PCOS/Insulin Resistance Support - metformin for weight loss

Anyone else on this? I started last week with a does of 500 and am going to up it to 1000 today! I have been losing quite well but how does the met help?

The way I understand it, if you are insulin resistant, it regulates the insulin in your body so that your body is not over-producing insulin when you eat (when your body produces too much it stores it as fat). Most people see weight loss when they go on Met, but I have not! Aarghhh! ;)

I haven't found the met helps me with weightloss either. It did help my fertility somewhat.

I have actually been thinking about getting off it . . . I have felt 'off' ever since I started . . . you know just not quite right. . . hmmmm . . .

Metformin is an Insulin stabilizer and very important to take if you have PCOS and Insulin resistance. It is not a "weight loss" drug although some people may experience minor weight loss because it does tend to cause some GI upset. I felt better after about a month of taking it. If you have been diagnosed with PCOS I highly recommend reading, The PCOS Protection Plan by Colette Harris and Theresa Chung. It's a wealth of information for anyone with PCOS and you will understand the risks and benefits of why you were prescribed the medicine in the 1st place....My Dr didn't take the time to explain anything to me...I have done a lot of research on my own

It's hard for me to tell if the weight loss is from the met or from the detox I have been doing this past week. Either way I lost 10 lbs and am happy about that.

Danni How long have you been taking it and how much are you taking? I have been on about a week and only take one pill (500 mg) but I tried to go up to 2 and got sick. I'll try again on monday.

Lifeguard Didn't you get pregnant while taking it? I think i remember that?

Msahaller My doc said he was prescribing it to help me lose weight. I have VERY mild PCOS and don't really have the symptoms do you think the book is still helpful? My Doc is great in that he spends about 2 hours with me at each appt explaining everything.

Msahaller My doc said he was prescribing it to help me lose weight. I have VERY mild PCOS and don't really have the symptoms do you think the book is still helpful? My Doc is great in that he spends about 2 hours with me at each appt explaining everything.[/QUOTE]

Honestly I do not know what "mild" PCOS is. The symptoms and severity are different woman to woman but we all still have a complex metabolic and hormanal imbalance. The book is a great read and it helps lay out a plan for eating healthy wholefoods on a Low glycemic plan. Good luck!

Congrats on the 10lbs lady!!! :) Yay!

Danni How long have you been taking it and how much are you taking? I have been on about a week and only take one pill (500 mg) but I tried to go up to 2 and got sick. I'll try again on monday.
I have been on it for a year now and I was originally taking 1500mg (3 pills) and we recently reduced it to 1000mg which is making me feel much much better. I had a lot of stomach issues, nausea and headaches when I started. I persevered bcos having a 6 week TOM with a two week break and then another 6 weeker was making me flippin' NUTS :mad:

But . . . and this is why I was thinking of getting off it . . . my glucose tolerance tests have not shown any marked improvement (they are actually worse - I was no longer technically IR before I started on Met and was of a healthy weight but my TOM was out of control still. I lost 114lbs in 9 months with PCOS and no Metformin), I have gained a lot of weight and TOM has really only stabilised since I started acupuncture and Chinese herbal supplements. My doctors want me to stay on the Met until such time as my weight & TOM stabilise. Its hard for me to completely blame the Met bcos I started taking it at a time when my lifestyle went off the rails.

How are you feeling on the Met now? Are you having more success with increasing the dosage?

I try not to think of this as "a complex metabolic and hormonal imbalance" (I mean I know it is) but I see it more as something that I have the power to manage. PCOS does suck on many levels (if it didnt I wouldnt have wanted to ignore it for a year), but I wont give it any more power than it deserves. It does not define me, and if anything I now feel empowered and hopeful that it can be managed.

Msahaller So you are saying there is no mild pcos? you either have it or you don't? How do they dignose it. I think in my case I may not have it at all. I rwally don't know. I never had any tests done or anything.

Danni how did you lose the weight? I feel fine on the met sometimes a bit queasy but for the most part pretty good. Last night I took a second pill and that went okay so I think I just need to stay ont he dose for at least a week b4 upping it. I think i will stick with 2 pills until monday and then try going to 3.

Hello!

