PCOS/Insulin Resistance Support Support for us with any of the following: Insulin Resistance, Syndrome X, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or other endocrine disorders.

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Old 02-21-2013, 09:31 AM   #1  
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Thumbs up Finally got Metformin

So, I finally got a doctor to prescribe Metformin. I saw my gyno on Tuesday and he wanted to do the pill but I refused. That's the whole reason DH got snipped. Plus the whole process of finding one that doesn't making me a raving lunatic is exhausting.

Anyway, he finally prescribed me Metformin but it's 500mg once a day with no intention of increasing the dose. It's helping already with minimal side effects. (TMI?) Tummy rumbles but little else. The positive effects are that I don't feel like gnawing my arm off constantly. It has pretty much freed me from thinking about food all of the time. I hope it continues to work at this dose so I don't have to increase, but I'm prepared to fight if necessary to up the dosage if my body adjusts. I hear a lot of women say they're on 1500 -2000mg a day.

Anyway, just wanted to share as I'm very excited to be doing something about my PCOS, other than trying unsuccessfully to lose weight and feeling like a failure.
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Old 02-21-2013, 09:52 AM   #2  
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Good luck with the Metformin. I was on it for about a year, but then I got pregnant and went off of it. When I'm done nursing my son I'll go back on it. It didn't help my cravings and thoughts of food, but I did lose 10 almost immediately, without changing much of my diet or exercise. When I did start eating better and exercised regularly, I noticed I lost weight faster. You're lucky you have minimal side effects! I had a terrible time with the side effects for the first couple weeks and could barely leave the house. I hope Metformin works well for you!
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Old 02-21-2013, 03:50 PM   #3  
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That's great! I went on it a few months ago (also 500mg) and it helped a lot. The tummy issues only lasted a few days for me.

You can now take it through pregnancy (it is believed to lower miscarriage risk in pcos patients) as well as while breast feeding, although a lot of docs take patients off after 12 weeks. Women with pcos are prone to supply issues and met can help with that.
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Old 02-23-2013, 08:23 AM   #4  
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I also take 500mg a day. I have been on it 5 weeks. Side effects were awful for me, but that seems to have subsided. Good luck on it!
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Old 02-28-2013, 02:45 PM   #5  
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I wonder if my body has already adjusted? As I said, my Dr has me on 500mg daily. At first I could definitely tell the difference in my body, cravings, feelings of fullness and not being a raving starving lunatic all the time. But now I definitely don't. I feel more back to how I was before I started it.

In fact, I missed my dose yesterday (oops! ) and couldn't tell the difference. It could be that I still had some in my system as I'm not sure how quickly it is metabolized.

I see many women talking about being closer to 1500 - 2000 mg. I wonder if that would be better suited for me? I'm just now sure how long to go on 500mg before I ask for a dosage increase. Maybe a month or two? Obviously I'm not very good at listening to my body and knowing what's normal. Anyone start at a much lower dose for an extended period and have to get bumped up later?
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Old 02-28-2013, 03:31 PM   #6  
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Find another doctor who is willing to go higher if you need it.

I have tried metformin three different times in my life, each time it's made me violently ill, even tried the slow release.

I don't know if it's because I have very good fasting blood sugar (79-83) or what? I mean isn't that what metformin does, lower your blood sugar?
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Old 02-28-2013, 05:47 PM   #7  
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I know this is a bit off topic but is Metformin a form of progesterone?

I am on Megace which is a form of progesterone used to treat endometrial cancer. I was on it for 6 months and then was off it for the past 2 weeks and had to get back on it as my body was not happy I stopped it, so my oncologist put me back on. My case is so unique no one can say what is "normal" in this situation, lucky me. I am seeing a fertility specialist at the end of next month and driving myself batty trying to figure out what his next plan for me is. (Why can't I just relax and wait?! I'm too excited!!)

