Should I stop Metformin? Need advice. Doctor says it's up to me.
I'll try to make this brief, but I need advice beyond my doctors.
I'm 33 years old. I was diagnosed two years ago when I hadn't had AF in four months and was getting hairy in odd places. At the time, my doctor had me only on some sort of light-dose BCP and Spiro. I got my AF two months later. Things seemed pretty normal.
A year goes by. Suddenly, I started getting my AF every three weeks, and heavily. I also found myself getting sweaty even when it was cool. I went to the doctor's office and ended up with a new doctor (I love her, she's great), who changed my BCP to Yasmin. She took me off the Spiro. She also suggested I try Metformin. I was tested and not IR. I am not TTC. But... she said I might lose a pound or two, so I figured 'what the heck'.
So, I'm on 1500mg a day. No weight loss, some weight gain at first, then back down again. I am 5'8" and 184 pounds. It seems I've gained an INCH around my middle, despite my weight being the same as a it was a year ago. I feel tired and round, and even sweatier -- but that's the symptoms the Metformin gives me now (the first two months were the typical diarrhea and headaches, but I rode it out). The 'round' part I can do without. The sweaty part is awful. My liver tests are fine, and I am not hyperthyroid nor do I have anxiety.
The Yasmin is great. Less hair, and have a normal AF every month. I'll stick with it.
I asked my doctor if I could stop the Metformin, as I feel it's made me feel tired and expanded my waist size somehow. She says it's up to me. I asked my endocrinologist... he said it was up to me, but to keep in mind that if I went back to taking it again later on... I'd have to go through the symptoms again.
So, here I sit, undecided.
I have had my AF for almost two years, right on time. I honestly think it's because of the BCP, because I also got it before I took Metformin. My husband and I might want to have a baby... but not for at least two more years (if at all). I feel the Metformin is making me feel worse and I am considering stopping it.
If you were me, would you do this?
Thanks for any advice, either public or private! *HUGS*
Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? I didn't see that in your message. That would be the deciding factor if I were to stop the Met or not. I'm assuming since your on a PCOS message board, that you do in fact have PCOS.
If you have PCOS, your problems are probably being "masked" by the bcp. BCP's can make you have regular periods. But, if you stop the BCP, your periods probably will not stay normal. If you know for sure you want to have a child someday, I'd make sure I stay on Met (which regulates your hormones and promotes normal ovulation) now. You're right, if you were to stop it now, you'd have to deal with the initial s/e again later when you restart it. There's a message that was posted a few days ago about Met causing swelling around the mid-section in some women. So, you're not the only one. I would try to stick to a low sugar/low carb diet, exercise & stay on Met to lose the weight. But, this is just what I would do if I were in your shoes.
I'm sure some others might decide to discontinue it. Whatever your decision, good luck.
__________________ Carrie (Pa) 31 y.o., married, 1 stepdaughter (10 yrs old). Diagnosed with PCOS in Aug '05. No current treatment.
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Can I put my 2 cents in? LOL
First of all. isn't 1500mg a little high to start on? Goodness! I was only on 1000 and when I was on it I was WAAAYY heavier than you. I am mildly insulin resistant, last I knew but that was 4 yrs ago.
It made me just generally feel nasty, dizzy and just sick to my stomach. I stopped taking it, and I feel wonderful. If you do decide against the met, I would suggest exercise daily. That is what has made all the difference in the world to me. Everyone is different, and a lot of people really do well with the met. But if you are not IR, then why beon it? Maybe try to control it through exercise and not a low carb diet, but a good carb diet?
I am certainly no expert so take this as it is!
Good Luck!
Mandy
Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? I didn't see that in your message. That would be the deciding factor if I were to stop the Met or not. I'm assuming since your on a PCOS message board, that you do in fact have PCOS.
Yes, I have PCOS. When I said I was diagnosed... I meant with PCOS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiggerlily5278
If you know for sure you want to have a child someday, I'd make sure I stay on Met (which regulates your hormones and promotes normal ovulation) now.
I honestly dont' know. We *might* want children... we might not. It's certainly more my husband wanting children (he's one of six kids himself) than me. I did get my period fairly normally for years, and did not go on the Metformin for that. I was getting my period with the BCP when I did have problems (which wasn't always). I think I mainly went on the Metformin because my doctor said I'd lose weight. I didn't. I got rounder. Of course, Metformin isn't really for that, anyway.
I've been on the IR diet. I lost 30 pounds -- before I started Metformin. Once I started it, I gained a few pounds, lost them, then stalled entirely. Working out doesn't seem to help the belly... and I don't want to look pregnant. I lost weight easily before the Metformin, and I feel it's done me more harm than good.
I still am not sure what to do. For now, I have lowered my dose. My next post to the cyster who commented after you... will go into that.
