Metformin/Glucophage

[mommy2boys]

Gracia_30, I was wondering what dosage you started out on Metformin and what dosage you are taking now? I have just started taking it and look forward to the results you mention in your other post combining it LC'ing. Thanks in aiding in my research! ~smiles~

Christy

[Gracia_30]

Hi there,

My doctor had started me off on 1000mg/day. I wanted more as I didn't think it was enough. When I went to see the RE, she uped my meds to 1500mg/day and I'm still on that.

I really have to stress that you should not get discouraged if at first you feel crappy. When I first took it, I had almost no side effects (except diarhea every once in a while) and then I stopped it, and started it up again and had HUGE side effects!!! So you have to find when is best for YOU to take it. Not neccessarily when they tell you to.

Hope this helps!

[mommy2boys]

Please tell me as much as you can about Metformin and weightloss, I have heard all positive remarks Metformin. I have been taking it since Monday, and I haven't had any side effects yet!! I didn't have any side effects with Clomid either... Am I weird or what? haha!

Christy

[Gracia_30]

I wouldn't call that weird... I'd call that extremely lucky!

All I know on Met is what I have experienced. It made me feel normal again. I absolutely love it. I don't know if this is actually true, but when I'm on met, I feel like it actually helps me lose weight if I do LC. I know it sounds weird.

[mommy2boys]

Josee, I think I spoke too soon!!! I've been having headaches, but I thought it was from the chocolate I had eaten (bad girl, I know, LOL), but now I'm thinking that it's from the Metformin. I asked my husband about it and he said that was a side effect of it and it dawned on me that I'm probably having headaches from my body adjusting to the Met. Anyway, I wanted to pass that along... I spoke too soon! heehee!

Oh, on a side note, I read somewhere online where combining Met with low-carbing, women can lose an average of 28 pounds. Have you had this experience? I am going to read more into it. I believe the doctor doing the studies on Metformin & PCOS is Dr. Glueck, in case you wanted to look him up...

Christy

[Gracia_30]

As they say, you're never too old to learn new things. Every day I learn something new, and I keep up my research on PCOS, Met and infertility.

Thanks for the tip, and I sure will look it up.

Had my procedure done today (dye inserted in uterus to see if it's blocked) and I have 2 things to say:

1- OWIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2- I'm not blocked. First good news I've had in a long while regarding my health down there.

So that's that. On to the next step, meeting my doctor, when ever that is....

[mommy2boys]

I wanted to ask for those who are annovulatory and on Glucophage/Metformin like me! I mean I NEVER have AF without Provera or BCPs. I wanted to know how long were you on Gluc/Met before you started showing signs of AF. I have been on it about 2 weeks and I am getting antsy about AF coming...

Thanks!

Christy

[Gracia_30]

I was on Glucophage for about 1 1/2 months and then I started my AF. I started LC right after that and almost had it every month.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress. When you're frustrated, have questions or just want to vent.... come here. We'll all be here for you!

[LilDaisy]

I was on Glucophage for exactly a month when I had my VERY first AF without Provera....I actually danced in the bathroom I was so excited....I have had some weight loss...but not alot. I am not so good at the LC...I'm a vegetarian so it is a little more complex for me...but I am going to do it!!! :daze:

[Tara44]

Ok....I must be the only insane person out here. I am struggling with my Glucophage. 1500...whenever I take it, I LIVE in the bathroom. I'm so upset because I stopped taking it even though I could tell it was making a difference in me. I just hate how it makes me feel sick.

You said you take it at different times, have you discovered certain times are better than others? Also, does certain foods trigger the bathroom trips more often than others?

How much weight have you lost while being on Met? How long have you been on met and how long have you been LCing?

[Debi Warne]

Hi Tara --

Glucophage can cause tummy upsets.

When do you take it? Throughout the day?

Whenever you take it take it with a meal -- I eat about half then take it, then finish eating -- also the insert with mine said to drink a full glass of water with it.

Ruth gave me the good pointers on taking it and it has really helped me. I do take the slow release of an evening and have to eat my supper about 6:00 or so and make sure I eat a good meal to keep from getting an upset stomach.

I hope this helps -- if it continues you may ask your doctor if you can lower the dosage and slowly work up by upping it each week or so to help you adjust -- I was able to do that and the nausea and "stuff" was less and more tolerable.

[Gracia_30]

I agree with Debi. You have to test yourself for a few days taking it right before your meal, then a few days after your meal, then a few days in the middle of your meal.

I take mine right after I'm done eating. I always drink lots of water (well mostly) and even when I was spending alot of time in the bathroom, I kept going cause my doctor told me it takes a little while for your body to get used to it.

As for certain foods triggering it: ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!

