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View Full Version : Metformin, Yasmine, and Spironolactone... side-effects?


Krista_Hotsauce
10-30-2007, 10:11 AM
Hello everyone. I'm a newbie here. About two years ago I began to go to a dermatologist who put me on Doryx (like a doxycycline). That cleared up the acne, but I always had to take those pills to keep it away. After a year, the dermatologist and my gynecologist both recommended that I see an endocrinologist. I am overweight and was exercising 3-5 times a week in addition to watching my diet and didn't lost any weight. So I took their advice and went and found an endo. The first endo I went to saw me for 5 minutes and gave me an rx for a crapload of blood work, urine work, and ultrasounds. After that, I had made 6 different appointments for a follow up with her and she kept cancelling my appointments. I found a different endo who I love. She's very attentive and listens and answers my questions. Her nurses I have less faith in.

Here's my situation. After examining my results, she had me go get more testosterone level blood work done. So she started me on the metformin. She told me to work up to taking two 500mg pills twice a day. It took me almost three months to work up to that because of the diarrhea, but I did it and I lost 6 pounds. After the three months, she had me come in for another follow up. In addition to the metformin, she put me on spironolactone (one 50mg pill, 2x a day) and yasmin 28 (just a daily birth control.) It's been almost 6 weeks on all of these medications. Quite frankly I'm feeling rather off.

Where to start with my changes... I understand that these are all hormones and it'll effect how you feel and your mood and all of that. In addition to that, only with the addition of the other two medications have I been experiencing acid reflux and indigestion almost every time I eat. I don't know what brings it on or how I can prevent it. I've been taking Tums rather often and I fear it's too often. It can't be good to live off of Tums. Regardless, my love of food is pretty much ruined now. I eat a fraction of what I used to (yes, that's good for the weight loss which is now 10 lbs). I just hardly have an appetite. I feel lightheaded far too often. I'm just tired of feeling like crap. I know it takes a while to get adjusted to the medications, but how long should I be waiting? And on top of that, my acne really isn't any better, but I know that'll probably take 3-6 months before I really see an improvement.

Regardless, I called my endo and talked to a nurse there and she said that she thinks that my electrolytes are off and she wants more bloodwork done. Is it that simple?

And on a completely different topic, my dreams are crazy and have been for the past few weeks. Has anyone else noticed this? I've always been a rather vivid dreamer, but recently my dreams have become violent. I've had slasher dreams (where people were trying to slash me and were slashing other people)... dreams where I stab people through the heart... beat them over the head mercilessly with an easel (the last two I just had last night.) I'm not sure where this is coming from, but prior to this medication, I NEVER dreamt like this. I'm not scared in these dreams or anything, but I wake up kind of weirded out since this is out of the ordinary for me. Any insight?

I've never really talked to anyone else who has this... Any and all help would be most appreciated. Thanks a lot!

-Krista

sweetsunshine72
11-01-2007, 02:30 PM
Well, first of all, it sounds like you may have low blood sugar. That can happen with Metformin - not because it pulls your blood sugar down itself, but because it makes you more sensitive to insulin, so you "use up" the extra insulin "floating" around in your system. If you are not eating right because of the nausea, that could very well be part of what's happening.

Another part is you could be deficient in B12. Met can interrupt the absorption of B12 in your intestinal tract, so a good B12 supplement would be a good idea - I take 1,000 mcg/day.

If the hormone pills are giving you acid reflux, you might want to take them with a larger meal and take them right before you eat. That way, there's more food to settle them down. One natural, herbal trick for dealing with heartburn is to take a glass of water, stir in a tablespoon of vinegar (organic apple cider is best, but whatever you have), and drink it right before eating. That "tricks" the body into "realizing" it has enough acid in your stomach already, so it doesn't produce as much.

As for the dreams - I have no idea. It could be a result of low blood sugar, hormone fluxuations, anxiety, or who knows what! See if it tones down as you deal with the other symptoms.

Oh, and check out the FAQ's sticky at the top of the General Discussion Board. It has some great info about Insulin Resistance, PCOS, and what to do about them.

Good luck, and I hope you are feeling better, soon!!! (((HUG)))

slightly
11-01-2007, 02:38 PM
Welcome to the boards Krista! Sounds like sweetsunshine has covered the bases, I don't have any real input, just wanted to say Hi and its good to have you here! I hope you get to feeling better.

Oh wait, I'll say that you need to make sure you are drinking lots of water, you may have noticed the spiro making you go to the bathroom (#1) a lot. It is also a diuretic and will have that effect, and if you don't drink lots of water you can get dehydrated.

Also, I have acid reflux too, bad enough to make me take an over the counter prilosec everyday, and if i don't take it - i know by about 10am. So, you might give that a try, if nothing else than to just get some relief. I'd still talk to the doc about it though, so you can "fix" it if possible.