/17 increased met to 1000 mg
6/6 increased met to 1500 mg
6/12 increased actos to 30 mg
7/11 reduced actos to 15 mg due to swelling
reduced met to 1000 mg due to severe diarrhea
rx meds: met & actos
9/5/03 i ovulated for the 2nd time in my life. wow!!!
new cycle 9/21
nettle infusion, almond, brewer's yeast, flax seed, standardized black cohosh
For those who need relief while taking glucophage and/or metformin I tried these teas and I felt much better ( I'm not advising to do it but I just want to share my experience while I was on Glucophage XR):
* Caraway seeds: soothes the digestive tract, relieving colic, cramps, and flatulence.
*Aniseed--Pimpinella anisum: useful for digestive complaints, such as gas, bloating, colic, nausea.
*Allspice--Pimento officinalis:Similar to cloves, both are stomach-settling, stimulating, antiseptic, useful for flatulence, diarrhea, and indigestion
*Cloves: Good for bloating
I used to boil water then mix caraway seeds,cloves and a pinch of nutmeg, and it worked!!! it was good for me,some of my friends tried too so I guess is good for bloating,flatulence,colics etc..