I'm supposed to start at 500mg a day, and ramp up to 1500. I've been taking it at 500 for 3 days now and have had no problem.
How long should I try each level for? Should I go up to 1000 yet? Or should I wait longer?

Ask your pharmacist. Seriously. Don't take any advice on here about your particular drug therapy. Even better, call your doctor.

I agree, your Pharmacist will most likely tell you to call your Dr if it isn't said on the Rx as to when you need to increase the dosage. So I would cut out the middle man and call your Doc.

Well, I'll tell you what my doctor and pharmacist told me, and it worked. Stay on each level for AT LEAST a week. I think I waited 2 weeks to move from 500 to 1,000, and then about 10 days to move from 1,000 to 1,500. I have had no problems except for the very first day of "ramping up" each time (a little bit of indigestion).

It'd be interesting to get a poll of all the women who've had horrible problems with metformin side effects, and to see how many of them increased their dosage soon in their treatment. Problem is that I don't think that point of taking it slow is emphasized enough by health care professionals (at least in my experience -- I did a lot of my own research on the drug before I started).

I am still trying to get to my prescribed dosage. I was prescribed Metformin 2000mg on Sept. 3. He said to start slowly, so I started with 500mg, and some of you will remember my posts of horrible side effects. I increased to 1000mg a week later and STILL I can not add more just yet. I have spoken to my doc and he is aware and wants me to try to add another 500mg soon. I agree with checking with your doctor. My hesitation is the gastrointestional side effects but I always had a sensitive tummy !
Suzy

I was never informed about starting slowly. I was just told 500mg twice a day. I wish I would have started off slowly but I just took it by the directions on the bottle.

I had the worst time when I started off. Bad stomach, felt sick if I ate, felt sick if I didn't eat, felt sick I ate too much or too little.

I wish I would have "ramped up." It probably would have helped me out ALOT