Metform

[Kurby]

My dr just put me on Metform my blood work is so out of wack... so much so that she told me i should seriously consider cutting back on drinking because something to do with my liver was getting high.

i was shocked, looked at her and said - ahhhhh i don't drink - anything.

if i have a total of 2 drinks over a year that's often pushing it - i just don't like the taste of wine, beer and most drinks - i do like those frozen drinks but even on the ship in may i had 1 then found out they had a non-alcohol one and opted for that instead.

my cholesterol is high as are my triglycerides and other stuff i'm having a hard time remembering.

she said i have some markers for pre-diabetes and put me on metform to bring everything back down before the diabetes sets in.


has anyone here been on it? have you even heard of it? i'm going to start looking around but thought i'd ask here first to see if anyone can give me some insite.

 

[Twinkerbell]

Well, not only have I been on it but I am also an RN, CDE. This means that I am certified in teaching patients about diabetes, how to control it, or in your case how to postpone the onset.

The Metformin is not so bad if you take it the right way. Most MD's dont know to tell pts that it should be taken with their meals - & by this I mean you should eat a little of you meal, take your meds, & then finish your meal. This should help ease some of the side effects (gas, bloating, & diarrhea)

How much did they start you on & when are you suppossed to take it?

 

[kwelch10377]

I am not on it, but I know that it is typically used for diabetics and in women who have PCOS (which many women are either diabetic, pre-diabetic or insulin resistant) and can also help reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

I know people who are on it and they have experienced few if any side effects.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Metformin is the generic name for Glucophage. It is for the treatment of Type 2 or non-insulin dependant diabetes (or in your case pre-diabetes). It is to help with Insulin Resistance, and to help reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It cannot be taken by people who have Liver disease.

I have taken it for possible PCOS and it can wreck havoc on your gastrointestinal tract if not taken as prescribed. Always take it about the same time of day and not on an empty stomach. DO NOT drink alcohol while taking this medication.

Suzanne

 

[Kurby]

Well, not only have I been on it but I am also an RN, CDE. This means that I am certified in teaching patients about diabetes, how to control it, or in your case how to postpone the onset.

The Metformin is not so bad if you take it the right way. Most MD's dont know to tell pts that it should be taken with their meals - & by this I mean you should eat a little of you meal, take your meds, & then finish your meal. This should help ease some of the side effects (gas, bloating, & diarrhea)

How much did they start you on & when are you suppossed to take it?

yes she did tell me to take it with my largest meal - usually dinner but didn't specifically say - eat then take it then eat more. 1 a day 500 mg

I am not on it, but I know that it is typically used for diabetics and in women who have PCOS (which many women are either diabetic, pre-diabetic or insulin resistant) and can also help reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

I know people who are on it and they have experienced few if any side effects.

ya i have PCOS too and i'm overweight -

dr sait that not only would thise help the diabetic part but would help me lose weight (along with cutting sugar out [that will be very hard]) and should help regulate my cycle and ovulating which is fantastic if it does because we've been trying for over 3 years to have a second child.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I've been taking it for a few years for PCOS, and will probably stay on it forever for insulin resistance. The GI stuff is annoying, but you get used to it quickly (it doesn't last forever)

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

My doc has talked about Metformin and I have adamantly refused. It seems like everybody who takes Metformin ends up with some serious digestive discomfort during the first month (affectionally known as "metformin moments".) These effects can be somewhat lessened by taking the extended release version, but as I already have IBS I decided not to add fuel to the fire.

The other big issue with Metformin is that if you have a scan with dye, you can experience a fatal reaction. If you are on Metformin it is imperative that you get a Medical Alert bracelet stating so in case you are ever incapacitated.

That being said, Metformin is one of hte few drugs for diabetes that does not cause you to go low. It is also the only one approved for prediabetes and despite the side effects many find success with it.

What exactly were your numbers? If your doctor says you have markers for "prediabetes" that means you have it. Hate to break it to you. It pisses me off that doctors don't give pre-Ds or Type 2s more info. The first thing you need to do is get a meter and know what your numbers are. Test after you wake up (but before eating) and 2 hours after meals. Anything higher than 100 fasthing or 140 after meals is prediabetes. Anything higher than 125 fasting or 200 after meals is diabetes and that means you are damaging your body. Actually, anything over 140 causes damage (although not as much.)

