Glucaphage for weight loss?

[compucat]

hi... a poster on a newsgroup I subscribe to mentioned her doc gave her Glucaphage to lose weight. She did not indicate that she had a problem with blood sugars. Forgive my lack of knowledge, but does this sound right to you? Can a doctor merely prescribe this for weight loss alone? Thanks in advance for your replies.

[BaileyWS]

Um, no ... in the past few years glucophage has been prescribed to women with polycystic ovary syndrome as the research is showing that the syndrome is correlated to insulin resistance. So, take glucophage and the symptoms of PCOS can sometimes be relieved. One of the symptoms of PCOS is weight gain. Other symptoms include absent or irregular menstrual periods, hirsutism (unwanted hair growth), infertility, as well as others.

I went on glucophage for PCOS and experienced no weight loss. 6 months later I went off the medication and started Atkins ... that worked for me.

My guess is that the person who posted is PCOS and the meds were prescribed for that (one symptom being overweight).

[wbahn]

I suspect that Wendy is correct in why it was prescribed, but to answer your generic question, at least in the U.S., a physician can prescribe any medication for any purpose. If I remember correctly, this is called an 'off schedule' use or something like that. As the side effects of drugs become known, they aften get prescribed for the side effect. This is how a lot of drugs get accepted for other use. For instance, it's how Viagra came to be used for the purpose everyone knows about - that is NOT what it was developed and approved for. But the observed side-effects led to its being prescribed off-schedule.

[doreen T]

Glucophage (metformin) is often prescribed for Type 2 diabetics who are also obese. Other oral antihyperglycemics (drugs which will lower the blood sugar) work by stimulating the pancreas to pump out more insulin. Insulin will cause fat to be STORED, and also inhibits the burning of body fat for fuel. On the other hand, glucophage helps cells to be more sensitive to insulin; therefore less insulin is produced and released into the bloodstream. Less insulin means less fat is stored, and more body fat can be burned. For persons with a diagnosed insulin resistance problem, such as PCOS or diabetes .. then glucophage can indirectly help with weight loss.

Double-blind studies show no effect in non-diabetic, non-insulin resistant subjects. BaileyWS and WBahn are right .. it's likely this person experienced weight loss as an indirect effect of the glucophage, but it would have been prescribed for some other reason.

Doreen

[missbetsy]

Compucat,

Hi! From my own experiences with my endrocronologist prescribing Glucophage (for PCOS), he explained that the drug will not help someone if they continue to eat foods that spike insulin (many carbs). Therefore, the drug can only do so much to potentiate insulin. He said that a person had to control their sugar/carb intake when taking the drug in order to get a positive result. Therefore, the person who lost weight probably modified her diet substantially (which led to weight loss). However, the potential side-effects (severe gastrointestinal distress & renal acidosis) of the drug can be dangerous as well.

Betsy

[csfdavis]

My ex boyfriend was on glucophage for diabetes. He was fat the whole time.

[doreen T]

Originally posted by csfdavis
My ex boyfriend was on glucophage for diabetes. He was fat the whole time. Was he low-carbing and/or exercising?? As was pointed out in a previous post .. if a person continues to consume excess carbs, and/or does not exercise, then excess insulin will be produced .. and any benefit from the glucophage will be lost, unfortunately :(

Doreen

[wbahn]

I can't help but wonder.

If they prescibe this drug and then tell you that it won't be effective without restricting your carbs and exercising, how frequently have they told their patients to FIRST restrict their carbs and start exercising and THEN see if the drug is still needed?

[Akiwican]

I have had a problem with acne, facial hair and irregular periods for as long as I can remember. No one has suggested PCOS. I dont really want to take medication as the problems are not very severe. Luckily I did not have a problem getting pregnant.

I wonder if LCing will help improve my acne and decrease facial hair? Hard to believe it would.... I already got the early period as I have read is common on LC. Next one is due soon... roughly on time give or take a few days.

