share your metformin experiences

For reference, I have PCOS, with my main symptoms being high LH, acne, and anovulation.

dr. b just prescribed me metformin to see if i can get my cycles back on track. i am starting with 500mg for a week, then up to 1000mg the next week, and 1500mg the third week and forward.

i know it has some nasty GI side effects at first. how long does it last?

for those of you that have taken it - did it help? did your cycle eventually regulate? how long did it take? i was told up to three months, but by then i am planning on starting femara/follistim and again.

i would like to lose some weight (although im not overweight - would just like to lose about 15lbs for myself). did it help with that? i know weight isnt the cause for my PCOS, but i figure it can't hurt to drop a few pounds considering i gained about 15lbs from my last 4 months of medicated cycles and hormones.

any other experiences with it would be greatly appreciated. im kinda scared of it!!
TIA!!

Message edited 3/6/2010 9:16:27 PM.

Re: share your metformin experiences

I also have PCOS and was prescribed metformin for a little less than 10 years... i do remember at first that it was bothering my stomach just a little but after 2 days or so i was fine...

it has not helped me with my cycles... the only thing that did that was BC... which obviously I am not on anymore...

it is however said to help with the weight loss... i did loose 30 lbs before my wedding with the help of everything.. nutritionist, metformin, cutting back etc... during my ivf cycle however i gained about 7 lbs back and 5 from post wedding... (im trying REALLY hard to bounce back to pre marriage weight but its harder than every especially with all the IVF/FET meds)

Having said all that, everyone reacts differently to meds... good luck!!!!

Re: share your metformin experiences

I've been taking it for about two months now. The first few days I also had a bit of stomach issues so I took it before bed, but then the RE recommended I take it with meals midday and I haven't had any issues since. So far I don't think it helped lose weight, however I haven't gained any. I'm not really overweight either just hoping for like 10-12 lbs down. Just make sure you take it with food.

Re: share your metformin experiences

Were you give a script for regular Metformin or Metformin xr (extended release)?

I was given the xr one and though I never ended up needing to take it, I found out that the xr is much better in terms of side effects!

Re: share your metformin experiences

I take 2000mg a day and I found that it affects me only when either I dont eat for an extended period of time OR I eat too much in one sitting.

Other than that, I am fine with it.

I was spotting every other week and since I started it that went away, however, my extremely long cycles have seemed to return.

Re: share your metformin experiences

I just started it and it doesnt bother my stomach at all..I am also wondering about the weight loss and also if my cycle will ever get shorter....

Re: share your metformin experiences

I'm on 750mg right now (started about a week and a half ago) and I've definitely had some GI issues. I don't have as much of an appetite as before. I've had to go to the bathroom with certain foods (bagels specifically) and have experienced some nausea. I read that you should limit carbs and sugars while on Metformin, which is REALLY hard for me, but I'm trying.

I've also had tingling in my hand on a couple of occasions.

Re: share your metformin experiences

well i did the first dose last night although it was only 1/3rd of what my dose will be in a few weeks... but i had NO side effects!! i took it a little while before bed with a granola bar. no stomach issues at all.
i did notice that when i was at the gym today my chest hurt a little and breathing felt different. at one point it hurt a little and was kinda scary but when i stopped thinking about it - it stopped bothering me. so maybe my sports bra was just too tight

anyway thanks for sharing your experiences.

i am wondering though if it helped anyone start ovulating again or shortened their cycles. i have read some stories about this but was wondering if anyone here could share it first hand. TIA!

Re: share your metformin experiences

Posted by FlowerWife

well i did the first dose last night although it was only 1/3rd of what my dose will be in a few weeks... but i had NO side effects!! i took it a little while before bed with a granola bar. no stomach issues at all.
i did notice that when i was at the gym today my chest hurt a little and breathing felt different. at one point it hurt a little and was kinda scary but when i stopped thinking about it - it stopped bothering me. so maybe my sports bra was just too tight

anyway thanks for sharing your experiences.

i am wondering though if it helped anyone start ovulating again or shortened their cycles. i have read some stories about this but was wondering if anyone here could share it first hand. TIA!

Re: share your metformin experiences

I took Met for PCOS. I could not have any carbs really or sugar. It gave me the runs (sorry TMI). But I think it's a miracle drug! Good luck!

Re: share your metformin experiences

Posted by MrsRivera

Posted by FlowerWife

well i did the first dose last night although it was only 1/3rd of what my dose will be in a few weeks... but i had NO side effects!! i took it a little while before bed with a granola bar. no stomach issues at all.
i did notice that when i was at the gym today my chest hurt a little and breathing felt different. at one point it hurt a little and was kinda scary but when i stopped thinking about it - it stopped bothering me. so maybe my sports bra was just too tight

anyway thanks for sharing your experiences.

i am wondering though if it helped anyone start ovulating again or shortened their cycles. i have read some stories about this but was wondering if anyone here could share it first hand. TIA!

Glad you seem to be starting out well!

I started taking Met about 2 years ago. I took it alone for 6 months and it never did anything to help my cycles or to help me O (I also have PCOS and was diagnosed as anovulatory).

After 6 months of giving the Met a shot on its own, I continued taking it but used Clomid/Ovidrel as well. I conceived my DD the 1st month I used it.

Fast-forward 11 months after I had my DD. I started having flu-like symptoms--vomiting, upset stomach, no appetite, but no chills and no fever. Pregnancy was the absolutely LAST thing on my radar, but lo and behold, I was able to conceive on my own.

I don't know if continuing the Met was the reason I was able to conceive naturally--but I'm sure it helped. I took it throughout my 1st pregnancy, and am continuing to take it through this pregnancy as well.

And here I thought I was enjoying the ONE benefit of having PCOS--not having to use birth control!

Message edited 3/8/2010 1:07:10 PM.

Re: share your metformin experiences

I forgot to say before: I had ZERO side effects w/ the Met. I started out taking 750, then went up to the full 1500 about 3 days later. I was expecting massively awful things to happen to me, but they never did. Although I *think* I may be in the minority there--it doesn't matter what I eat, drink, etc., it doesn't affect me.

I kinda wish it did, because maybe I wouldn't be so tempted to eat all the crap that I usually do

Re: share your metformin experiences

Posted by MrsRivera

I forgot to say before: I had ZERO side effects w/ the Met. I started out taking 750, then went up to the full 1500 about 3 days later. I was expecting massively awful things to happen to me, but they never did. Although I *think* I may be in the minority there--it doesn't matter what I eat, drink, etc., it doesn't affect me.

I kinda wish it did, because maybe I wouldn't be so tempted to eat all the crap that I usually do

Re: share your metformin experiences

Posted by FlowerWife

Posted by MrsRivera

I forgot to say before: I had ZERO side effects w/ the Met. I started out taking 750, then went up to the full 1500 about 3 days later. I was expecting massively awful things to happen to me, but they never did. Although I *think* I may be in the minority there--it doesn't matter what I eat, drink, etc., it doesn't affect me.

I kinda wish it did, because maybe I wouldn't be so tempted to eat all the crap that I usually do

so far on 500mg i havent had any noticeable side effects. but i am totally worried that when i up to 1000mg and ultimately 1500mg that all the side effects will catch up.

so far i feel pretty good though. im not sure if the met is doing anything yet (its only my third day of it and i know its supposed to take a while) but i do feel like my skin is getting a little better and i def wasnt too hungry at all today...