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 : )

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.

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.

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.