:wave: Akiwican

[Lisa N]

Believe it or not, some doctors actually DO prescribe Glucophage to help their patients loose weight. I've had to take it for diabetes and can say that it hasn't seemed to do much for helping the weight loss even though my doctor assured me that it would; I'm still loosing at a snail's pace. I've also heard of it being prescribed for PCOS since the syndrome does often involve hyperinsulinemia. I'm considering asking my doctor if I can discontinue the Glucophage as I've cut to a half dose and am still having my blood sugars be a bit low in the morning (80 or so). Amazing to say considering that when I started, my blood sugars were averaging 250 with my morning readings sometimes actually being higher than my bedtime readings (something referred to as the "dawn effect"). Fortunately, I haven't had any adverse affects from the drug other than my blood sugar sometimes being a bit on the low side, but why take something you don't need?

[JJHend]

Wow, I was so happy to find this post!!
Today my doc took me off of a diuertic (sp?) that was for symptoms of PCOS. He also took me off Avandia but doubled my dose of Glucophage. Since I haven't lost any weight yet I'm hoping this will help that out. I'm also hoping that the Glucophage will take over with the PCOS where the other drug left off. It was nice to see that at least Glucophage doesn't HINDER weight loss like I suspect the Avandia was.
Thanks for sharing your info!

[doreen T]

Originally posted by wbahn
I can't help but wonder.

If they prescibe this drug and then tell you that it won't be effective without restricting your carbs and exercising, how frequently have they told their patients to FIRST restrict their carbs and start exercising and THEN see if the drug is still needed? Bill, I'm not a dr ;) but ... the prescribing info (http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/metformi_ids.htm) that's posted at Rxlist.com states that glucophage is to be used when the Type 2 diabetic patient cannot achieve blood sugar control with diet and exercise alone. So it's my understanding that it's NOT prescribed until diet and exercise has been tried and is unsuccessful. Of course, we all know what is the current diet promoted by the ADA (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28390) for diabetics :rolleyes:.

Doreen

[wbahn]

Thanks for the info.

It sounds like its a series problem (series in the technical sense). You have to have BOTH in place in order to get results without the drugs - try dietary control first and try the RIGHT dietary control. Unless both are done, the drug is probably being prescribed more often than necessary.

But, the general impression I'm getting is that the medical community is slowing coming to grips with the negative impact of all the high carbs. Perhaps in a few more decades....

[razzle]

Originally posted by wbahn
I can't help but wonder.

... how frequently have they told their patients to FIRST restrict their carbs and start exercising and THEN see if the drug is still needed?

uh, bill...where the money in THAT?

My doc keeps handing me free SSRIs to aid in weight loss--I told him that I don't have out of control behaviors with eating, so they couldn't possibly help, but he keeps saying to try them. Docs hand out these things to women like they were the miracle cure for everything from a fat butt to a drunk husband. (xuse me, must go review my stock portfolio while I'm thinking of it ;) )

[wbahn]

Razzle: :lol: BTW: What's an SSRI :q:

[razzle]

bill, SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Prozac, Zoloft, Meredia, etc.

[wbahn]

Ah..... thanks. Never heard them described by an acronym before.

We are definitely a "give me a pill" society. And we definitely have a "give them a pill" medical community (with lots of exceptions on both counts). I wonder which is the cause and which is the effect? Moot point, since now it is a vicious circle.

Lots of commercials make me shake my head at the gullability of the American people (and I know that much is true for the rest of the world as well), but the ones that really sicken and sadden me are these commercials that do nothing but show someone having a beautiful time and they spout the name of some drug and tell you to ask your doctor if it's right for you. They don't even bother to tell you what malady this drug is supposed to help!

What kind of people have we become when they actually expect us to call up our doctor and say, "Hey, doc, I just heard about this great new pill called methoripmeoff. I have no idea what it does or what it's for, but do you think I could try some?"

[razzle]

I couldn't be more with you on this, bill! When I first saw the adverts for Claritin, I concluded the drug was something that made you able to ballroom dance...when apparently you had not had the skill before. Gee all that in a pill? Sign me up! It took me years to realize it was for allergies.

