Re: Anyone else can't tolerate glucophage?
From: Char (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 24 Sep 2003 05:55:37 -0500 (CDT)
I had extreme fatigue and heart fluttering when I started glucophage.
The problem turned out to be that the dosage was too high for my body.
Once I lowered the dosage, everything was fine, and the glucophage
worked. I cut a 500 mg. pill in half with a pill cutter, making it 250
mg. and took that dosage at dinner time for 3 months before another
minor increase. I now take 1500 mg. a day, but it took me a year to
work up to that. Yes, it is possible for some people to be extremely
sensitive to the medication. Diet also plays a big factor. What you
eat and when you take the medication plays a big role if you are ultra
sensitive.
It's also possible you have lactic acidosis, but that is rare. Something
as simple as the above may be your only problem. Or it may not.
If that is not your issue, then there are other insulin sensitizing
medications as an alternate option. Maybe you can talk to your doctor
about trying something different.
Birth control pills can sometimes help out the hormone issues, but they
certainly do not get rid of the prime cause which is insulin resistance.
And no, diet alone, does not always work either. Diet and medication
and morning exercise combined usually does the trick.
I hope I was able to help you think of some alternative solutions.
At Tue, 23 Sep 2003, Donna wrote:
>
>Hi,
>I'm new to this forum and also new to PCOS. Mine is definitely the
>result of insulin resistance. I first began to identify problems about
>8 months ago. My cycle became very erratic. I have one child who is
>five and had no difficulty conceiving her, but a sibling had not been
>forthcoming. So, with these two concerns in mind, my ob/gyn took a look
>at my hormone levels which clearly pointed to PCOS.
>
>She recommended Glucophage and I began with 500mg., planning to switch
>to 1000 mg. after a week. I noticed some gastric side effects and my
>blood sugar definitely spiked up the first day (I saw floaters). I also
>noticed a heart arrythmia that worsened throughout the week rather than
>improved. Just a flutter, but becoming more frequent. My Ob/gyn didn't
>think it was associated and referred me back to my primary care
>physician. When I began the seconde daily dosage of Metfornin, I felt
>like I was 80 years old! I was lethargic, getting up planning my next
>nap, exhausted and very short of breath, with burning sensations in my
>muscles. I couldn't get to the top of our stairs without wanting to sit
>on the landing! I quit and within 24 hours felt energetic enough to get
>back on my treadmill. My Ob/gyn concluded that I am the one in a
>million that the glucophage can cause lactic acidosis in. Even though
>my liver and kidney panels were fine before I began the treatment.
>
>I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience with
>glucophage and if they've tried any other medications?
>
>Now, I had been 73 days without a period and when I did menstruate -- it
>was the period from h***! Now, it's been a month and I can't stop :( I'm
>scheduled for a D & C in the morning. I just don't think diet alone is
>going to turn my hormone levels around and the double birth control
>pills don't seem to make much difference. So, I'm thinking we're not
>going to find much change in my insulin levels even though I've lost
>some weight.
>
>Thanks,
>Donna
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