Anyone have PCOS on here that is taking meds for it?

danieleandwayne · December 2012

I have a friend of a friend who is on Metformin-- a drug I personally and professionally think is atrocious and to be avoided whenever possible-- and I know some folks who have PCOS get treated with other modalities.

She is done having children, so fertility isn't an issue. And I just thought I remembered other treatment modalities for it. Her RE is prescribing it for her and that also makes me professionally uncomfortable. I would think an endocrinologist would be better suited to handle a non-fertility PCOS drug regimen.

lilblt19 · December 2012

I have PCOS and was taking Metformin up until my 1st tri. I don't know about the other treatment modalities but I'm curious as to why you think it should be avoided? And now I'm also curious to the other treatments too.

danieleandwayne · December 2012

A couple reasons, actually. Metformin is wretched on the liver. It also is part of the first line of defense for insulin-- if you use it purely for pre-diabetes/PCOS treatment (my understanding in using it for PCOS treatment is because the PCOS is caused by the body's poor use of insulin, like pre-diabetes), then you risk not being able to use it if you develop diabetes, which means you will end up on insulin sooner.

I also did research when I was in school on alternatives to Metformin-- like Cinnamon. According to a number of studies, 1g of cinnamon a day did a better job than Metformin at helping unlock the body's cells to allow glucose in (insulin's job). And it has no side effects, as well as also being great at reducing cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

Metformin also messes with one's metabolism. We had a doctor come up from Boston to give a talk about how Metformin is one of those drugs used to treat diabetes that actually contributes to weight gain which then makes the diabetes worse.

Metformin makes a LOT of money for the drug companies and those companies have a powerful lobby and the FDA in their pockets.

That's just my (one) professional opinion and I'm not a diabetes specialist. Just here in Maine, we have a LOT of diabetes and a lot of people on Metformin and we handle a lot of poorly controlled diabetics in our ICU...

10-4LilBuddy · December 2012

TTC>35 lurker chiming in... I was taking Metformin but was taken off of it because of the way my liver functions (bloodwork) went off-whack in just one month. My endocrinologist says that he always has to try it, but that he doesn't like it that much. I manage my glucose intolerance with diet now. My RE defers to him for PCOS because she considers him the expert.

Abeille · December 2012

I'm on met through the end of 1st and was while ttc. I have bloodwork to check liver function while I am taking it. MY OB/Gyn doesn't see it as a long term treatment for PCOS but just to help with fertility. I have no desire to continue taking it after this pregnancy.

That being said, PCOS can manifest itself so differently in each individual and you really can't generalize treatment plans. Some with PCOS do go to endocrinologists, so that's a possibility. The website soulcysters.com is also a great resource for your friend.

danieleandwayne · December 2012

Abeille:
That being said, PCOS can manifest itself so differently in each individual and you really can't generalize treatment plans. Some with PCOS do go to endocrinologists, so that's a possibility. The website soulcysters.com is also a great resource for your friend.

Totally get that PCOS is different and you can't generalize. That's why I was wondering what others' doctors' rationales for using metformin was-- because it's a horrible drug and can't be long term for the majority of people.

I read all sorts of new studies about drugs like metformin all the time, but since I'm not in the women's health or fertility specialties, I never read up on metformin for PCOS until recently.

danuli8 · December 2012

Don't have PCOS, but just wanted to say this is a really interesting discussion. Daniele, thanks for that tidbit about cinnamon! I knew it was good for you, but your statistic is a real eye-opener.

soaringflutes · December 2012

I take Metformin for insulin resistance and I'm doing well, and everything about my pregnancy is medically fine. In fact, if I developed gestational diabetes, my doctor said it would be treated with Metformin.

Lots of medications have side effects and aren't all good on the body. Think about what cancer patients have to go through. I choose to make an educated decision based on what my health care providers recommend. In fact, before getting pregnant, I went through the medications I was on with my doctor and discussed all the risks. I had to get off of some of them, and was allowed to keep others. I think when making medication decisions, it's best to look at what might happen if it's not taken. That's not to say that there aren't alternatives. I have heard about the blood sugar lowering effect of cinnamon as well, and also know that if used carelessly, it can cause the blood sugar to drop too low, just like a medication.

My mother took Metformin later in life, as she was diagnosed with diabetes. After a short time of taking it, she was able to get off of it and has not had a problem since. In fact, because she eats better, the blood tests she takes now says she's not diabetic anymore.

1Lump · December 2012

I have or I guess had PCOS, I don't know my situation is weird. I was seeing an Endocrinologist and he initially put me on Metformin to help with weight loss and fertility issues. Since I did not have insulin issues or diabetes he decided to manage me with diet. He actually suggested that I become a vegetarian due to hormone issues with animal meat. I did lose weight, but it did not help the fertility issues, and I still did not menstruate unless I took progesterone. Of course now things have changed and I was able to ovulate on my own and become pregnant twice. I guess miracles do happen.

SeaConquest · December 2012

I have PCOS and conceived both times without any fertility meds thanks to Metformin. I was also able to manage GD (which is super common in women with PCOS) with just diet and exercise. I have stayed on metformin throughout my last pregnancy and will again this time. I was managed by Dr. Mark Goodarzi at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai during my last pregnancy and Dr. Jeffrey Chang of UCSD during this pregnancy -- two of the foremost PCOS researchers in the country. All of the research that I have seen on the use of Metformin in pregnancy demonstrates that it significantly lowers ones risk of miscarriage, GD, pre-enclampsia, and IUGR.

I do take Ceylon cinnamon, Chromium GTF, CoQ10 and ALA, as recommended by Dr. Weil, but I cannot imagine not having metformin. It has been a wonder drug for me.

danieleandwayne · December 2012

Thanks for sharing, Ladies! Even though this acquaintance isn't treating the PCOS for the infertility, it's nice to hear good things about a treatment plan-- working in the ICU and the ED, I tend to only see the bad effects and not the good. So it's nice to know that Metformin does do some good for folks!

Meemaleema · December 2012

I was on it for 16 years! Finally a dr took me off. It never helped me with ANYTHING! I was lucky to get my period once a year. However, I did Medifast and lost a tremendous amount of weight and as soon as I started that diet I got my period every month. It's high in Soy and I think my body needed it... Got pregnant too!

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