I've been on Met for about 6 weeks now. I am on the extended release (I take 2 pills once a day before bed), 1500mg total. This is the first week that I am not getting really sick, which is a relief. I was told that it can take up to 4 weeks (sometimes more), to adjust and not get sick. It got easier when I stopped eating breads, refined carbs. I've lost about 14 lbs since taking Met (though I am dieting too, so I can't give total credit to the pills). Still, I think it has helped.

2beautiful2bfat (love the name btw) - I did get pregnant - yeah!! I think the met brought my periods around & I think I started to ovulate as well - but I'm not sure, dh & I were in different countries during that time period. When we were finally together again I did clomid & got pregnant on the first cycle.

Most of the time for diagnosis the doctor will do some blood work (looking for elevated testosterone, elevated blood sugar, just generally out of whack hormones). Usually there is an ultrasound done as well (unfortunately internal) to look at the ovaries for cysts - but it is NOT necessary to have cysts to have the syndrome (some people say it is misnamed). Really though because it is a syndrome you only need to portray some of the symptoms to get the diagnosis - there is no absolute yes/no test to determine if someone has it.

Hi there.

I'm on 1500 mg of met, and I don't really know if it's helping my cycles because I'm also on bc. I do know, however, that it's just slightly easier for me to lose weight when I'm on the met. I don't hit as many plateaus, and the ones I do hit don't last as long.

I've never had real issues with side effects, though I think the all-of-a-sudden urge to use the loo is an effect of the met. It doesn't bother me too much, though.

I'm supposed to be taking met but it upsets my stomach very bad. I'm supposed to take one in the morning and one in the evening. I'm actually afraid to take the one in the morning, don't want accidents at work. :-(

I found out I had PCOS about 5 yrs ago. Unfortunatly due to my previous doctors misguidance I had to have a hysterectomy at 30 yrs. old. I've got a new doctor and he's put me on Metformin and a very low-carb diet. I've been on it for about a month and have lost about 16 lbs. Anybody have any advice because eating just 10 grams of carbs a day is killing me!

Oh chubbs I'm sorry about your mis-diagnosis :( I had a number of 'procedures' myself bcos of the same thing - misdiagnosis - it took 5 years and changing docs to finally work out it was PCOS. Hugs.

OK, you know that you can still lose weight quite well on a low GI diet and not just a low carb diet? Unless there is some reason that your doc has told you that you need to keep carbs that low?

I ate carbs less than 20 when I lost all my weight and I found it easy at the time but its not sustainable to me. I know many girls have had success with South Beach or other plans for Insulin Resistance.

I think it would be worth speaking to your doctor to see if that would be a possibility for you. I dont see (with my complete lack of a medical degree ;) ) why you would need to keep the carbs THAT low and be THAT miserable for optimal health.

I know that with the use of Metformin that Lactic Acidosis is a concern. I was told that if you don't drink alot of fluids it can cause this, hence my concern. I don't drink alot during the day. Does anyone know about this?

Wow, I thought I was doing well because I lost 1 lb since I started it, sounds like it's causing some of you to really drop some weight! Hopefully now that I can start walking again it will help me lose more/faster : )

I know that with the use of Metformin that Lactic Acidosis is a concern. I was told that if you don't drink alot of fluids it can cause this, hence my concern. I don't drink alot during the day. Does anyone know about this?

Nope, dont know anything about that. Sorry chickie! :)

I took it for about 6 months. No weight loss, but I had frequent headaches that were really causing me issues at work.

I know that with the use of Metformin that Lactic Acidosis is a concern. I was told that if you don't drink alot of fluids it can cause this, hence my concern. I don't drink alot during the day. Does anyone know about this?


My endocrinologist warned me about Lactic Acidosis, but she warned against the contrast dyes used in MRIs and other imaging devices, which can cause this. I didn't hear anything about drinking fluids.

I will bring this up at my next appointment and report back if no one else has.

The first time I went on Metformin I threw up every morning, and had acid diarreha for six months. After that, it slowed down and in 2 years, I lost 80 lbs. Then, I lost my insurance for eight months, and gained 30.

