Metformin! tell me your experiences?

[azul]

Heyyy, everybody.

I'm on Metformin, because I have PCOS. I've been told it's going to regulate my insulin/sugar levels a lot, regulate my ovarian business, and since it's almost impossible to lose weight right now, it's going to help me lose weight during the third week.

I was wondering if any one of you had any experience with this drug for the same reasons I'm taking it for. Thank you!

[Rowlena]

I also am on metformin for PCOS and to help combat the potential weight gain effects of serquil. I lost nine pounds between July and September, i'm elated. Truth be told the only thing different I really did from normal was add the metformin and get my thyroid in check

[saveyoursanity]

I took metformin for a year due to PCOS, trying 500mg and 1000 mg in both immediate release and extended release formulations.

I fucking hated it. It made me constantly nauseated, gave me severe gastrointestinal problems that meant I basically couldn't leave the house, and no, I didn't lose any weight, unless it's because any food I ate stayed in my system for less than 2 hours at a time.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself not to take it. Seriously. However, my experience is pretty much the opposite of every other woman I've talked to about this, so.

[Guest Vapourware]

I recently started on metformin, and it gave me symptoms like nausea, fatigue, dizziness, night sweats and decreased concentration. The symptoms sound like hypoglycemia, which is a side effect of taking metformin, although it's an uncommon one but I have a tendency towards weird side effects. I remember whenever I woke up, I would have to load myself with sugar before I felt more human. So, now I'm off the metformin.

I think before you start metformin, you should do a glucose test so you can get a baseline measurement.

[Guest]

I've taken Metformin for a couple of years now. It works for me. I do get some GI issues sometimes and have to back down my dosage a little. Mostly, I take 1500mg ER every day.

Now, when I say it works, I don't mean that it caused me to lose a ton of weight. What I mean is, when I was on Abilify, I was steadily gaining weight. Not lots of weight like I did on Seroquel but a slow steady gain. Metformin stopped the gain. It wasn't any easier to lose weight but it did stop the gain. For me, that's a good thing. I would have loved to have been one of the folks that started on it and immediately started losing weight but that didn't happen.

If you take it, I'd suggest asking for the 500mg tablets. That's what I take and it makes it a lot easier to titrate as well as to reduce your dosage for a day or two if you find yourself having problems. Take your time titrating. It'll make a huge difference.

[azul]

Thank you for your help, guys! I know what to expect and maybe look out for. Right now it's just wreaking havoc on my intestines and I don't feel much different yet. I was told to start the diet and exercise in the third week. I heard it killed some peoples' appetites, too. So, like all meds, it reacts completely on an individual basis.

I'm currently taking 1700mg (2 850mg pills) a day, and in the third week I'm bumped up to 3 850mg pills a day which is like 2550mg. So... uh. That's a pretty high dose, I think? Yeah.

Either way, I'm gonna find out what it does to me and I'll report back with the intel.

[Lauren1083]

I also taking Metformin for PCOS - I take 1500mg extended release at bedtime. I feel like I lost more weight on it when I first started it and during that time I wasnt taking antidepressents. The only major side effects that I had were GI - nausea, diarrhea - but they are much resolved now. They only occur once in awhile. I have been taking the medication for about 12 years - stopped for a year or so because of an unrelated liver issue. Overall, I think it is a good medication to be used along with proper diet and exercise.

[bpladybug]

I started on it less than a year ago. I usually take 500 mgs with breakfast and 500 mgs with dinner.

It seems to have stopped the crazy AAP weight gain. It also makes me fill full in the evening

so I am less likely to snack. Sometimes that full filling is uncomfortable.

I also sometimes have bad gastro side effects which keep me chained to the toilet.

but not always

My doctor thinks I had PCOS which was never diagnosed despite all the ovarian cysts and other syndromes.

I am into menopause now and not sure how the PCOS affects me now. I use bio identical hormones.

I think Metformin is worth a try, especially if your blood sugar is high.

[notfred]

It has a lot going for it. Low cost, unlikely to cause hypoglycemia, it is effective, and most tolerate it well.

[WinglessFaery]

Im on it. Ive lost thirty pounds. I also dieted lol so it wasnt just metformin but I lost it alot faster thann ive experianced weight loss before and I think that.WAS the metformin.

Im also on it for pcos. I hadnt had a period on three years and my doc thought this would fixed it. it hasnt yet lol. ( im only 22 and want kids someday so thats duscouraging). But I havnt had problems with cysts.

[Savannah]

I took it to hopefully lose some weight from all the antipsychotics I take (prolixin, seroquel and geodon). It was a great experiment, but nothing happened. I didn't Lise a lb!

I took 1,000mg and he no side effects at all.