Re: Metformin treatment quantities and providing doctor with
From: Kath (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 05 May 2001 09:54:38 -0500
Whereabouts in UK are you from? Im from UK & my Endocrinologist is
considering putting me on Metformin within the next few months if clomid
doesn't work on its own to make me ovulate as Im ttc#1 at the moment.
Kath 27
ttc#1 clomid
>
>From: mizzmali@icqmail.com (Michelle)
>Subject: Re: Metformin treatment quantities and providing doctor with
information ?????
Thanks Jodi!
I have read a couple of books on PCOS but not that one. I did hear
about Metformin and wondered about it being suitable for me symptoms but
i haven't been IR tested and it's an up-hill struggle to get any
treatment in the UK. My doctor has been wonderful but i'm finding his
lack of PCOS knowledge slightly frustrating as it's impacting on me
finding some treatment for my symptoms. I showed him some of the
Metformin research and got him to read an extract from one of the PCOS
books but in 10 minute appointment slots he doesn't have the time.
I'm seeing him again in about two weeks and i wanted some clear
alternatives and possible treatment suggestions for my symptoms. I'm
not sure if i'm entirely right but i think i read somewhere about
Metformin helping regulate cycles and getting me ovulating more
regularly (amongst other benefits) which is partly why i thought it
might be worth mentioning to my doctor.I'm not trying to get pregnant
but my partner and myself wouldn't mind if it happened but i've been
without menses for 3 years and having problems far longer. The menses
problem is only part of my symptoms though but reading about Metformin
it could help with some of my other problems too.
Reading the research on Metformin, i did find studies where it had been
given to non-IR patients as well as IR patients. I'm not sure if i am
IR as i haven't been tested though.
Thank you for the information about quantities. It's good to hear not
everyone gets problems on Metformin. Thanks again for your help! Hope
everything goes well for you in the future!
Michelle
At Fri, 4 May 2001, jodi wrote:
>
>michelle-
>
>I would like to say that Zowie is mostly correct, but you should know
>that not all women have such horrible side effects on the Met. I had no
>side effects at all, except for 2 or 3 relatively minor cases of, umm,
>the trots, but i think that was in part because i pigged out on nuts. :)
>
>also, met has been shown to help women with PCOS even if they aren't
>insulin resistant - some feel that if you have signs of PCOS, you have
>IR, even if blood tests don't seem to show it. what's normal for the
>lab might not be normal for you.
>
>you can get lots of info on this all over the web, or pick up Sam
>Thatchers book PCOS: the hidden epidemic. it's the best primer out
>there, IMO.
>
>as for dosage... i think 1500 - 2500 mg a day is normal. i am on
>2000mg a day. so far, i am not seeing any miracle results, but i can
>keep hoping... i have only been on it since january and i just had my
>dosage upped.
>
>also, you do not need to be on BCPs if you are on met and don't want to
>get preg. i personally feel BCPs are a bad idea - you can't see if the
>met is working if your periods are induced!!! but. that's my hang up.
>if met does start giving you regular periods, and you don't want to be
>preg, you will have to use some form of birth control if you have sex...
>but it doesn't HAVE to be the pill.
>
>- jodi
>
>At Fri, 4 May 2001, Zowie wrote:
>>
>>Hi Michelle,
>>You may have the wrong impression about Metformin. It's not a
>>"treatment for PCOS". Metformin (like Actos and Avandia) are insulin
>>sensitizers---most commonly Rx for Diabetics. Because so many women
>>with PCOS are also IR (Insulin Resistant), these drugs are also common
>>for helping their insulin sensitivity. But again, they are NOT
>>treatments for PCOS; they are treatments for Insulin Resistance---which
>>you may or may NOT have. If BCPs have not worked to regulate your
>>periods, then other hormonal medications may be needed (such as
>>progesterone or provera). You'll need blood work to determine if you
>>are IR, and how your insulin/glucose levels are. The most common dosage
>>of Met is 1500 mg/day (the smallest dose is 500 mg--usually started at
>>least 2x/day). Althought Met is the most common IR medication for PCOS
>>women with IR, it comes with the worst and most often occuring side
>>effects (diarrhea and nausea in particular). I was on it myself for 2
>>months befor I ended up in the ER because my nausea was SO terrible
>>(along with the CONSTANT diarrhea [at least 4x/day]) that I couldn't see
>>straight, couldn't eat, couldn't drive---it had gotten so bad they gave
>>me an injection for the nausea and sent me home with tons of
>>suppositories (all of which didn't work). Anyhow---I'm on Avandia now,
>>which I am VERY happy to say has NO side effects for me. So if you are
>>IR, you'll need to talk to your Dr. about which medications are better
>>for you. The Met will cause you to have more ovulatory cycles, so if
>>you are concerned about pregnancy, you'll need BCPs. I hope this
>>information has helped you. Check the archives--there's TONS of posts
>>on this very topic.
>>
>>--
>>Good luck! -- Zowie :)
![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)