Metformin

jbal918

Backstory - So my RE took me off of Clomid and is putting me on Metformin. (My gyno had me on Clomid with no monitoring so I asked to see an RE.) The Clomid 50mg was working but he wants me to lose 40lbs before starting any other treatments. On top of PCOS, I have a kidney disease and all those meds (and wonderful genetics) had made me gain a lot of weight. I used to be a stick and actually underweight pre-puberty. Now I'm finding it insanely hard to lose the weight.

My question is, besides diet and exercise (I signed up for a M-F fitness challenge class), did anyone have weight loss with Metformin? Also, what side effects did you have? Google is all the bad and hardly any of the ok or good!

GoldenKeys

I don't have PCOS but I've heard that metformin makes it possible for some PCOS women to lose weight when nothing else worked.   It might not do it for you alone (diet exercise, yadda yadda) but at least you won't have your hormones fighting you every step of the way to weight loss.   Oh and it can disturb your tummy in the beginning, so some women 'automatically' lost weight at first just from not wanting to eat, lol...

jbal918

Thank you! The doctor actually just called and I'm starting tomorrow. I also joined the a challenge thing called The Max Challenge with my sister and I've seen it work for people! Not PCOS people but with the Metformin, I'm praying it works!

heincm

Hi. My RE put me on MetforminER because he thinks I am insulin resistant. I have been on it about a month, and accompanied with a low carb high protein diet I have lost 9 lbs. In the beginning I was sick to my stomach a lot, but now I have no issues and take 1500mg once a day.

jbal918

@heincm when do you think is the best time to take it? I'm starting it tomorrow!

yellingbanana

I have PCOS, and am on Metformin- have been since August. Prior to metformin, I was about 20 lbs more than my regular weight for about a year. Since starting metformin, I've lost about 10 lbs.. It curbs your appetite, which is nice because instead of feeling murderously hungry, now I just get kind of hungry. I haven't been working out, but will be as of Monday morning! Hoping to get rid of that last 10 lbs!
Also, take the metformin at bedtime, with a full glass of water.
Good luck! And it seems like you are on the right track!

jbal918

I took the Metformin this morning because I eventually have to go to 2 pills twice per day. I just ate dinner and now I'm sick to my stomach. I don't know it its that or coincidence!

SummerBrooke13

@MrsB627 I have been on metformin since the beginning of november. I do not have PCOS or sugar issues, but my OB put me on it to help with egg quality. I started with 1 pill a day for a week, then 2 pills a day for a week, then 3.
Now, this was hard for me because I am an EMT and work wacky shifts. Not only did that cause me to forget to take them, but on a regular day I'm lucky to eat twice. And it's usually not real meals.
So! When I went to see my RE I brought it up to him that it was difficult and he wrote a prescription for one extended release pill that I take at night with water and food. If I eat dinner late I take it then, or have a pb sandwich with it before bed. I love it because it's easy to remember, and I sleep through it if it's going to make my stomach upset.
Also as far as being sick, the buggest thing for me was to make sure you eat enough with the pills, and take the last one before bed if you can so you can sleep through most of the belly aches!

I would ask your RE about extended release, they're a lifesaver for me!

jbal918

Thanks @SummerBrooke13! I will look in to that! They have me one pill for one week, then one pill two times per day for week two. Starting week three and on its two pills a day, two times a day. That's a lot plus I can't swallow big pills and these are big! But I did get the first one down without any issues because I kept saying this is for a baby lol

SummerBrooke13

@MrsB627 Youre welcome! The extended release pills are kind of big also, but at least it's only one a day!! I don't have issues taking large pills though. Definitely not the largest pill I have ever had to take though! Worth a shot!

mrszoess

hi! I have lost 25lbs on metformin since August.
I am overweight (I don't like the word obese) and it gave me insane stomach issues but eventually they subside.

I have lupus w kidney issues and all of those numbers have been fantastic on the meds! good luck!

jbal918

@mrszoess That's great to hear! I have a kidney disease so that helps calm my nerves a bit with that too! Thank you!!

LizzyRB

I am starting Met on Monday. Doc is having me go 1 at dinner for two weeks, 1 at dinner and 1 at breakfast for two weeks and then 1 at breakfast and 2 at dinner until whenever. The stomach issues make me a little nervous after the stories I've read. I also read the horror stories of trying to drink wine (or anything) while on these. Yikes!

mrszoess

@LizzyRB take them at night if you work a job without a quickly accessible bathroom lol. it's not like uncontrollable but you'll have to go with urgency at first. good luck!

Emma61210

I've been on Metformin because my RE thinks I am insulin resistant since last October.  Definitely had an upset tummy and was in the bathroom a lot the first couple of weeks I took it but now it has zero physical affect on me.  I had a fasting lab done in December and all my bloodwork came back perfect so its working!! Actually have another fasting lab tomorrow, so praying for the same results! Good luck!!! Fingers crossed for you! 

jbal918

So I only had the stomach issues the first night. Sunday I start one pill twice a day. One in the morning and one at night. Then the following Sunday, two pills, two times a day. I'm praying that I don't have any side effects from that many a day!