More about Metformin

[copyman]

I posted about this a few weeks back about Metformin and here is the whole article about it. It is very interesting that a diabetes drug has been found to combat cancer and HCV.  There are probably many other drugs already approved that could also help different diseases if used "off label". Usually these things are found out by accident.


http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2010/nov2010_The-Drug-Virtually-Everyone-Should-Ask-their-Doctor-About_01.htm

[CoWriter]

You're kidding, right?  Lactose has nothing to do with Lactic Acidosis

Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and Lactic Acidosis is a type of metabolic acidosis caused by accumulation of Lactate (NOT lactose).

But if you want to blame milk.....

Diabetes can be driven by allergies, autoimmunity and immunosupression.....and   immunosuppressive peptides from milk are linked to diabetes.

Good luck with your surgery.  We'll be waiting to hear all about it.
Co

[IMstacie]

interesting article.  Be well MerryBe

[merryBe]

you know copy, I think we need a disclaimer in here for the metformin only for certain patients.  The more I read about the drug the more concerned I got for myself as a patient.

The reason was that at stage 4, and with allergy to lactose, the chances for lactid acidosis do go up.  

In general, I think most patients would benefit from adding the metformin during tx. The main contraindication would be impaired flow already existing in the liver, and then the issue become more of a connundrum due to the fact that any acidosis adds to fibrosis whereas normally the liver would benefit from the lower insulin, it won't if LA kicks in.

I should add this is rare however, and not an issue for many people.
Since my absorption of any lactate was already an issue I had to opt out of the metformin solution.

I choose instead to go first with byetta, then victoza due to dosing issue.
These drugs more closely resemble the chemistry that slows digestion in nature, and do work to lower BS.  Unfortunately they also seem to cause more thyroid issues, and I have succoumbed to having a parathyroid adenoma, although proving this was a result of these drugs is questionable. I began having the "shakes" while on RIBA/INF and before adding them, so the liklihood is that the chemo may have set this in motion....(riba is carcinogenic as well).

In any case, I think for stage 1 and 2 folks the addition make impeccable sense, but less so in stage 3, and little in stage 4. Just my opinion, and especially is lactose metabolism is also an issue.

It's always great news to find drugs that benefit us, and do a better job than previous methods, but we have to inform ourselves fully as to their strengths and weaknesses.

This is especially true with the newer solutions, just check out the Avandia fiasco to know how true that is.
Unfortunately newer is not necessarily better and for this reason I think Metformin is a safer bet for most people, at least the research and the long track record are there to help us decide with enough information to make things less of a gamble.

and yes, the parathyroid gland comes out in 2 days!!  Yippeee!!!!!!!ee

mb

[copyman]

Did I read that right, you are getting your thyroid out Monday? If that is true hoping everything goes good. I will say a prayer for successful procedure and speedy recovery.

[merryBe]

good article Copy, sorry I missed it earlier.

for a while I was off the metformin theory due to the newer drugs such as Byetta and Victoza being more "liver friendly".  However, sice succoumbing to a throat tumor (victoza in particular known for thyroid issues) which will removed Monday, I'm off the liver spit drugs and back on the metformin band wagon.

Thank God Cowriter showed up and informed us all about these things, it's just a shame that certain folks put her thru the wringer for the new info. I miss her.

[foofighter]

I think that there has been a lot of discussion about Metformin and IR (that you might have missed) so people may have skipped over this post. Check out CoWriter's journal entries that have a ton of links.

I did find this on The Liver Meeting ePoster series:

805. No Impact of Insulin Resistance on Antiviral Efficacy of Telaprevir-based regimen in HCV Genotype 1 Treatment-Naive Patients: Subanalysis of C208 Study

[copyman]

I wouldn't go that far. I think they have a lot more tests to see what type of doses, etc would work for HCV & cancers.

I do like to see research like this. There has to be drugs already developed that can help with other diseases.

[blondie717]

So then diabetic who takes metformin, will not have hep C.

[copyman]

LOL, I guess I was the only one to find this interesting? Oh well I tried