I found that if I eat something FULL of carbs, it usualy happens. Restaurant foods also do it to me. Lately I've been eating my cabbage soup and it's really working it's way through me. But that would do it weather I was on Met or not...

I wish I had a better answer for you, but as always, it's different for everyone. I can however tell you to try to hang in there. Try taking less of it for about one month, and when you see that everything's ok, then take another half for a month...etc.

Some doctors do it that way.

I was on LC seriously last year for 4 months and lost 20 lbs. Then I stopped everything (including met) and gained 15 lbs. I've started back again in January of this year and am now down 20lbs (well very close to it). I also started the Met again and am feeling so much better. I can really tell the difference. Every little bit helps.

[LilDaisy]

Tara...I am in total agreement with Gracia!!! It seems to me that when you eat higher carbs with the metformin/glucophage, it reeks havoc on your stomach. It has actually helped me to keep from cheating! I always take mine after the meal with ALOT of water. Water is the key (as I am sure you have read before) element to all this WOL!!! Keep trying and GOOD LUCK!!!

[hjackson]

But I'm trying to stick with it.
I just started Met yesterday. I was up for an hour or more last night feeling miserably ill. I thought if I moved, I might actually throw up, but I didn't. This afternoon, after work (I'm a substitute teacher), as I got closer to dinner time, the more ill I felt. My head was pounding much of the afternoon (and the fact that I messed my knee up some more yesterday and consequently hurt tons didn't help at all). Now I've got the trots. Can we say miserable boys and girls?

Still, when I weighed in today, I went from what had been very nearly a stall to having lost 2.5 pounds. I can't attribute it to the met (not yet, it's too soon for it to have been the met), but it still feels really good. And, with all the things I've heard about it, I'm eager to see what good it can/will do for me. The idea of my hormones leveling out is fantastic. And, as sick as I feel now, I understand that this, too, shall pass (eventually).

Aye me. I love the feeling of self-control this is developing within me. If I can do this, I can do anything. I think. Maybe I can even someday be the mother I want to be to my not-yet children (no, I'm not expecting, nor am I trying, or planning for anytime soon).

*shameless self promotion* I'd love feedback in my journal! The encouragement, support, and shared information is invaluable.

[Gracia_30]

Hang in there Heather.

You'll see that indeed this too shall pass, and it's well worth it. Try taking the met at different times (before during and after dinner) and see if it helps.

What ever you do, don't stop it. I know that it's hard but it will get better within a few weeks for sure then it'll be a thing of the past. Trust me...I've been there!!!

Ask away if you have any questions.

[CathyT]

Hi All. Last week was my first post. I mentioned then that I was on a weight loss stall after LC x 1 wk. My internist started me on met 2/7. I have since lost FOUR
unbelievable lbs. in one wk. Had one night of diarrhea, none since. I take mine just after finishing supper. I average drinking about 2L of water/day. I don't know if it's the met or the met allowing the LC WOL to finally work, like a catalyst or something. But, at 46 years old, I feel better than I have in years. Mentally and physically. Who knows, if I would have been on this drug 20 yrs. ago, maybe I could have had more children or not ended up diabetic. But I'm thankful that I requested a referral to my internist. Maybe I'm avoiding a heart attack or amputation down the road. I've lost a total of ten pounds now, most of which has been a big struggle. Best to all.

[Jiggy Puff]

I have been on Met for about 6 months and the weight loss is a nice steady flow. I used to lose only 1/2 pound a week before Met; now I average about 2 lbs a week.
For me that is great!

One word about the side effects though; they do not always get better.

I started on 750 mg XR Met twice a day (morning and night). I had horrible diarrhea every other day or so. I felt queasy all the time. I felt like this for 5 of the 6 months I was on this dose. I never got better.

So I decided to just take only the 750 mg XR once a day(at night).
Side effects have improved at this lower dose.
I have noticed that on the higher dose that I had
NO appetite. Now I just have a reduced one. I have to watch myself a little closer now that a have a little appetite back.

[tripletmom]

I used to take 1500 mg/day before I had kids... now I take 2550/day... doing ok so far :)

[msspillman]

I quit taking any meds. I find that working out and diet work better. Infact I was having normal periods and got pregnant after many complications in the fall on 2003 with just working out 1 hr 4 times a week. Not everyone is the same but I can not stand the meds!

[LKPNYC]

Curious about everyone's Metformin dosage. Does anyone know a maximum? I am starting to stall lately on my 2000 a day (1000 w/lunch, 1000 either w/dinner or before bed) and wonder if I should kick it up another 500. Also, anyone know the pros/cons of regular met vs XR?

As for upset tummy- I found that taking Metformin with milk REALLY helps.. doc says something about the protein in milk making it easier for the stomach to handle.