Metformin

emack88 · February 2014

Anyone been taking metformin during pregnancy for anything besides diabetes? I ran out of refills on mine and because I switched to a birth center I can't get a refill. I've seen several sites that recommend discontinued use after the 1st trimester so since I'm almost to my 3rd trimester is there any risk of stopping it? I was on it to help me ovulate.

jshrop · February 2014

??? I'm confused. You took it to ovulate but you're pregnant and still taking it? I think this is something you need to discuss with your OB or PCP. I mean, I still had refills on my birth control but it wasn't really necessary after I got pregnant so I stopped refilling it. Good luck tho!

emack88 · February 2014

They told me to keep taking it because sometimes it helps the pregnancy stick. After my first trimester I asked why I had to keep taking it and she just said it won't hurt anything. I'm just concerned if there is any negative side effects to stopping it at this point.

jshrop · February 2014

Okay, I texted your situation to my sister who is a pharmacist. I figured she'd know about stopping it all of a sudden. This was her reply "it actually helps maintain the pregnancy, and is fine. Since she's near her 3rd tri her dose may need increased BC of the nature of her weight and insulin production. Just make sure she sees her provider soon for labs. It isn't urgent but as soon as she can."
So, sounds like she recommends you see the doc as soon as you can to reorder if needed. She said more urgently if you have issues with insulin.

jshrop · February 2014

Okay, after I typed that she added, "at this point in her pregnancy she probably doesn't need to worry. The only thing I worry about is if she stops taking it and her sugar goes up. But at this time, she truly needs to see her doc because why keep taking something if she doesn't actually need it."

elsa1688 · February 2014

@jshrop that was so sweet of you!

momof5sept18 · February 2014

@jshrop you're such a sweerheart.

I was gonna say the same thing as your sister, before starting or stopping any medications you need to consult with your doctor and beings you have been on it for quite some time, you need to schedule an appointment to discuss if you need it still or not, and to get some refills asap if you do need to still be on it.

Eta: words can be difficult sometimes.

jshrop · February 2014

Awww thanks. And she's my baby sister. My husband and I helped support her through college. Now that she's got the degree, I should get the free advice right?? Lol.

emack88 · February 2014

@jshrop Thank you for doing that! That was so sweet. I honestly have no idea why I was still on it to begin with. I don't have an insulin problem that I'm aware of and I'm not overweight. Nor, do I have any PCOS symptoms. I just wasn't ovulating. At this point in order for me to get another refill I'd have to go to a specialist because the birth center can't prescribe it for me( it's not on their list of approved medications or something). I have a glucose screening next week. I'm thinking about just waiting to see how that goes before doing anything else with it.

sm623 · February 2014

I was taking metformin for about a year and a half before getting pregnant. I was taking it because I was having irregularity issues which were caused by my insulin levels being too high. My doctor told me to keep taking it until about 13 weeks, then stop. He didn't explain why to stop, but I didn't ask either.

ElTrain5 · February 2014

jshrop said:
Awww thanks. And she's my baby sister. My husband and I helped support her through college. Now that she's got the degree, I should get the free advice right?? Lol.

Totally. That's an awesome arrangement. That obviously should extend to your bump club buddies

;)

jshrop · February 2014

ElTrain5 said:

jshrop said:
Awww thanks. And she's my baby sister. My husband and I helped support her through college. Now that she's got the degree, I should get the free advice right?? Lol.
Totally. That's an awesome arrangement. That obviously should extend to your bump club buddies ;)

And of course, it does lol!

kcartwright12 · February 2014

I was on it for PCOS and insulin resistance. I was told to stop taking it cold turkey after first trimester. No issues after stopping with either pregnancy. You're even further than I was, so you should be totally fine. Especially if you have never had a sugar issue.

emack88 · February 2014

@kcartwright12 Thanks! That's reassuring!

FeliciaTwo · February 2014

I was on it during the first trimester b/c I was diagnosed with "maybe PCOS." (I have only a couple symptoms of PCOS; not a clear case). Anyway, I'm not insulin resistant but I was on it anyway. I was told to stop taking it after the first trimester. I'm nearly positive that you won't hurt anything by going off of it, but like everyone is saying, you should probably talk to your doc.

TheMrs820 · February 2014

I started taking Metformin about a year and a half before getting pregnant due to insulin resistance, pcos, and irregular periods / ovulation. I am still on it, and it has never been mentioned to me about masking signs of gestational diabetes.

My doctor has me do more glucose tests than normal (yay) but I have an appt on Monday & will be bringing it up. Thanks talon1226 for sharing that.

TheMrs820 · February 2014

I started taking Metformin about a year and a half before getting pregnant due to insulin resistance, pcos, and irregular periods / ovulation. I am still on it, and it has never been mentioned to me about masking signs of gestational diabetes.

My doctor has me do more glucose tests than normal (yay) but I have an appt on Monday & will be bringing it up. Thanks talon1226 for sharing that.

Mom&nurse · February 2014

Learned something new.

SarahSmile01 · February 2014

I've also been on metformin for almost 2 years for PCOS. They kept me on it but have had me scale back after the first trimester (from 1500 a day to 1000 and now I'm at 500 a day) they may pull me off it entirely at some point. Not sure. Although my dr says it's safe to take during pregnancy and can help women with their milk coming in (something certain women with PCOS can struggle with). I would ask your dr since everyone's situation is different.

kmwiegand · February 2014

I was on it prior to both pregnancies for the same reason as you - not because of any blood sugar issues, just to help with ovulation. With both pregnancies, somewhere around 20 weeks my dr had me stop. But it was more because I brought it up and I had lost weight during the pregnancy and met can cause a lack of appetite. And because I had no sugar issues he just said to stop. I had no issues with stopping cold turkey. But I was only on 500 mg.

emack88 · February 2014

@kmwiegand I was only 500 mg too. From what I've read and people's advice here it sounds like I'll be ok. I have a GD screening next week so I'll see how that goes and ask the midwife about it. The only thing I'm concerned about at this point is not getting my milk supply in.

FutureMrsW9 · February 2014

I was on it pre-pregnancy, but as soon as I got a positive beta I was told by my RE to stop taking it right away. My m/w said if I develop GD then that might be the first thing they try to control it if necessary, but otherwise there aren't enough studies out there to determine whether or not it's safe during pregnancy....you're probably better off not being on it at this point. That said, I would mention something to you doctor because since you HAVE been on it, who knows what kind of hormonal changes that shock may cause and you don't want it to affect baby. I would just take every precaution because you never know.

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