Regular Met - All at once, instead of spread out?

AlenaBug · 02-22-2009, 10:06 PM

I am currently taking 1500mgs of Metformin. My doctor told me to just work up one pill at a time (500mg) over two weeks each pill, until I was at 1500mgs. I assumed I could take all three pills at the same time, and have been taking them right before going to bed. The first three weeks I threw up every morning right after waking up, and was extremely nauseous all day long. But it went away, and now it's fine, even on three pills. I'm sleeping fine, and feel good all day long.

So, can I keep taking all three pills at once? I started my second cycle of ovulation tests today, and if I menstrate again this time around, or if I don't, but do not become pregnant, my doctor is starting me on Clomid as well as the Metformin. Up until now I have been anovulatory for almost two years. I went on bcps for five months, and then off bcps straight into Met. So far, I have menstrated once, but not ovulated.

ninja_pup · 02-23-2009, 12:27 PM

That's a good question that I would like to know the answer to. I just started taking regular met as well and am currently taking 500mg. In a few days I will be up to 1000mg and then five days later up to 1500mg. I was hoping to take 500mg during lunch and the 1000mg at dinner. Will this be possible?

Darlow-babe · 02-23-2009, 12:32 PM

Hi Ladies

When i was on 1500mg of metformin i was told to take one after breakfast, lunch & Dinner.
But sometimes when my appitite went and i was only on 2 meals a day i was taking 500mg with breakfast and 1000mg with tea and it didnt do me any harm, im now on 2000mg a day i take 2 x 500mg at breakfast and 2 x 500mg at teatime.
Hope this information helps Good Luck Ladies !!!!!

Juliekaboolie · 02-23-2009, 02:19 PM

It depends on what kind of Metformin you take... some are the ER (extended release) and others you are supposed to spread out. The dr was correct in having you start slow to avoid the GI distress you experienced (throwing up and/or diarhea) as well as low blood sugar. It sounds like you have adjusted, though. It can sometimes take several months for your body to regulate itself enough to ovulate. It may be too soon to start Clomid unless your age is a factor (30's or older). I wish you the best of luck! Metformin and Clomid helped me to conceive my son within the first 2 months of trying!

kpants · 02-23-2009, 05:26 PM

if you are on that dose of regular met, you should spread it out. ER you can take all at once but with regular met - i was told that there is a rate of max absorption per time period. ie, if the max absorption rate is 1000mg at once, then your body is just doing nothing with the other 500mg so it's pointless. in addition, spacing regular met out allows it to work throughout the day, whereas if you take it all at night it will work its magic for a certain number of hours and then the rest of the time you are on your own. ER works in that it slowly releases all day so you don't have this issue. GI symptoms or not - if you want to take it all at once def call your doc and switch to extended release. that is what i'm on and even still i've recently started spacing my doses because i've read that it helps with the absorption rate. definitely call your doc but from everything i've read & researched - it's not ideal to take all of your regular met at once.

AlenaBug · 02-24-2009, 02:09 AM

Well, spacing is out is definitely not something I wanted to hear, as I have a really hard time remembering to take pills more than once a day!

I'll have to check with my doctor about the ER option.

kpants · 02-24-2009, 02:22 AM

oh well if you want to take it all at once - loads of cysters do just that by taking the met ER. all it takes is a quick phone call to your doc - mine agreed over the phone to call ER into the pharmacy when i told her i wanted to give it a try. then you can just take it all before bed because ER certainly allows the option for taking all at once. go for it!