I started seeing a new endocronologist when I got my insurance back, and he put me back on the Metformin, but the symptoms were even worse than before. He ended up being a quack, having no idea how to treat a younger person with this problem, so he took me off of it, and put me on Depo Provera, where I consequently gained another 50 lbs, bled continuously for six months, and had one of my breasts swell up to half again as large as the other. Needless to say, I am not seeing him any more!

My new endo, however, said that the problem was that I needed the extended release, which someone else mentioned they are on. I haven't had a single GI problem on the ER.

I haven't lost much weight yet, only 20 lbs, and now I seem stuck, but I am pretty sure that is because I am only on 500x2 d instead of 1000x2 d like I should be. As soon as I see him, I am going to ask for the rest, because I am tolerating this remarkably well. If you are having problems, or if you had to stop taking it because of the problems, ask for the extended release, it may just fix it.

Oh, Lactic Acidosis is a build up of Lactic acid in the muscles. It can cause, at least, cramps, and at worst a heart-attack. Please drink lots of fluids, ladies.

2 years ago, I was 270 pounds. My doctor put me on metformin and I've been taking it ever since. I am now 234 pounds as of this morning. The higher the dose, the higher the weight loss effect per my doctor. I take 1000 mg twice daily. It took me about 3 months to adjust, and I attribute my weight loss to a low carb diet and the metformin. My doctor also let me see a nutritionist before starting this medication. I think that also really helped me understand how the drug works.

I'm at the point now where I want to stop taking it. I have since changed PCPs (relocation), and the PA I am seeing says if I get down to 170/180 I can probably stop taking it.

The main thing to avoid with this drug is alcohol consumption: you will destroy your liver if you drink and take metformin. I was told that if I must drink skip a dose. Sometimes I skip two doses if I'm drinking more heavily (i.e., more than 1-2 drinks). The doctor should do liver function tests prior to placing you on this drug and intermittently during your duration on metformin.

Two big side effects of metformin: diarrhea (which is not what makes you lose weight, by the way) and hyperfertility. Once your body adjusts, the diarrhea generally goes away. I only have it occasionally (but more often than I did off the metformin), maybe once a month. The hyperfertility is great if you want to get pregnant. I was ovulating twice a month early on. I have no man I want to impregnate me so obviously ovulating an extra time is kind of wasteful for me. The 8 extra eggs I lost when I first started bother me when I think about my future fertility. But I suppose the extra 40 pounds I've since lost would have also affected my future fertility, too.

You know, I was told flat-out by my new endo that some women with PCOS have to be on Metformin for the rest of their lives, not just to lose weight or get pregnant. If you are hyper-insulinanemic (too much insulin in the blood) sometimes Metformin is the only way to keep your pancreaus from working itself into extinction and pooping out to give you diabetes. :(

. The 8 extra eggs I lost when I first started bother me when I think about my future fertility. But I suppose the extra 40 pounds I've since lost would have also affected my future fertility, too.

How do you figure you lost 8 extra eggs due to the metformin? I don't understand what you are referring to. Do you release double the eggs on metformin or something?

My endo prescribed metformin for me to help lower insulin levels and, hopefully, help with weight loss. I stayed on it for six months before taking myself off of it--it made me puffy, bloated and sluggish. And I gained 30 lbs on it, despite no change in diet and maintaining my exercise routine.

I've heard that met has really helped some cysters, but it just wasn't for me. My endo offered to let me try byetta and one other drug that I forget the name of (it was a weight loss pill that she could only prescribe for 3 months at a time because of FDA regulations), but I told her I wanted to go it for awhile without meds. I had gotten down to 230 on my own before starting the met, so I think I can do it.
I must say, I feel loads better. It just wasn't a good medication for me.

Madison I just started taking it about 2 weeks ago myself. My doctor recommended that I start with half a pill for 7 days, then increase it slowly by half a pill every 7 days till i was up to 2 pills a day. I must be taken with food and I take one in the morning and one at lunch. It is supposed to help with insulin resistance as it is a pre-diabetic medication. While weightloss might be an effect of this from what I understood from my doc the weight won't start coming off until my insulin levels get back into normal range (<17 units) mine is currently at 21. I have been able to lower it about 3.5 points in a month so I have hope. Every once in a while I will go back to taking I pill for a week which seems to help with the icky feeling. Also staying away from sugar which is the main goal.

