Concerns about Metformin

[crazy4wen11]

This is only my first week on Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
I have been reading these discussions about all the side effects that Metformin has had on many people. I am experiencing extreme tiredness, to the point I cannot keep my eyes open. I am suppose to be taking 500mg twice a day, but have myself spliting one 500mg tablet taking them at seperate times. This has helped keep the Nausea away. Has anyone else experienced this and has it gone away?

[contempo1976]

Yes, I was very tired the whole first week of taking Metformin (same amount..500mg/twice per day). I was also very bloated. After that first week I was fine. My Dr. said to keep up with it because those side effects are supposed to go away once your body gets used to it.

I think you're doing the right thing taking half as much for now to ease your body into it. I would talk to your Dr. though if a couple weeks go by and nothing seems to be getting better.

[travellingPeg]

Contempo:

Sounds like we started the drug around the same time.

The fatigue might be your own reaction to the drug--I've had no side effects like that.

Definite nausea though, and I'm finding that it's reduced when I take the pill in the middle of the meal rather than at the beginning or end. Also seems that I get nauseous when my body needs a little bit of protein.

Best sweet snack I've found so far: half a slice of bread with half a tablespoon of peanut butter on it. Enough of a sweet to keep me happy, but not so much it puts me to sleep.

Good luck!

[steph]

The s/e you guys are talking about sound normal to me. Don't forget to take your B-12s!!! Eat healthy and Exercise. FYI-I take my Met w/ milk most of the time and it helps w/ the nausea. It also helps to take a few bites of whatever.....and then take a pill,take a few more bites and then take the other pill. Good Luck!

[mycherryhip]

i have felt so sick and tired but thankfully my appitite has gone down. the sick feeling has gone down but i am to go up to 3 500mg a day on tuesday and am worried how ill im going to be i have been sleeping during the day for an hour and still going to bed before 9 lets just hope it is for something. but my main concern is that the pain i get on my ovaries will not go away, some times it is so bad i fall to the floor untill it goes, it is like a sharp stabbing pain inside, does anyone else get this? also how many systs do u have i got 15 is this alot or quite normal? not realy sure on any of it so far but getting very clued up on it as the days go by.
marie xxx

[Missdowndazed]

I haven't felt any symptoms other than being extremely gassy and my left side has been hurting a bit. I don't know if it is a gas pain, or the cysts going away or that im ovulating. Has anyone else experienced pains in their sides and what is it from?

[mycherryhip]

yes i often get pains, the first time i had pains i was ovulating cos i went to the doc about them he said 'ur ovulating' and then that was it i was preg with pennie my first but i still feel them now but alot stronger and my gc said it is prob my systs and if it relly bad i shoud get med advice but im not sure wat it is any more but it is normal for me.
think about it tho u got things in ur body that should not be there so it is going to hurt some times but it is nicer to think ur ovulating if ur really worried about it go c ur doc
marie xxxxx :D

[Missdowndazed]

Thanks for the reply. I surely wish I would ovulate and be pregnant tomorrow. It has been 5 years since I have been trying, and nothing. It is something that I desporitely want to happen, knowing that there is a possibility now makes it a lil easier, but reading about all the miscarriages and such, I am worried.

[mycherryhip]

misscarages are my biggest fear but to look at it on a positive if u do get preg and miscarry (god forbid) at least then u know u can get preg which is a start. just try to find the silver lining on everything it is always there somewere!
marie xxxxx

[Missdowndazed]

Yeah, I fear that also. Hopefully I won't have to endure such pain of losing it, I pray every night for god to just let me get pregnant and have a healthy child and ahappy family. Hopefully he is listening.

[mycherryhip]

my prayers are with u also good luck xxxx

[DavinaRN]

I started met today 500mg once a day. Had bad nausea a few hours after taking medication. I took it with food, but didn't seem to help. I realize it peaks in 2-4 hours. Maybe I am worrying to much, but I really wish I could get everything under control. If I am taking met, does that mean I can come off the bcp, blood pressure med and cholesterol med :?:

[slong007]

DavinaRN,

Are you taking your Met in the evening? That may help with the s/e as you might be able to sleep through them.

As far as the bcp, blood pressure and cholesterol that will depend on how you respond to the Met. As I understand it you may want to continue on the bcp to help control the androgens/excess testosterone. Not knowing what's caused your high bp and cholesterol I can't say if you can go off of them or not. Certainly if they are weight related then you may be able too. Especially if the Met helps you lose weight. My suggestion is to get on a diet designed to help with all of the above. I follow South Beach and have had tremendous results. My bp was never an issue, but has lowered and my cholesterol was never bad, but has additionally lowered and my HDLs have even increased. Incorporating the appropriate diet with the Met can help with s/e as well. Since you have high bp and cholesterol then SB was designed for you. You have nothing to lose by trying it and you may find that it helps you in a lot of ways. We have a post on the diet board if you are interested or send me a pm with any questions.

[tammi]

hmm, I hope you feel better. Don't give up though. I started it five years ago and felt queezy in the beginning but that all went away. I'm up to 2,000 MG a day now and no side effects. It helped me lose 60 lbs in the beginning.

[Bluebee]

Your tired, cuz no matter how much you eat, your body is starving! You brain operates on glucose and glucose alone! If you are IR, your insulin is not helping glucose into the cells to be used as energy. Therefore, they float around in your blood until they are stored as fat!

Treat the root cause: Metabolic Syndrome not the symptom: PCOS! If you don't you will eventually become Diabetic. Maybe a long time from now, but a diabetic none the less.

Prior to the Avandamet, I was on Zoloft, cuz I thought I was depressed. I couldn't get off of the sofa. I had no idea how bad I felt until I started to feel better. Now I feel great!

It's the generic that will upset your GI tract. It's usually made up of molecules all the same size so they dump into your stomach causing upset. Any of the generics that leave alot of residue in the bottle are BAD. I have had some good luck with generics, but you never know what the pharmacy is going to dispense. I take the combo namebrand... Avandamet, it's metformin (1000 mg 2x/day and Avandia 4mg 2x/day). GSK uses various size molecules of the metformin in the product so that it releases into your stomach at different rates. Limiting the explosive GI behavior. You will probably have better luck with the ACTOS as a namebrand. It takes time!

KEEP THE COURSE!!!! It will get better! I've been on it for 2 years. I remember crying in the beginning. I lived on multigrain cheerios. Stay away from saturated fats and salads!

TO DATE:
Lost - 45 lbs (179 - 134)
Testosterone - from 106 to 42
Cholesterol - from 222 to 157
Triglycerides - from 132 to 54
HDL/LDL Ratio - from 4.7 to 3.3
Insulin - 23.4 to 7.6

I have limited new hirsuitism, regular cycles and I am not moody!

Make sure your doc treats the root cause.... Metabolic Syndrome... not the PCOS symptoms. If you correct the metabolic symdrome, it opens up the physiological reproductive pathways. Make sure your doc is testing the items listed above. They all go hand in hand. Not alot is understood about this disease, so the more you learn and take charge of your own healthcare, the better off you will be.

I was diagnosed in 1993 with PCOS, little was known and little treatment has been available prior to the last 5 years. I've had great results.

My doc is a clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and a Mensa (which means he's brilliant!).