I have been on and off of metformin for the past 2 years, and have nothing positive to say about it...it makes me sick and has not helped me lose weight. I want to ask my endo about actos or avandia, but am wondering how much it costs?
Also, I've done a search regarding both drugs, but am left confused...which would you suggest, taking into account price, side effects, helpfulness with PCOS symptoms, etc!
Thanks in advance ladies!
__________________ Me-31 DH-32
DS-4 DD-2
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I was on gluc and met- different times- started on gluc then switched to met- for 2 years total- NEVER did anything for me except make me SICK to my stomach and was so difficult to swallow those NASTY pills- and never did ovulate on them- even with gonal-f shots- nothing -
on october 11th I went back to endo to tell him that the infertilty doctor said I was too fat for gonal-f to work- and that I stopped taking everything August 1st-
He got the preapproval from insurance for the actos- so I only pay the co pay of $10 a month- and No SICKness at all- and plus on October 29th- I got my FIRST ever period by myself- without bcp or provera- it just started bleeding! it only lasted 3 days- and was done- then on curiosity- I started doing the ovulation predictor kits on the 8th of November- and guess what on the 9th of November- for the FIRST time ever- I saw two solid DARK purple lines!!!!! not sure if I did ovulate- but dh and I did baby dance- so we're waiting to see if af shows- or if (knock on wood) something wonderful happened!
Gosh Jen...that is the kind of story I like to hear!!! I am calling my endo TOMORROW to see if he'll start me on something, anything but metformin! yuck!
I, like you, do not ovulate...I think I have ovulated 5 times since I hit puberty..lol..gluc has not helped me at all, just makes me sick! I am plus sized (5'3" and 235)...doc says "Maybe it's good that met makes you sick, maybe you'll eat less and lose weight" WHAT the F*CK!??! I barely eat and still gain...Jen, how has the weight been since starting actos?
Anyone else? I would really love to hear any success stories! I need to get the courage up to call my endo! Thanks ladies!!
__________________ Me-31 DH-32
DS-4 DD-2
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I've been on gluc/met since April 1998 - quite a long time considering how long it has been a known PCOS treatment. I've found that it has assisted me in losing weight only when I'm exercising and watching my diet closely. Before Met I would do the exercise and diet thing and lose nothing.
I saw an Endo in August this year and he changed me to Actos for a trial. I'm not sure why he did it considering we're not TTC and that I have a good tolerance (I should after all this time!) on gluc. So I went on Actos. On the positive side I'd say that I had more energy on it (and not as many trips to the bathroom) and more libido. On the downside (and I mean DOWNSIDE) I had severe stomach cramps for a week (not like on gluc, more like the feeling you get when you're recovering from a severe stomach bug and you're stomach is still giving you the spew muscle cramps) PLUS everytime I stepped on the scales I went up about a pound. So after about four weeks Ijust got off it and went back to met/gluc.
If I'm TTC and having no-luck on gluc/met, I might try actos again. Other than that, I think it is terrible for weight gain.
Miranda
__________________ Miranda - 30
Diagnosed 1995
Trying to lose those kgs!
Getting ready to TTC in 08
Glucophage (since May 98)
B5, chromium, multi-vitamin, multi-mineral
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I have been taking 8 mg of Avandia for 2 years. My understanding is that Actos and Avandia are almost identical except that a side effect of Avandia is that LDL cholesterol can increase. In addition, I have been told that Actos is cheaper. I will be asking to switch to Actos at my next endo appt.
I am very thankful that i have insurance that includes a prescription benefit. i pay 25.00 per month for actos. but i have not seen a difference since i have been on it since last feb. i am asking to change to gluc. at my next appt.,
__________________ Angie , married 8 yrs. 2 kids. daughter who is 7 and son who is 2 . diagnosed in feb. 2002 pcos and IR.
I am on my second day of Avandia 2 mg. - so far so good. I just had a pelvic sonogram on Monday and it did show a larger cyst on my right ovary and a cluster of cysts on my left ovary. The last sonogram I had was in June and it did not show cysts at that time. I also had to start Lipitor 10mg. at bedtime to lower my cholesterol.