I have had a decreased appetite since being on the full dose of metformin for a couple of weeks now. I also am noticing more issues with heartburn when eating refined/processed carbs. The good news is that I have lost about 10 pounds in the month that I have been put on the metformin.

I have been stuggling with weight loss for over 8 years and nothing has worked. I gained weight quickly -- over 100lbs. I recently visited an obesity specialist who prescribed Metformin with Phentermine. After being on that for 30 days and NOT losing even 1 pound....I visited the gyno. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. He said that I could have spent $20K on weight loss pills and none would have worked. I am scheduled for a Laproscopic Hysterectomy next month. He said that once the 'bad hard drive' of the body is removed -- the metformin will work to the full potential and weight loss should happen quickly. As the POS is never fully something that goes away; removing JUST the uterus will help with the symptoms; weight gain/facial hair. I am 40, no kids, a step-mom so; this was a tough decision. However; with the 'hope' of having the old me back; thin and happy; I guess I am making the right decisions. He said with POS; carbs are like poison to my body -- carbs and sugar should be cut out with the Metformin for things to function correctly. He said that the Atkins or South Beach is the very best type of diet to take if Insulin Resistent, have POS and taking Metformin. I am just curious - if anyone else can comment that what the doctor is telling me is what they heard as well.....Thanks!

A hysterectomy is no guarentee that the PCOS will be resolved. Actually, there is no cure. The reason the hysto won't work is because the problem is an endocrine issue- not a reproductive one. I would definitely encourage you to inquire with your doctor as to why the hysto will resolve the issues.

Anyone else on this? I started last week with a does of 500 and am going to up it to 1000 today! I have been losing quite well but how does the met help?

I take 1000 mg of Metformin and have for several years. The Dr. hoped it would help me lose weight, but, it didn't. I am insulin resistant. I have however lost 65 pounds since last August by following a very low carb/high protein diet.

Good luck to you.

He said that I could have spent $20K on weight loss pills and none would have worked. I am scheduled for a Laproscopic Hysterectomy next month. He said that once the 'bad hard drive' of the body is removed -- the metformin will work to the full potential and weight loss should happen quickly.

Hi,
I just wanted to say that you might want to get a second opinion before having he surgery. Also, I would highly recommend also seeing an endocrinologist before going ahead with the surgery. I know that I had to wait 3-4 months to see an endocrinologist as a new patient, so that may be the case for you.

Many of the symptoms of PCOS are similar to that of Syndrom X/Metabolic Syndrome. If you have had a uterine ultrasound and have the "chain of pearls" cyst formations, then I would say that does support that you have PCOS. So, it might be true that the operation would be the best measure to take. However, I would really recommend seeing another gyno and most importantly seeing an Endocrinologist before having this surgery.

I would seriously advise consulting an endocrinologist before having the surgery. If there are other problems that necessitate having a hysterectomy, that's one thing, but if he is scheduling for a hysterectomy as a "cure" for PCOS, I would run the other way....as others have already written, PCOS is an endocrine problem and removing your reproductive organs won't fix it.

Please, see an endocrinologist.

I have been stuggling with weight loss for over 8 years and nothing has worked. I gained weight quickly -- over 100lbs. I recently visited an obesity specialist who prescribed Metformin with Phentermine. After being on that for 30 days and NOT losing even 1 pound....I visited the gyno. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. He said that I could have spent $20K on weight loss pills and none would have worked. I am scheduled for a Laproscopic Hysterectomy next month. He said that once the 'bad hard drive' of the body is removed -- the metformin will work to the full potential and weight loss should happen quickly. As the POS is never fully something that goes away; removing JUST the uterus will help with the symptoms; weight gain/facial hair. I am 40, no kids, a step-mom so; this was a tough decision. However; with the 'hope' of having the old me back; thin and happy; I guess I am making the right decisions. He said with POS; carbs are like poison to my body -- carbs and sugar should be cut out with the Metformin for things to function correctly. He said that the Atkins or South Beach is the very best type of diet to take if Insulin Resistent, have POS and taking Metformin. I am just curious - if anyone else can comment that what the doctor is telling me is what they heard as well.....Thanks!

