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  #1   ^
Old Sun, Jun-15-03, 17:01
gomnwild's Avatar
gomnwild gomnwild is offline
New Member
Posts: 7
 
Plan: Zone
Stats: 266/258/180 Female 5' 7"
BF:
Progress: 9%
Location: Duluth, Minnesota
Default A Metformin Question ...

Looks like lots of nice people in the forum and on this board! I have a newbie question ...

Last week, my Doctor prescribed Metformin for me as I have PCOS and want to start trying to "get a bun in the oven" this fall. I have been reading up online about it. I see many people complain about stomach trouble and diarrhea. Most things I have read say that the side effects diminish over time. I am wondering how severe they are in the beginning? I was planning to start the pills this week ... but we are going on vacation July 1 and I don't want to spend most my vacation in the bathroom! Part of what I read it the side effects can be worse if you eat more carbs ... which is kinda likely on vacation! I'm gonna try to keep the carbs down, but it is vacation!

Secondly, on my bottle of Metformin it states not to drink alcohol while on the drug. Well, our vacation is in Las Vegas (the happiest place on earth) and not to sound like a lush but I do plan on spending time laying by the pool sipping on slushy drinks and drinking my fair share of "free" drinks in the casino! I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge of this? I am wondering if that could apply more toward people who take it for diabetes? I figure I'll call my doctor prior to our vacation ... but this seems like a knowledgeable bunch!

Thanks!!

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  #2   ^
Old Mon, Jun-16-03, 17:01
dhooghe dhooghe is offline
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Posts: 9
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 165/165/130 Female 5'3"
BF:
Progress: 0%
Location: Kansas
Default

Well I have been taking Metformin for about four months now. I did have stomach growling alot but I wasn't hungry..it just growled. It was kind of wierd, but not painful or anything. I did have diahrrea for the first two weeks. After that my body got use to that, but every once in a while I will forgot to take my pills for a couple day and then I start taking them and get diahrrea back for about three days. But I have mainly notice it coming on about an hour after I eat breakfast and lunch. In the evening I don't. Sorry I am being so detailed but I figured you asked so I;d tell.HAHA The drinking thing...I noticed I do get drunk faster, so if you are gonna be in the sun and drinking I'd be careful. I use to be able to drink quite of few drinks but now I can't drink as mcuh..Of course these are all my experiences..they may not effect you as much. Sorry for tlaking your ear off.
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  #3   ^
Old Mon, Jun-16-03, 20:30
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willsmom7 willsmom7 is offline
New Member
Posts: 19
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 218.5/207/167 Female 63 inches
BF:
Progress: 22%
Location: Northern California
Default

Personally, I would wait to take them after your vacation. When I was on them, I had diarrhea pretty much every morning. Not fun.

As far as the alcohol, that is because met can be damaging to your liver, as obviously too much alcohol can be. Therefore, to keep your liver function good, you should avoid the sauce!!

Have fun on your vacation!!
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  #4   ^
Old Tue, Jun-17-03, 10:25
DramaDame DramaDame is offline
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Posts: 246
 
Plan: Schwarzbein
Stats: 201/186/135
BF:
Progress: 23%
Location: Washington State
Default

I have been on the met/glucophage XR for amost a year...I did have some trouble when I first started taking it...not fun but, I gutted it out...however, a few things gave me problems...at the time my doctor didn't mention anything about low carbs being better so what a fool I was...lettuce, chips, lots of fruit, anything "heavy" or really sugary desserty type item....so if it was me...I would wait...also what is your dosage? If it low you might not have any issues...many people who take lower dosages don't notice it...as to the drinking, I am clueless--I can't stand the taste of most alcohol so I just avoid it-- sorry I can't help you there...but, the liver issue is a big thing...you will want to be tested every quarter anyway to see how your liver is functioning...go on your trip...have fun and then come home and face the medicine

welcome to the board!