I read they sometimes do Metformin and Clomid together, I wonder if that's what I'll get. I haven't been diagnosed with PCOS but I do have a few symptoms, I just never knew they could be cured until all of this started. At this point it's the endometrial tissue that's the problem but at least it's cancer-free at this point!
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Old 02-28-2013, 09:40 PM   #8  
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Metformin is a diabetes drug, and can also treat insulin resistance. It re-sensitizes you to insulin. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum on your ovary and is a hormone necessary to sustain pregnancy the first several weeks. Many women with pcos also have low progesterone issues and/or insulin resistance, but they are two different issues.

Good luck w/ the specialist!
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Old 02-28-2013, 11:19 PM   #9  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by junebug41 View Post
That's great! I went on it a few months ago (also 500mg) and it helped a lot. The tummy issues only lasted a few days for me.

You can now take it through pregnancy (it is believed to lower miscarriage risk in pcos patients) as well as while breast feeding, although a lot of docs take patients off after 12 weeks. Women with pcos are prone to supply issues and met can help with that.
Hmm...good to know.

Yep, my doctor took me off when I was 12 weeks pregnant. I just saw her last week and asked about going back on it, but she said it creates excess lactic acid in breastmilk. My son is 17 months and only nurses at bedtime and probably won't be nursing much longer, so I'll just wait to go back on. Luckily, I never had supply issues with any of my babies.
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Old 03-01-2013, 09:29 AM   #10  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beerab View Post
Find another doctor who is willing to go higher if you need it.

I have tried metformin three different times in my life, each time it's made me violently ill, even tried the slow release.

I don't know if it's because I have very good fasting blood sugar (79-83) or what? I mean isn't that what metformin does, lower your blood sugar?
It may not be the right and proper thing to do but I'm going to take an extra pill this afternoon and see how it affects me. If I have a positive reaction I'll probably see my GP instead of my gyno. My GP is very good about listening and referring me to a specialist if needed. So, he'll likely send me to an endo.

It's my understanding that metformin helps regulate your blood sugar. Right now, it's like I'm not even taking it. My mood/craving swings came back and I really have no GI issues, even if I eat something higher in carbs.

Maybe my expectations are off or it just won't be as effective for me but I'm going to try my best to make it work.
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Old 03-01-2013, 10:19 AM   #11  
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I have been on 2000mgs for years now...don't know that it has helped me too much, especially in the weight loss dept ...it does help regulate my insulin some but I think I thought it was going to be some magic pill that finally helped me lose weight, but that didnt happen.
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Old 03-01-2013, 02:48 PM   #12  
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Metformin is NOT a weight loss wonder drug.

Metformin will help you regulate your insulin receptors, which means that you will be able to process your blood sugar levels "normally".

However, it is NOT an appetite suppressant. It is not a weight-loss drug.

The hope in giving it to PCOS women is that fixing the IR issue will help your body respond in "normal" ways -- whether it's for fertility's sake or when you eat carbs and your body has to break them down into energy.
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Old 03-01-2013, 07:19 PM   #13  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rana View Post
Metformin is NOT a weight loss wonder drug.

Metformin will help you regulate your insulin receptors, which means that you will be able to process your blood sugar levels "normally".

However, it is NOT an appetite suppressant. It is not a weight-loss drug.

The hope in giving it to PCOS women is that fixing the IR issue will help your body respond in "normal" ways -- whether it's for fertility's sake or when you eat carbs and your body has to break them down into energy.
Well said. I actually have normal labs and no documented insulin resistence. However, I was given Met in the hopes that it would help with pelvic pain related to polycystic ovaries. And it's working! My doctor can't fully explain it, but it works.
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Old 03-01-2013, 07:23 PM   #14  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by junebug41 View Post
Metformin is a diabetes drug, and can also treat insulin resistance. It re-sensitizes you to insulin. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum on your ovary and is a hormone necessary to sustain pregnancy the first several weeks. Many women with pcos also have low progesterone issues and/or insulin resistance, but they are two different issues.

Good luck w/ the specialist!
Thank you, junebug! The more I google, the more mixed-up I get. You explained it well!
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