Testing is critical because it allows you to make necessary changes. Have your doc call in a prescription. (you can buy without, but strips are very expensive). Choose the meter you want. Companies will send you one for free with 10 strips just so you will use their meter and buy their strips. Find out which brand has the lowest deductible on your insurance. A great brand is Freestyle. The Freestyle Lite uses very little blood and they have a great program called Freestyle Promise Program. They will send you a free meter and strips. They will also give you a card that helps to pay for the strips. You pay the first $15, they pay up to $50 and you pay the rest. So with an insurance copay and the card you would only be paying $15. Copays can be as high as $60 for 100 strips so it really si a great deal.

You also need to start cutting back on carbs. I completely gave up soda when I was diagnosed. I now drink water or iced tea. Bread should be an occasionally thing. Ideally, you should see a Certified Diabetes Educator, but if you cannot eat no more than 45 grams of carbs per meal. Many do not even eat that many. What you do eat, try to eat more complex carbs. Sub sweet potatoes for potatoes. If you like pasta, use Dreamfields. It has only 5 grams of digestible carbs so it will not cause blood sugar spikes. Limit your bread, but if you must, use whole grain (that is true of any grain). Fruit is good, but again, test to make sure it won't cause you to spike.

You need to also get a second opinion. If your doctor was concerned enough to put you on Met, then obviously you are at the very least Prediabetic. By not giving you any information on diet or exercise she is contributing to the complications you may experience. Diabetes does damage over time. Leading to kidney failure, blindness, and amputations from poor circulation. It also makes you much more likely to have a heart attack. If you get it under control now, you can avoid all that.

I'm not trying to scare you, but doctors are not telling people how serious this really is and that is irresponsible and dangerous.

A great site with all the info you could ever need is diabetes forums. Go to: www.diabetesforums.com . They can help you. Please please please take care of yourself.

ETA: I see you are TTC. High blood sugar actually makes it very hard to conceive and makes it more likely to miscarry. If you are serious about TTC, testing is an absolute must so you know how you are doing.

 

[Ohiodislover]

DH has been on it for several years. He only had the GI s/e for about a month.

One thing- a little weird, but... When he had it filled at walmart, the pills stunk- literally. I didn't believe him but he had me smell it, and it was gross. Made him sick to his stomach, and kept gagging trying to take it. He has never had that issue anywhere else. It is whatever manufacturer Walmart uses.

 

[Kurby]

i picked mine up from shoppers drug - just opened the bottle - they have a small to them but i've smelt worse.

took one with dinner 3 hours ago - no side effects yet

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Kurby- are you on extended release? If you are not and have side effects, ask them to change it to XR. Many people have more luck with it.

Also, did they tell you what exactly your numbers were?

 

[Calliaz]

Everyone else has given you good advice w/r/t metformin. I just wanted to add something about the liver enzymes. If you have what is called fatty liver disease it can cause abnormal liver enzyme tests and it occurs in both people who are alcoholic and those who are obese. It is difficult to tell the difference between the alcoholics and the obese by their test results. Based on the "cutting back" comments, your values were probably just a little off.

Fortunately, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is completely reversible. Gradual weight loss and use of metformin have both been shown to be effective.

I was diagnosed as diabetic last year. I have PCOS and was pre-diabetic for years and wish I was put of metformin much earlier. I have now gotten my 3-month average blood sugars (hA1c) into normal range and no longer have elevated liver enzymes.

 

[Kurby]

Kurby- are you on extended release? If you are not and have side effects, ask them to change it to XR. Many people have more luck with it.

Also, did they tell you what exactly your numbers were?

ya she told me the numbers but i didn't write them down - i'll call tomorrow and get them over the phone.

 

[skuttle]

After TTC baby #2 for a year w/o success, I was tested for insulin resistance due to my family history (mom and grandma are diabetic). I tested positive and was put on Metformin (500 twice a day). It gave me problems for a while, but then I got used to it. Now, I only have stomach issues if I don't take it properly. Not too bad. For a while it made me feel awful, but that got better with time.

Earlier this year I had an HSG done which is an x-ray/dye test and I couldn't take my Metformin for a couple of days afterwards.

Good luck with your TTC journey! If you haven't checked out the TTC thread, please come join us.

 

[Kurby]

After TTC baby #2 for a year w/o success, I was tested for insulin resistance due to my family history (mom and grandma are diabetic). I tested positive and was put on Metformin (500 twice a day). It gave me problems for a while, but then I got used to it. Now, I only have stomach issues if I don't take it properly. Not too bad. For a while it made me feel awful, but that got better with time.

Earlier this year I had an HSG done which is an x-ray/dye test and I couldn't take my Metformin for a couple of days afterwards.

Good luck with your TTC journey! If you haven't checked out the TTC thread, please come join us.

do you have the link to the ttc thread?

 

[skuttle]

HERE it is!

