Metformin

[marineswife]

My doctor has been trying to get me to take Metformin for a year now. I can't lose weight and my periods are so irreg, I am terrified to take it because of the warnings on the package. I am desperate to lose weight I need to lose around 50 pounds and have been trying to lose very hard for about 4 months with no success. She said this medication will enable me to lose the weight and get my cycle somewhat normal. I also have anxiety so it makes it worse when I am nervous about taking the medication. Every weekend I say I am going to take it this weekend, and the weekend passes and I don't take it. I know some of you may think I am a nut job lol I guess Im looking for some advice as to when to take it, if someone needs to be around me when I take in case of any side effects. I also have asthma and that was a big warning in the :WARNING" section. Any advice would be great!

[sedivy_gal]

MarineWife ~ I've been taking Metformin for the last 3.5 years, and once I got the dose under control was able to reduce the amount of side effects through a Low Carb/Low Sugar Diet .. and also drop 30lbs in the last 6 months with diet and exercise.

I've noticed that without the Met I can either Maintain my weight with diet and exercise, with just dieting no exercising, however if I don't take the Met and don't diet and exercise, or diet and do not exercise I will gain! So taking the Met has defiantly helped me lose the weight.

I attended a Webinar awhile back and the Dr that was giving the webinar said the best time to take the Met was during your meal, so not before or after, but in between your actual meal. So I eat half my lunch and take my Met and then eat the other half. Once I started doing this I stopped experiencing the headaches I was getting after taking the Met.

Now with that said, everyone is different with taking Met, so of-course the s/e's are going to be different. But my belief is that they can be controlled, again with diet and exercise (also diet and exercise is known to control PCOS).

At first you will probably get an upset stomach, possibly some nausea or diarrhea from the dose, I would expect this to last for the first week or so of taking the Met. How much did your dr prescribe you? If he prescribed 1000 or 1500 I would suggest starting out with a lower dosage, for the first week take 500mg then work up to 1000mg and finally up to 1500mg... work up slowly this will help reduce the amount of s/e.

[sedivy_gal]

Also I would expect the s/e to worsen if you eat a high carb/high sugar diet, which is enough to make me stay away from the sugars.

[marineswife]

500 mg for the first week then 850 mg thereafter

I was going to start in the morning but was nervous to take it with noone home lol

[sedivy_gal]

The met is not going to cause any immediate reaction. If you experience any side effects its going to be within 1-2 hours after taking it. Like I said, take it with your breakfast, about half way through and try to stick with a low carb/low sugar diet... and you will be fine.

[marineswife]

the side effects are only the upset stomach correct>?

[sedivy_gal]

Diarrhea, Headache, Upset Stomach, are the most common side effects

[marineswife]

Was anyone else nervous about it, I have been fighting this for a whole year

[spi49]

Hey, isn't PCOS fun..anxiety about taking medication that you need to take:) Don't worry, I am a nut about taking medication..won't even take tylenol. But I took metformin for a year...and am back on it again after being off for 3 years. You will be fine I promise. Just start with one pill and after the first few hours you will know that everything is ok...then your good to go!! Well, if your anything like me. I took 3 pills a day for a year and I am still nervous about moving up to a second pill this time around. I do suggest taking it with a meal. I used to take it at night but this time it made me jittery in the morning so now I take first thing in the morning.

Good luck and don't worry, your not alone!!

[marineswife]

I took the meds last night, I started having terrible bleeding and realized it is time. I felt a bit jumpy but was all in all okay....

[MissRebellious]

Hello! I share your concerns, Marineswife! Though, I did eventually beat my fear and started taking the metformin. I've been so heavily dosed with medications for the last 4 years, that I mean, I was so paranoid that one more pill was going to kill me. Honestly, the Metformin is one of the best that I take, I love it. I had super irregular periods, I was gaining AND losing up to 50lbs in a month, it was nuts. I've been taking metformin for about a year now, and my body is still regulating everything, but it's so much better than it was.

I'll tell you what, the first bout of PMS, I felt sorry for everyone around me. And myself! The cramps.. I never understood why all the girls in high school were always complaining. I now get it. :p The metformin basically made me feel dehydrated at first, I drank so much water it was insane, and the doctor started me on 1000mg. I was energetic, and in a much better mood. (I suffer from clinical depression and severe anxiety disorder, so I mean a good mood means something!) I would wake up in the morning feeling sick and shaky.

Eventually the doctor raised my dosage and I now take 2500mg :o Nuts, I know! I figured out that you HAVE to take Metformin with food or it'll make you sick. After I had regulated with it, I wasn't so thirsty anymore, I'm not so jittery, but in an overall sense, I'm in a better mood almost constantly. Oh, and I've only been losing weight now, no fluctuations. Losing weight and your jeans getting too big is annoying.:mad: But why complain?

Don't be afraid of it, the doctor wants to help and the Metformin will help. I'm glad you finally caved and took it. It will def. change your life for the better. I know it's just a pill, but it really did change my life. Good luck!

[AFWife]

I started Met about 4weeks ago. I had horrible bloating, gas and nausea. I finally stopped taking the full dose and only took half in the morning and half at night. Then gradually worked up to my full dose. 1000mg. I too find that taking it in the middle of my meal helps. I also try and take it with a small glass of milk. I have been limiting my sugar intake. I ate a candy bar yesterday and had tumm troubles. So just a little bit of sweet stuff is all I can have and I try and eat it right after a meal. I find that I need to eat six small meals a day with some kind of protien included, or my blood sugar gets too low. I finally asked my Dr for a meter to check my sugars. I keep a record of each time I check my blood and what I have eaten and how long its been since I have eaten. While not diabetic it runs in my family really strong so I want to make sure that I am doing okay.
I found that losing weight is easier. I have really changed my eating habits, More veggies and fruit and healthy protiens and whole grains. but I have tried that before and never got anywhere. I also have Hypothyroidism and the Edno finally got my levels down to the right level. My regular Dr. wouldn't lower my levels even though I was telling her that I wasn't feeling good and still having trouble. In four weeks since starting the Met I have lost 6 lbs. If you are having trouble with the side effects from the Met try easing into. It helped me.

[marineswife]

Thanks everyone, last night I felt good all in and al land today I have energy I doubt its the medication because I just started it. So how much weight did everyone lose with this medication? Thanks for all of your stories it has been very helpful .

[MissRebellious]

I've lost about 50lbs since I started taking Metformin. It's a miracle! :) With a good diet and exercise, I'm sure it would be more. I was unable to lose anything (that didn't come back the next day) when I wasn't taking it :O

[JLIZZIE02]

I know how you feel about being nervous starting stuff for the first time. My experience was that once I got over the first 4-5 days it was a lot easier so stick with it. If you have lots of tummy issues or have a hard time getting up to 1500mg (thats the therapeutic recommended dosage for most everyone) I would ask your dr if you can be on Met ER (extended release). Its awesome comparatively for me. Every time I upped my dose though, I had a few days of tummy issues but if you get past that, your body will get used to it. Just watch the carbs and sugar. I avoid potatoes like the plague.