Metformin

[jjsh44]

Hi ladies. have any of you ever had to take metformin? I have been on it only a week now but my body is doing weird things and it is a bit unsettling. At first I thought what I was experiencing was normal but I was researching metformin on line and it said if you have any of these certain symptoms to get emergency medical attention right away because it can be life threatning. It named off many side effects that were normal and were not normal. I had both. I put in a call to my re yesterday but haven't heard back yet and I'm a little scared. If anyone can tell me exactly what they experienced I would be so grateful-thank you!

[Jabatka]

I've been on metformin for about 6 months. I have PCOS and this was the first medication that my ob gyn put me on in an effort of getting pregnat. I did not get pregnant, in fact my periods were still the same meaning that I didn't have them or had a weird brown discharge.  I also had a constan diarrhea.  When I went to see my doctor after the six months ended she then told me that this was a side effect and I pretty much figured from what she had said that I should've came off of it sonner, as it didn't work on me.

[Heathermommytobe]

I've been on metformin for over 5 years off and on for that medication you have to take it for a while before the side effects get less or stop all togather also for some people they are not on a enough mg or are taking to much in those cases it can work in the wrong way or not at all also if you don't take it regularly the side effects will not get better or stop. If you believe the metformin is not working for you or it is casing harm to you then you need to stop it and go to the hospital if your dr does not get back to you soon. Hope this helped you if you need anymore help just ask and I will help you as much as I can.

[evenkeel]

I Have been on metformin for a year and a half now for PCOS. My RE told me that it takes 6 weeks for it to start working. I take a total of 1500mg per day. At first I was nauseous for the first couple of weeks but I wanted to stick it out for the six weeks just to see if it could help me. I always take it in the middle of a meal (breakfast lunch and dinner) OR with milk. This helps to decrease the side effects. It does make you a little gassy....especially for me if I take it when I only ate a really light meal.

I was only on it for four months during which I had regular periods which I have never had since I was 19 years old and am 30 now. And after these four months  was pregnant.

So give it a chance to work for you. If the side effects are strong definitely talk to your doctor. It is highly unadvisable to take metformin on an empty stomach as you can develop lactic acidosis which is very very dangerous. Please please eat.....

[jjsh44]

I thank you kindly so much. All of your advice is greatly appreciated.  Unfortunately I took it upon myself to stop taking Metformin. My side effects were increasingly getting worse, I even started losing hair.  I decided to listen to my body. We have a meeting with our re on June 2nd. Maybe they can put me on something else.  I was still only taking one pill I can't imagine what my body would have done if I had worked up to taking 4 a day. It was very scary. Again, thanks for all the input!!!