It's pretty long, but please feel free to jump right in!! Many of us have been around for WAY too long unfortunately, but we have a tons of info because we've been through a lot. Others are lucky and only stick around a few months. All are welcome, though. We've been TTC #2 for 3 years now and I couldn't have made it this long without the girls on that thread! As you know, no one understands the heartache unless they've been through it!

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I take Metformin (750 ER BID) and I hate it. It makes me feel horrible most of the time. I have been taking it for a long time (over a year) and sometimes I get just plain sick after I take it. I go back next week to the doctor, I am going to be firm when asking to be switched to something else. Some it work for, some it doesn't. I guess I'm just one of those it doesn't.

 

[Darsa]

Interestingly enough, my doctor decided to put me on Metphormin when I told her I was sick and tired of being fat and was trying to lose weight and having NO luck. I have FANTASTIC numbers (other than the weight), BP, cholesterol, blood sugar, all apparently excellent. She has prescribed me the 500mg tablets, to take up to 4 times a day. I did definitely learn to take them mid-meal due to some nausea, and I currently am taking them 3 times a day with no effects other than occasional dry-mouth.

My mom has been diagnosed with NASH (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis) or Fatty Liver disease, and is having a LOT of difficulties with it. I truly hope that this isn't something that you'll have to deal with. I'm told that early detection makes correcting the issue easier.

 

[Kurby]

Interestingly enough, my doctor decided to put me on Metphormin when I told her I was sick and tired of being fat and was trying to lose weight and having NO luck. I have FANTASTIC numbers (other than the weight), BP, cholesterol, blood sugar, all apparently excellent. She has prescribed me the 500mg tablets, to take up to 4 times a day. I did definitely learn to take them mid-meal due to some nausea, and I currently am taking them 3 times a day with no effects other than occasional dry-mouth.

My mom has been diagnosed with NASH (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis) or Fatty Liver disease, and is having a LOT of difficulties with it. I truly hope that this isn't something that you'll have to deal with. I'm told that early detection makes correcting the issue easier.

have you been able to loose any weight one it?

 

[dizluvah]

I have been on metformin since 2005, I am now a lower dose having made some positive progress. I suffer no side effects and find metformin an invaluable tool in controlling my diabetes.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My dr just put me on Metform my blood work is so out of wack... so much so that she told me i should seriously consider cutting back on drinking because something to do with my liver was getting high.

i was shocked, looked at her and said - ahhhhh i don't drink - anything.

if i have a total of 2 drinks over a year that's often pushing it - i just don't like the taste of wine, beer and most drinks - i do like those frozen drinks but even on the ship in may i had 1 then found out they had a non-alcohol one and opted for that instead.

my cholesterol is high as are my triglycerides and other stuff i'm having a hard time remembering.

she said i have some markers for pre-diabetes and put me on metform to bring everything back down before the diabetes sets in.


has anyone here been on it? have you even heard of it? i'm going to start looking around but thought i'd ask here first to see if anyone can give me some insite.

There are a lot of things that can be "out of whack" on bloodwork, but my guess in your case, seeing what medication she put you on, is that your hemoglobin A1C (high blood sugars over time) and blood lipid panels (cholesterol, triglycerides, etc) were high. Both of these put you at risk for heart disease and other illnesses, so your doc is trying to act preventatively. Hopefully she also did some education with you on the importance of also trying to get these numbers down with other means, such as diet and exercise, as that's extremely important as well. Your health is at risk with numbers like that.

You should begin to research what others have mentioned, PCOS.

PCOS is a syndrome that negatively affects your whole body and all of its systems. If I had a really good link about what it is, I'd share it, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a good one which correctly explains what it is. There is a lot of misinformation out there about it, even in the medical community.

Your doctor probably feels you have it, but a diagnosis isn't absolutely necessary to begin treatment, ie metformin, which will help with all the symptoms anyway. (It behooves you to find out for sure, though, so you can learn about it and the steps you need to take to remain healthy for the long haul. Having PCOS puts you at high risk for a whole boatload of health problems. Go to see an endocrinologist to discuss it more. I would also seriously consider going to see a nutritionist to help you learn more about food choices as they relate to your condition.)

PCOS is a major cause of infertility also, and since going on metformin helps straighten out a lot of your hormones, many people become pregnant once they're on it. Your doc is right on the money as you can kill two birds with one stone here - treat your medical condition and help you become pregnant, at the same time.

PS the best article I've ever seen was from Family Circle magazine. I can no longer find it, but if I do, I'll post it. If anyone else can access it, will you please post it here. It's a real eye opener and undoubtedly will be helpful to many women.

ETA this info is pretty good:

http://health.msn.com/womens-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100078563

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100078566