Can I put my 2 cents in? LOL
First of all. isn't 1500mg a little high to start on? Goodness! I was only on 1000 and when I was on it I was WAAAYY heavier than you. I am mildly insulin resistant, last I knew but that was 4 yrs ago.
I started with 500, went to 1000, then to 1500 and 2000 (my doctor wanted me on 2000... but I couldn't manage it and went to 1500). According to many posts on this board... 1500 (on HCL not XR) is the 'minimum effective dose'. So... I guess it's about right. Really, I just did what the doctor said.
If I do go off it, I will be exercising even more and keeping with the IR diet (between that and Weight Watchers, I lost 30 pounds --- but that was before I took the Metformin -- it stalled after I started taking that).
I'm still not sure, though. Will keep thinking it over. I swear I felt better and happier before I was on Metformin, and the weight came off more easily. Maybe I should have stuck with the BCP and Spiro. Hm.
It sounds like we may be in a similar boat. I am thinking of going off Met. I honestly don't think that it's done anything for me. And, like you, I find that I have "expanded" in the middle section since being on it (although, overall, I have lost about 8-10 pounds).
I am also on bcp (Ortho-Cylcen) and Spiro (100mg/day for hair loss...has not helped so far). I really am at the point where I am wondering if all these medications are doing anything at all to help me.
I'm not much help as far as advice goes, but don't worry, you're not alone!
I am also on bcp (Ortho-Cylcen) and Spiro (100mg/day for hair loss...has not helped so far). I really am at the point where I am wondering if all these medications are doing anything at all to help me.
I don't feel the Met has done anything for me, other than make me round in the middle. However, the Yasmin... now, I can see that's done wonders for my hairy issues, plus I've had my period like clockwork since I started Yasmin. So... despite the BCP issues I keep reading about, I feel like I might keep the Yasmin and drop the Metformin.
Or not. I'm a chicken like that! Blah. However, I did lower my Met dose to 1000mg this week. Don't think that will change much. I really might stop taking it.
I took one of my old Spiros (50mg) this morning and am thinking of getting the prescription refilled (like all my meds, my doctor says to do what I want and she'll approve it... I'm sure a lot of gals here would LOVE a doctor who talked like that). I miss the diuretic effects of Spiro, although it little for my hair problems.
I had the same problem as you. Gluc 750 XR: Weight went UP, size went UP, tired all the time. I wasn't ovulating either, anyway. Coldn't increase the dose 'cause I puked it up constantly. So I stopped it. You know, funny thing is, 2 cycles later AF kind of straightens up a teeny bit more. I am not ready tomorrow to have a baby but we want to *someday*. But I'm not going to be completely miserable for 2 years until then. Especially when it didn't do anything for me, and letrozole did better.
__________________ Whoa! bfp 11/22/08. A YAZ "reset" baby!
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I don't feel the Met has done anything for me, other than make me round in the middle. *hugs all*Gweth
I actually gained weight on Met.
It did help my cronic constipation from adhesions wrapped around the bowel until I had surgery.
But I know I had adverse side effects of the met.
I developed a muscle disorder. Cronic pain head to toe.
It is "suspected" to be caused by the combination of Yasmin and Gluc XR.
Both meds are know for adjusting hormones.
But for me, it adjusted them too much and put me into the same side effects of lacic acidosis(sp?). My liver tested out as being "fatty" but all other numbers were within range.
I had to do all the research. I then had to show my doctor the information to show that muscle pain, fatigue and mood swings are side effects of the Gluc.
So if you want to try to stay on the met. Add B6, B12 and folic acid to your diet tp ward off these effects (I just learned about this) Gluc/Met depletes oxigen and vitamins from your muscles causeing the lactic build up.(Main cause of muscle pain)
__________________ Endometriosis (Infertility Cause)
Andnomyosis (Infertility/Miscarry Cause)
Fibroid tummores(One reason for Non stop AF)
Tubal ligation syndrome(Sister of PCOS)
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I would go off the Met until you decide it's time to have kids, I mean if you started taking it for the weight loss and it didn't help then it's just unecessary meds going into your body. If you decide you want babies then like 6 months before you want them, talk to your doc about the options then and see what they say.
I was on Met before and had the lactic acidose symptoms, so I stopped taking it. That was like 6 months ago. I started the XR 2 weeks ago and in smaller doses. Someone mentioned the B6, B12 suppliments...I started taking a multi vitamin when I started back on the Met, anyone know if I should be supplimenting more of the B vitamins??
Stormy~
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Should I stop Metformin? Need advice. Doctor says it's up to me. 
I'm a chicken like that! Blah. However, I did lower my Met dose to 1000mg this week. Don't think that will change much. I really might stop taking it.