DramaDame
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  #5   ^
Old Tue, Jun-17-03, 16:37
gomnwild's Avatar
gomnwild gomnwild is offline
New Member
Posts: 7
 
Plan: Zone
Stats: 266/258/180 Female 5' 7"
BF:
Progress: 9%
Location: Duluth, Minnesota
Default

Thanks for the help all! My dosage is 500 mg three times a day ... I have no clue if that is high or low. Judging by what you all say, it may be more time in the bathroom than I'd like initially. I think rather than risk it, I'll wait 'til I get back. I hate to be sick on vacation - cuts down my gambling time!

Kris
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  #6   ^
Old Wed, Jun-18-03, 16:01
frannytop frannytop is offline
New Member
Posts: 3
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 198/158/140 Female 5'5 inches
BF:37%/28%/20%
Progress: 69%
Location: Canada
Default

Wow, that's kind of a high dosage to start out with.
There is nothing wrong with taking it slowly at first.
I would start out with one pill a day for the first week, and work your way up. Hope this helps.
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  #7   ^
Old Wed, Jun-18-03, 20:20
dhooghe dhooghe is offline
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Posts: 9
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 165/165/130 Female 5'3"
BF:
Progress: 0%
Location: Kansas
Default

Yes, I agree with working your way up. The first two weeks I took one pill then went to two for another month then now I am at three a day. Plus working your way your body may not go through such a shock I guess you'd say. My diahrrea had stopped after my first two weeks.
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  #8   ^
Old Sat, Jul-12-03, 19:34
spch spch is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 30
 
Plan: modified Atkins/Sugar Busters
Stats: 198.5/185/130
BF:
Progress: 20%
Location: Florida USA
Default

I started out one pill a day for a week, then two pills and then the third week i was on 3 pills a day in the same dosage (500mg of glucophange XR). I had diarrhea after every meal. I also needed less alcohol to make me tipsy. It did nothing for my infertility after 3 months so we are going to IUI.
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  #9   ^
Old Mon, Jul-14-03, 08:55
frannytop frannytop is offline
New Member
Posts: 3
 
Plan: CAD
Stats: 198/158/140 Female 5'5 inches
BF:37%/28%/20%
Progress: 69%
Location: Canada
Default

In no way am I a doctor, or have any professional medical experience, but I have done alot of research on this, so this is my opinion from what you just wrote spch.
1. I think you upped your dosage way to fast. Some people will only up a half a pill every other week, and their tolerance to Met is much improved. Also, following a low carb diet is a must, as all the carbs and sugars will work against you. I found that as soon as I started to slip up, my stomach just went crazy with the Met.
2. Metformin is NOT an infertility drug. It is a tool to regulate Insulin. Sometimes it will help to kick start your AF, and some not all patients on Met will find that losing weight is a welcome side effect. All of this combined may help in conceiving a child, but a true test to see if Met is working for you would be in your Insulin bloodwork.
3. 3 months is probably not enough time to give Met a chance to work for you. I have seen some women on it for over a year before it started to regulate all their levels.
If your doctor thinks that going off Met is right for you, then great.
Just wanted to give you a heads up. There is alot of research available online, I suggest maybe doing some research on your own. I find that doctors still don't know alot about this disease, I am still more informed than any of my current doctors. (I live in a very small town). If you want any help or advice, let me know!
Thanks for listening,
Franny
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  #10   ^
Old Mon, Jul-14-03, 18:42
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Hope1 Hope1 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 332
 
Plan: self-created low carb
Stats: 340/307/150 Female 5ft 7in
BF:
Progress: 17%
Location: Newmarket, Ontario
Default just a suggestion

Hi, gomnwild. I agree with the others. I wouldn't start new meds before a holiday. You wouldn't want anything to get in the way of this amazing spree you're planning However when you come home you might want to pick up a book my sister recommended to me. It's called PCOS Diet Book by Colette Harris with Theresa Cheung. It is a nutritional approach to dealing with pcos symptoms and some say it can help boost fertility. This book is loaded with information. I can't say if it works or not because I had a hysterectomy three years ago but I think it answers a lot of questions. If you'd like more titles try amazon.com. Good luck and have a great time on holiday. Hope1
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