My periods are fairly regular time wise - my last one was a little screwy, though. However, my LH:FSH ratio is off, my free testosterone is high, my cholesterol is high, I started gaining/having trouble losing weight, being really sick with periods, bad cramps, severe migraines, tiredness . . . so I am hoping that the medication the endocrinologist prescribes helps. I also have a call into the gynecologist to see if there is any possibility of trying hormones as I get severe migraines at specific points in my cycle.
This might be a good place for us to give updates about our avandia or actos use?!?!
Today is my 5th day on it...NO side affects what-so-ever!!! That is so strange for me, I'm used to feeling like CRAP on met...I feel like I have more energy, I'm happier, less anxious, and I've gotten lots of CM in the last two days...hoping an O is around the corner, but either way, I'm glad I have no side affects...also, NO WEIGHT GAIN..yet..I've actually dropped 4 lbs in the last 5 days!
Anyone else have an update?!
__________________ Me-31 DH-32
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Hey...I'm glad I found this topic, I love reading about peoples experiences with different meds. I'm starting Avandia next week (I think) because I've had enough with the Met.
I’ve been on it for over 7 months and can't do it anymore. The first month or so was wonderful but after that it’s been just awful. I’ve had no energy and the side effects are too much. I’m scared to leave the house or get in a car because I might not be able to get to a bathroom in time. It’s a horrible way to live!
Anyways, I'm hoping that Avandia will be a better solution for me!
__________________ TTC #1 since 10/05.
February 2008: M/C - 8w1d (fetal bradycardia)
March 2009: chemical pg. Out of options, out of hope. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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I'm hearing my own story reading all the posts here. I've been on and off glucophage since 2000. And, I've hated it!!! I started going to a new doctor this summer, and he seems wonderful, but he's insisting that glucophage is the only option for PCOS patients right now. So, I've been trying to take it with a smile. At first when I started taking it, I was taking 1000mg a day, and I couldn't stand the nausea and stomach cramps..... My current doctor tells me you have to gradually increase the medication, and he started me on 250mg a day (broke the pill in half). I was hoping he would be right, and I could take glucophage...... But my body just wouldn't take it. I was doing everything I was told, low carbing and taking the medicine with food, but I was still sick sick sick!
Then about a week ago, I started getting severe abdominal pain (worse than I ever felt before!). I immediately stopped taking the glucophage, thinking it was the cause. But after 3 days of no medicine, the pain hadn't dissipated. I went into the ER cuz I couldn't take the pain anymore, and they diagnosed me with a kidney infection! I don't care what anyone says.... I blame the glucophage! I'm still having the pain seven days later!
So, now I'm not on any meds. I called my endo after I got out of the hospital and scheduled the earliest appointment possible. I found some info on Actos that sounds really good. (http://www.conceivingconceptions.com...les/actos.html) for anyone who is interested. And I'm not even going to ask. I'm gonna tell that doctor I want Actos, and I won't take no for an answer. I believe I have tried glucophage long enough to know that it doesn't work for me. The only benefit I've seen is the weight loss, but I attribute that more to my low carb diet than to glucophage.
So fingers crossed, ladies. I'm hoping that I'll get my actos, start ovulating, and within 2-3 months, I'll be pregnant!
__________________ Deborah (30) & Philip (34), married 08/24/02
TTC off and on since 2002
OD 01/11/08
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Read about my TTC experiences in my About Me on my profile.
Sandra and Deborah! I hope you both get what you want from your docs...a little threat wouldn't hurt either...I was ready to tell my endo "I'll order it online and take it w/out your help if that's what it takes..." Luckily he agreed to let me try Avandia right away!
I HOPE this stuff makes me "regular" and helps me to O! Today is day 7 of it...Hopefully I will O within the first month of taking it?!
Good luck ladies and let us know what happens
__________________ Me-31 DH-32
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Can you order the stuff online? Maybe going that route is an option. I've been told that neither actos nor avandia have been approved as treatment for PCOS by the FDA, so it's real iffy getting insurance to cover it.
I need to call them today and ask!
__________________ Deborah (30) & Philip (34), married 08/24/02
TTC off and on since 2002
OD 01/11/08
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Questions for those on actos or avandia?! 
Thanks ladies!!