I also love/hate that ad for breast-enhancing cream...as if! I mean, if such stuff could work, would you actually USE it? (shudder) I kept thinking, hon, if it works, try rubbing some on your head instead--maybe some'll seep into your brain.

[doreen T]

Originally posted by razzle
I couldn't be more with you on this, bill! When I first saw the adverts for Claritin, I concluded the drug was something that made you able to ballroom dance...when apparently you had not had the skill before. Hmmm .. razzle, my girlfriends and I used to joke in a similar vein about the Tampax commercials .. If only we had those .. we'd instantly be able to swim, play tennis and ride a horse :daze: .. Which of course, none of us had those skills to start with.

Doreen

[Lisa N]

Gotta agree with all of you on those drug commercials. My dad is a retired doctor and absolutely HATES them! He's been on the receiving end of "hey, doc...can I try this?" when the patient has absolutely no idea what the drug is for, then they got angry when he told them it wasn't something they needed. Sad to say, many people have the idea that they haven't been "treated" until they leave the doctor's office with a prescription in hand and a bag full of drug samples. I happen to be on the other side of the spectrum and resist taking medications when at all possible and it drives my doc nuts when I sit there and ask "do I really need to take this? and what are the potential side effects/detriments of this drug?" and ask they he actually go look it up if he doesn't know (he's very quick to prescribe drugs for whatever ails you...stuck me on such a high dose of blood pressure medication I wound up sick and too dizzy to drive much less work). I'm gearing up for another battle of "I don't want to take Lipitor" when I go see him in a couple of weeks even though my triglycerides have taken a dive and my HDL has gone up. Total cholesterol went up and so did my LDL (although not by much) and according to my recent home test, the numbers haven't changed much although I'm hoping it's because my HDL has increased. This time I'm going to go in armed with information...won't he be so pleased? LOL :D

[BaileyWS]

Yes, you really have to be informed when you go to the doctor ... you need to ask those questions ... and if you don't understand the explanations, you need to be assertive enough to say, "I don't understand what you're saying, could you say that again?" and then "So what your saying is ..."

I find that generally doctors appreciate this kind of attitude ... the "I'm taking chage of my own health decisions" attitude. And, if my doctor doesn't like it ... I find another doctor.

I think we are too much into the take a pill and you'll be fine mentality -- I know now there are some medicines I will have to take forever (thyroid replacement), but if it can be accomplished without medication I think that's better.

We need to change our lifestyles to live healthily, not take more meds. I think it's the same way with spirituality -- people want a quick fix -- easy "pill" to take that will assure salvation and a good paycheck <G>

When living well (physicially as well as spiritually, emotionally, intellectually) requires living with intentionality, working at the things that are important to us, and enjoying the rewards.

OK .. I'm done preaching for now <G>

[razzle]

but such excellent preaching, bailey! No need for apology. Intentionality --great word and concept. :)

[imready]

I totally agree about the ads the pharm comps have out there. They do make you seem to beleive that if you pop a pill, life will be great.

Of course, this is not so, but please remember that drugs such as SSRIs really do help people who have a chemical imbalance. I know from experience--I have family members who are on the drug and it has helped them to be in a better place to deal with the situations they were having trouble with.

I think prescribing any drug without trying other things may not be in the best interest of the patient and I firmly believe that we need to be advocates for our own healthcare. Asking questions, reasearching on your own, questioning what a doctor is suggesting if it seems wrong to you...It's your life and health, so you need to be proactive. Just my two cents... :roll:

[BaileyWS]

Yes, theresa ... We need to remember that diseases like depression are indeed diseases and can be treated very effectivey with medication.

I only question the growing attitude that "a pill a day will keep the demons away." By demons I mean a figurative allusion to anything that created dis-ease in our lives.

Hyperactivity in kids, for instance, is often treated effectively with medications -- but sometimes can be managed well with changes in lifestyle and help in specific parenting skills. It's easier to reach for the prescription and not change our ways of living ... frequently the best treatment requires both the best in pharmacological help as well as intentional changes in behavior. The same is true for many disorders -- depression, the common cold, obesity.

Just my 2 cents ...