Re: PCOS-MEDICATION digest 541
From: =?iso-8859-2?q?Zalányi Sámuel ?= (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 18 Aug 2001 10:08:55 +0200
Hi Sandra,
PCOS and IR are not two different things but two sides of the same coin. So treating IR goes to the core of PCOS as well.
As of metformin: I know very few people gaining weight on it, on the contrary most people tend to loose. Unfortunately there is no way to predict who will be the loosers. Metformin also helps with the androgen excess (hair loss/growth, acne) but takes several months to show any effect.
BCPs are still being prescribed by some Drs, but they definitely deteriorate IR, so they are contraindicated in my opinion.
For your info
Sam (Ob/Gyn,RE)
> I'm getting so confused regarding how to treat all the problems with Pcos.
> I'm confused as to why some people gain so much weight on glucophage. Isn't
>
> the idea of to help your insulin work better? If so why would one gain
> wieght? My doctor suggested I go on it. But I'm scared to try it. I've
> been on a low carb diet ( along the lines of Dana Carpenters diet- on hold
> the toast.com) But in the ten months since I've had my baby I only lost
> about 30 lbs. Which I'm glad I've lost, but still need to lose at least 30
> more. I've been staying the same weight for at least 5 months now.
> I don't want to gain back what I've worked so hard to loose. Does the
> gluophage help with the other symptoms such as excess hair, loss of scalp
> hair, ovulation or do I need to go on other meds for that as well? Should I
>
> see a endriconolgist for my pcos or the IR. Does the spiro and Bc which I
> may need to take for the cosmetic syptoms make the IR or vice versa? I
> guess
> what I'm asking is from which direction do I attempt to treat these
> problems,
> from the IR prospective or the Pcos ? When I saw my old endricrinologist
> who
> is now a fertility specialist, he recommended I see a endricrinolgist who
> specializes in diabetes, when I asked the diabetes guy about putting me on
> bcp to slow down the hair growth, he didn't know what kind to use and
> suggested I see my other doctor. I'm trying to get this straight so when I
> go back to see these guys ( I'm currently weaning my baby) I want to know
> who to see and what to take? I was last treated for my pcos in 1994 when
> the IR relation was not kn own ( allthough In lay terms I tried to tell my
> doctor it was) He treated my pcos with spiro and bcp. I've since had three
>
> children and want to now get help. I'm rapidly loosing my scalp hair, I
> can't shave my legs etc. fast enough and much more. I' want to try the
> glucophage only if I indeed need to take it to avoid getting type ll
> diabetes which both my mother and sister have. As you may tell I need alot
>
> of advice and would greatly appreciate all you can help me with. Thanks to
> you all.
> Sandra
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