Metformin side effects!

[lacey85]

Hello everyone I am new to the board but I had enlarged ovaries and a infertility problem and bad pain with my periods. I was just told I had PCOS on June 2 when the doctor did surgery and went in and saw my ovaries hugh and drilled the ovaries and drained them as well. Now I have to take Metformin daily. I started out taking my 1000 mg 500 mg in morning and 500 mg in evening. I got so sick. I went back to the doctor today and doctor told me to cut my 500mg pills in half. Only tak 250 mg per day until my body can handle it then slowly add 250mg until I get to my 1000mg. I wanted to post this in case anyone else is having bad side effects. This might be something you want to do. Good luck!

[Rhedlace]

I am also taking Metformin. One of the things that I found that helped me so I didn't get so sick was to take the extended release RX. It helped me out a ton, until I got up to 2000mg a day (unfortunately they don't do the 1000mg in extended release) but I have been able to handle the Metformin a lot better. I still get sick every now and then but nothing like I did when I first started taking it, and having the mg upped every month. You may want to talk to your doctor about seeing if he will give you the RX in extended release form.

[lacey85]

I have thought about that, but I am going to try this slowly getting to 1000mg. He hasn't said anything yet about uping my dosage after that. But from what I understand from all the post is he will sooner or later.

[momto3kitties]

I had the same problem 3 weeks ago(Ive been on met 3 weeks now). In the beginning though, I had terrible nausea, stupid me took 1000mg of Met on en empty stomach and hours later I was violently vomiting, and stayed in the bathroom for hours. A funny thing happened though, I switched to a different generic brand of Metformin, and I dont have the nausea anymore....well, I wouldnt say its completely gone as I still get mild nausea if I take it with too light of a meal, but its nearly gone now.

Hope you're feeling better!

[lacey85]

What generic is it your taking. I contacted my doctor and he is now having me work my body into 1000mg. I have been taking 250 mg for to days now and I am adding 250mg tomorrow. Which is 500 mg then I am going to add in the other 250 once my side effects are ok. and keep doing this until I get to 1000mg

[lysserz522]

Ouch, good luck getting to 1000 mg, I have found the road leading to higher dosages rough as well. Right now I am at 850 mg but I will be taking another dose a day in two days. When I first started it before my surgery, I found that I had the worst upset stomach and a constant need for the bathroom for about a week. The sad part was that I do not have trouble using the bathroom without the medication, so once the medication raised my bathroom usage, I used the bathroom 5 to 6 times a day. Hard to do when you work in a school. Now on the second round of this lovely medication, I have found that Gas X works wonders if you take it right when you feel the stomach pain coming on. Also, take it with a full meal at a time of the day when you know that an hour from taking it you will have time for the bathroom. The stomach pains are much worse if you cannot make it to the bathroom when you first need to use it. Lastly, after much reading I found that if you lower your fat and sugar intake, or at least the meal that you take the medication with, your stomach does not hurt much as well. Good luck and I stick in there, you can make it! :)

[stonebear]

I had difficulties when I first started on Metformin. Usually a day or so after I changed the dosage I felt horrible, but after that I was fine. I have now been on it for a little over a month and things are looking up. I now take 4 pills a day(2 in the morning and 2 at night) and the only symptom I suffer from is an occasional bought of needing to run to the bathroom.

[lacey85]

Good news everyone! i am now at 500mg and no side effects. I am going to add another 250mg Friday! I hope I still get no side effects so I can add my last 250mg and be at 1000mg.

[MandiAltman]

Anybody want a helicopter? What's up with all the spam?? Anywho...I'm on 1500mg metformin (500mg 3x/day). My Dr. started me on it gradually...told me to take just one a day for a week, then 2 a day for a week and then 3 a day. I have to admit though, it's hard to remember to take 3 pills a day and I would love to get on the XR. A few times I stopped taking in all together and when I restrated the whole dose I had major GI side effects along with hemorrhoids...not pleasant!! BTW...Imodium did help me a little bit.

[xoashxo36]

Hi everyone! I've been on Metformin exactly one month today. I'm on 500mg 2x a day. I was extremely sick in the beginning but, it's getting better with time...

[r6bikerchick]

How exactly does Metformin cause/allow O? For some reason, I feel better about Met than Clomid, because in my head I think that Clomid acts directly on your ovaries and can dry up CM, but Met just "allows" ovaries to do their own thing by dealing with IR and androgens. Am I on track?

[dawndalebout]

I started taking Met. a few months back.. probably summer time.. For about a few weeks omg I couldnt take it.. I had to have the bathroom near by at ALL times.. good thing I'm a housewife because woah, I co uldnt handle being in public very long!.. it was so bad I just gave up. Plus my doctor said it was fine at the time because we were discussing surgery lap. for my cyst removal. .. but i went to her today and we talked more about it, since I'm having the surgery done Monday.. and after that for the next 4 months I'll be at my most fertile.. so I need to start back up on it.Oh please please please i dont want those symtoms again! BUT.. if that means it's helping my body and gives me better chances for concieving.. well then.. bring on the wipes cause I'll be sore! haha..

[Jomomma]

Yeah Metformin or Glucophage has some nasty side effects. I had problems with heartburn, regurgitation, and vomiting, but I was so desparate to lose weight I stuck with it. In the begining the side effects were bad and I could tell the medicine was working I had no appitite which was greast for me. After about 2 weeks the effects tapered off and my body got used to it. If I go a few days without taking it I go through all of that again and then get used to it. I always forget to take it.

