TOTALLY freaked out about avandia

prunepie · 12-11-2003, 12:58 AM

can someone help???? i just started avandia in addition to my gluc for ir 2 days ago..and been reading on side effects of avandia..which are weight gain,, fluid retention...and tons of reports of lawsuits from avandia in regards to heart failure etc...

ughsshshs what am i to believe??? has anyone had significant problems with avandia????? i feel CRAZY hungry on it today....but i have had days like this before...even when i eat well..so not sure if its avandia related or not.

just totally scared that avanida is going to mess up my heart or make me gain EVEN MORE weight ughsss

i guess i am looking for feedback either positive or negative so i can figure out what to do ..THANKS SOOO MUCH XOX JENN

~Sandra · 12-11-2003, 01:19 AM

I've done tons of research on Avandia.
I was on it for months and didn't have any side effects on it at all.
Please don't stress. Yes, it can lead to heart failure in a SMALL number of people. So can a lot of other drugs. Look at Met and it's risk of Lactic Acidosis. Trust your doctor. It wouldn't be on the market if it was that risky, right? Just watch out for the signs (water retention, weight gain and edema) and try to relax

prunepie · 12-11-2003, 02:02 AM

thanks sh..i just got myself in a tizzy..when you were on avandia did you get low bs feelings at first??? and if i can ask..why did you stop?? thanks xoxox jenn

~Sandra · 12-11-2003, 12:47 PM

It’s a bit of a long story.
I was on Met for almost a year and was one of the unlucky ones who never had a decrease in side effects. I’ve always eaten a very healthy diet and workout at least 5 days a week. Regardless of the changes I made, I couldn’t lose the Met side effects. Anyways, I finally got severely dehydrated and was taken off Met and prescribed Avandia because of its low incidence of side effects. It controlled my blood sugar really well in the beginning but gradually began to not make much of a difference. I can’t remember how long I was on it but it was at least 6 months. I wasn’t losing any weight despite being a saint about diet and exercise and my doc wasn’t happy with my fasting blood sugars so I was taken off of it. I’ve just switched to Gluc and feel quite a bit better.
I’ve never had a problem with low blood sugars because mine tend to run quite high. I can see it happening for you though because you’re on both Gluc and Avandia. Make sure you’re eating often enough and maybe start testing your blood sugar to see if it is in fact low. Low blood sugar is dangerous and you should really be careful not to go too low.

HTH!!
~Sandra

prunepie · 12-11-2003, 01:26 PM

thank you for your story!! i am glad gluc is working for you... for me i am only ir... but my sugars are reg..i love how all the gluc etc info says it cant lower sugar in those who arent diabetic..but i think it can sometimes........... so thanks for letting me knwo your story..its making me feel a bit better xoxoxo jenn

Chrissy · 12-14-2003, 12:49 PM

Hi prunepie. I am also on Avandia for possible IR and to treat PCOS. I have lost about 5 pounds since beginning avandia. I do get a bit of swelling in my hands, tight rings, at night but am unsure if it is all the Avandia. This is minor though. I have no other side affects except possibly a little more energy and stamina. I have been trying to do the IR diet but find I need a little extra sugar in the morning after I take the Avandia midmorning or feel a bit shaky. I felt this way before Avandia too at times so who knows.

I do know I am just starting to spot and may even be able to call this AF. (I feel like celebrating-women without PCOS must think we are crazy how this can make us feel!) It came 30 days to the dot after last hormone induced AF. My skin is holding its own and not much notice of increased hair as of yet. I might even say it may be working for my PCOS. This is unbelievable to me since I have had PCOS since I can remember, have always been thin and active and blood sugars around 85 on tests. I tested at an insulin of 9 on my last fasting test.

I am so hopeful this med will work but very nervous it could harm my body. I do my second liver enzyme test next week and am anxious to see all is O.K. Keep me posted of your progress. Not many others are on this. Besides not haveing diabetes, I'm curious to see how this med. will act in my body. Take Care!

prunepie · 12-14-2003, 12:52 PM

hi chrissy..did you notice any weird stomach feelings at first?? yes lets keep each other updated on how it helps or doesnt help..and ia m glad you are getting af..woohoooo xoxo jenn

Chrissy · 12-14-2003, 01:07 PM

Thanks for writing back. I am usually pretty hungry and tend to eat often throughout the day. Some days I'm hungrier than others. I don't have any stomach pain just a knawing hunger pain if I go too long in the morning without a snack on some days. I can't tell if it is what I ate for breakfast or the addition of Avandia since some days I don't have it. I am wondering if it is lowering my glucose some right after I take it. No stomach issues other than that. Could the gluc. and avandia together be causing this for you? I wasn't given the option of gluc. since I'm not trying to conceive and my dr. said let's not go there because of the side affects. I guess it is always an option if this doesn't work though.
The wierd thing is that I have lost weight on this medication without trying. I feel my metabolism has picked up and the middle bloat is going away. I was always thin 5'8" 130 pounds until my early thirties. Since then and having my kids have gained a couple pounds a year. I just lost that and am down to just under 140 and it feels good. I wonder if I became IR as I got older. Is a fasting insulin of 9 considered insulin resistant if your sugar is 85? Well anyway, sorry! I get long winded! I'll keep you posted as well!

Chris

prunepie · 12-14-2003, 03:37 PM

i am not sure if a 9 is ir or not..... you might wanna ask that to the others cysters in a new post..my insulin is 25 now and thats after a year on gluc!! sigh...arghs i am not ttc but i am on gluc to help the hormones and like i said before i added avandia to help lower the insulin more hopefully... i hate that i am hungry so much considering i have alot of weight to lose..its sooooo frustrating!!! grrr lol xo jenn

Chrissy · 12-14-2003, 09:31 PM

Thanks for responding Prunepie. I really hope the Avandia helps you lower your insulin. My dad has type 2 diabetes and also just added the Avandia to his gluc. It definately did the trick for him. He was able to lower his glucophage. Hopefully you will see results too. THis PCOS can be so frustrating! I hate what it does to our bodies. There was a time I was so obsessed about the extra hair it interfered with my happiness and relationships with friends. Luckily my husband was very understanding and knew why I couldn't let it go. The bc pIlls and spiro. helped to practically eliminate the problem but now I am off them. I am ever watchful for its return and praying it won't! Best of luck with the weight loss. I can't imagine the Avandia won't help. I am always hungry too. Maybe it has something to do with the insulin. Best of luck to you!

prunepie · 12-14-2003, 10:46 PM

thanks chrissy...lets keep each other informed