I've been on Metformin for a couple months now and it really has done wonders for me. I definitely do NOT see it as a weight loss pill, but more, it makes it possible for me to lose weight the same way everyone else does.

However, my numbers aren't going down as as much as I'd like them to. I'll fluctuate 1-3 pounds in a week and usually end up back in my 199 area. I can definitely SEE the results (Stomach, arms and legs are all a bit smaller)...but I honestly wondering if my mind is just playing tricks on me sometimes. I'd really like the hard evidence of stepping on the scale and seeing the numbers go down. :/

I've been on Metformin for almost a year now. I take 500mg/once daily. I didn't have any of the side effects that some people have listed but my doctor did warn me about them potentially occurring. I haven't see any weight loss due to the Metformin which she mentioned was a potential positive side effect. I did initially notice that I became full faster. Biggest plus I've had is my periods are now regulated!!

I have been on metformin for just under a month and have not noticed much in the way of weight loss. I do feel fuller after taking it though. I am hoping that in conjunction with a healthier way of eating that it gives me the boost I am seeking to lose the extra weight.

CurlzQ and Kayethree
I know everyone is different so this may not apply to you. I was on metformin 500 mg for about 5 months and it had no effect on me as far as being able to lose weight (despite exercise and diet). I saw an endocrinologist in May who put me on 1000 mg in the am and 1000 mg in the pm (so 2000 mg a day) and within the first month I lost 10 pounds. I since have researched it and according to my research anyway, doses of less than 1000 a day are generally not too effective. You may want to suggest to your doctor going on an additional 500 mg in the pm. (I am not promoting it as a weight loss drug, but apparently as far as what it does in general 500mg in the am and 500 in the pm is generally considered to be the minimum dose for being effective--again, this is just based on what I have read up on).

Thanks JennyGirl27. I have an appointment coming up next week. I'll do some research and bring it up.

Well....I think I am sold. I have had my prescription filled and I can't seem to remember to take it. I didn't care for it because of the light headed feeling I would get and the gas. Sorry. :(

I too noticed that when I did take it and restricted my complex carbs, I would feel better. I would just like to be able to lose weight like other people but more importantly.....I want to save my pancreaus. did I spell that right.... :)

I know everyone is different so this may not apply to you. I was on metformin 500 mg for about 5 months and it had no effect on me as far as being able to lose weight (despite exercise and diet). I saw an endocrinologist in May who put me on 1000 mg in the am and 1000 mg in the pm (so 2000 mg a day) and within the first month I lost 10 pounds. I since have researched it and according to my research anyway, doses of less than 1000 a day are generally not too effective. You may want to suggest to your doctor going on an additional 500 mg in the pm. (I am not promoting it as a weight loss drug, but apparently as far as what it does in general 500mg in the am and 500 in the pm is generally considered to be the minimum dose for being effective--again, this is just based on what I have read up on).

Thanks. I am already on 1000mgs a day but my pcp told me I could increase it. I might just do that as I am not noticing anything even when I eat healthy and exercise. I dread another round of side effects though, LOL.

I've been getting increasingly frustrated with being on metformin. I literally have NO appetite (I didn't eat a lot before I went on the pills, so this is a problem) and I can literally only take about 5 or 6 bites of something before I just can't have anymore. I've also become really sensitive to food. There isn't a lot I can eat without becoming really nauseous.

Then there's the weight. Yeah, when I got it, I suddenly lost 11 pounds within a few weeks, but I think it was only because I was sick EVERY DAY. But now, when I'm working out regularly, trying to eat good (with what I can handle) I've been sticking very strong to 199. Once or twice I've gone down a pound, but it always, always goes back up.

I don't know what I should do at this point.

I didn't have any weight loss with it either. I actually stopped taking it, without even asking my Dr because I just couldn't stand it anymore. I went on to a basically no sugar diet, and ended up getting pregnant about a month after stopping it. We just barely lost the baby, but for my own belief I have started to really believe SUGAR is the biggest culprit of causing PCOS symptoms. Being cyst free just by cutting out sugar is a great feeling, and I know several others that have had the same success.
Anyhow, good luck to you, I really hate PCOS with a passion, but they say weight loss is the biggest "cure". :)