[JLIZZIE02]

To anyone struggling with met - I would really suggest speaking with your RE about switching to Met ER (extended release). It made a HUGE difference for me with the s/e!!

[Sessma_09]

I was on met for about a year, it took me a month to get to 2000mg a day. I took 500mg at night for a week, then 500mg in the morning and 500mg at night on the second week, then 500 mg in the morning and 1000mg at the on the 3rd week, that 1000mg for the morning and night the 4th week. I was nausea and vomiting all the time while taking metformin. I just had to make sure that I ate a lot of food before I took it and sometimes that didn't work. My Dr. told me that there nothing that she could but but for me to just cut it in half but it would take longer to work. But he made me regular. But I stopped taking it a few months ago.

[jameswilliam]

The two most common drugs prescribed form for the PCOS, Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and metformin (diabetes drug). The purpose of these drugs is to help women in the ovulation, so that they can imagine. Both drugs can be used alone or in combination.

[Mrs.Chocolate]

I just started Met yesterday and I took both pills, on in the morning with food and then with a small snack before dinner. I felt very little nausea and Today I am feeling great. Now my doctor said my insulin lever was normal. The number she gave me was 15, is that okay or is that the high side or normal?

[reetblak]

Initially, however, I had terrible nausea, stupid me took 1,000 mg of Met on an empty stomach and hours later he was vomiting violently, and stayed in the bathroom hours. Something strange happened, however, I switched to another brand generic metformin and nausea I have no more. Well I wouldnot say its completely gone and I have yet mild nausea if I take too much of a light meal, but its almost gone.

[happydevas]

Side effects are rare and generally well-tolerated metformin. The most serious - and rare - side effect is lactic acidosis. In this six things to discuss with your doctor to find out the risk.

[arjunbarbosa]

The two drugs most commonly prescribed form of PCOS, Clomid and metformin.The aim of these substances is to help women ovulate, so they can imagine. Both substances can be used alone or in combination.
__________________
Cheap package holiday offers Lake Garda (http://www.goissimo.com/holidays/resort/country/italy/resort/lake-garda.aspx)

[Jessica520]

im on 1500; my stools are looser, but more of a problem is the constant gas and even more of a problem is the nausea - i feel like im pregnant (wishful thinking) and my gag reflex is so heightened...even walking over to the medicine cabinet to get my pills makes my gag reflex kick in....ugh.

[maitlandpcos]

I took Metformin for insulin resistance to to try to lose weight for over 7 months. I started w/500mg 2x daily for 1 month, went to 1,000mg 2x daily for 6 weeks and had to go back to 500mg 2x daily because my diarrhea was so severe I could not longer go to work and I did not lose weight from all the diarrhea. I went back on 500mg 2x daily for 7 months. I did NOT lose any weight at all and even went to a extremely low carb diet. My hair immediately started coming out even more in clumps when I immediately started Metformin in the beginning. About 2 hours after taking the pills it started to fall out all over the place in humongous rolls. After 7, almost 8 months on this medication I chose to end the meds. I lost NO weight, had tons of diarrhea, lost immense amounts of hair (now have a almost bald 7 to 8 inch wide patch right in the front of my bangs). I ONLY have low pituatary function in my bloods, NOTHING else is off with my bloods. I have NO cysts or anything else. I believe it is the low pituitary not PCOS that is my problem. My Dr. said they can't do anything about low pituitary levels. Sorry METFORMIN did not help me AT ALL.:mad: The picture is just the 1st month bald width but after 7 months total my bald patch is about 7 inches wide right in the front not down the part in the middle, now it is from left to right! I read this happens to alot of women. Now I take natural vitamin, CHOLEST OFF and I lost 5 lbs already!

[mitchaldavis]

Metformin: Side effects usually happen in the first week of treatment and are usually mild and will go away after you have taken the medicatioin for a while. Abdominal bloating, diarrhea, gas, loss of appetite, metallic or unpleasant taste, nausea, vomiting are some of the common side effects.

[beckiaz2010]

Hello, I put off having my pills start until Christmas day. I was so worried that I would feel sick with my family over on Christmas Eve. I am on day three and the only difference I am noticing is that I am nauseous and I have a pounding headache. Every now and then I get cramps.. I guess I will lose some weight considering I am nauseated. I am also really tired. I could sleep all day the past couple days if you let me. Anyone else have these issues?

[Gilly's Mama]

I am new to this site but have been finding out so much great info - thanks to all of you. My question - I have had diabetes for many years and long long ago, was given metformin to control sugar. It didn't work at all for me and I am now insulin dependant. I have just been diagnosed with PCOS - the doc talked a little about metformin, but since I take so many meds now, he wanted to do some more research before prescribing. (I have lupus, and thyroid conditions) What part of PCOS does the metformin help? I am way past child bearing years, so that is not an issue. Weight, large abdomen and a unfortunate tendancy to facial hair is. Does metformin affect those?:confused:

[eddieparker]

Metformin belongs to a group of drugs called the biguanides, the two linked guanidine ring. With the active ingredient metformin Isolation and identification. The compound belongs to a group of drugs called biguanides. Metformin is connected by two guanidine ring. Although it has been used to treat more than 30 years of operation more or less the exact mechanism remains a mystery, it is only recently that scientists have been able to diagnose the same diabetes. Metformin has a different number of glucose metabolism.