Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Metformin and weight loss

I've been taking 500 mg/day of metformin.  Just wondering if any of you have taken this, and if so, have you experienced any weight loss?
630 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Yes I do. Further more no appetite all day nor desire to eat or have craveings.for any thing just water It's only around 6 to 8 that I am revenus. I want savery and salty with a bitter sweet end of 82% cacao chocolate nib.I don't like candy cookies snack crackers cake dip chips chocolate candies. I like nuts fruits bitter sweet cacao,salty and sweet  and savorty foods or vinagers and hot spicy dishes as well. .I am trying to find an alternitive to metformin in the form of a plant tincture elixure or tea to replace the poison Lab Created Chenical  Metformin I take now.
.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have gained 30lbs in a 2 week period and changed NOYHING. My eating got less but continued to gain weight.  Had hormone tests. Normal. Thyroid. Normal. Gallbladder. Normal. Wtf
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.  Just read your comment today, 2015.  Your story sounds exactly like mine.  I have been taking Armour Thyroid (30 mcg/day) and no changes.  Added 2000 mg of Metformin six weeks ago, and NO CHANGE.  Only writing to sympathize with you, unfortunately.  Wondering if you have happened to stumble on any miracles?  Stacy
Helpful - 0
12363781 tn?1424873940
I been taking metformin for 2 years or so, but only 1 pill in the morning of 500mg. My Dr just raised it up to 2 in the morning and 2 at night, so I went from 500mg in a day to 2000mg a day and I noticed I'm in the bathroom alot more and I'm really hoping I lose weight. I need opinions. Wish me luck !!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
assalamualikum
i consult to physic... for same problem means weight loss specially abdomin chol.. and i asked him about side effects also , he told me there is no side effect from it.. and he told me this also poor knowledge people not accept metf for weight loss.. if you want more details see once metformin life  extension, yeah of course its a antidiabetic drug but it help when diabetic is uncontrolled..  aamer khan medical coder
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
assalamualikum
i consult to for same problem means weight loss specially abdomin chol.. and i asked him about side effects also , he told me there is no side effect from it.. and he told me this also poor knowledge people not accept metf for weight loss.. if you want more details see once metformin life  extension, yeah of course its a antidiabetic drug but it help when diabetic is uncontrolled..  aamer khan medical coder
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
oh my goodness! I have been taking one metformin after breakfast and by lunch time the cramps are horrid. I have gone from 198 to 163 between the end of October to the begining of December. I have great difficulty eating. I will have to try the 1/2 pill at a time. I am suppose to take one dose at breakfast and one at dinner. However, I cannot eat dinner due to not being hungry. Will have to discuss with doctor next visit
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Metformin is a diabetes medicine I don't understand doctors giving it for weight loss but everyone here seems to take it for that. I take it for diabetes. I had no bad side effects and have been on it for well over a year. I have been loosing weight, not sure if it was from this med or not. Lost maybe 30+ pounds so far. I just found out I have a liver disease caused from the diabetes so doc put me on a strict diet. Told me to get a book called "Sugar Busters".  There are things NOT to eat but a whole lot I CAN eat.  Mostly NO added sugar, No products or can food with added sugar. No white flour. No white rice. No white or red potatoes. Books says No bananas or corn but my doctor says eat them both just be careful with amount. I sit at night with a bag of sunflower seeds and slowly nibble on them or other nuts and I don't crave anything. I've not started any exercise yet, but will be joining "silver sneakers" at the "Y" very soon.

I've had a weight problem all my life and this is the easiest diet (way of life change) that I ever tried. I will be able to stick to this and I do cheat sometimes. But the weight is coming off and that makes me want to stick to it. There is not much to think about if you get rid of everything bad in the pantry and frig first. Good luck to any one who may this...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi,
im from Bangladesh.I'm 20 years old.i want to lose my weight as soon as possible. I wanna take met 500.is there any side effect of it? i mean any hormonal problem of taking it. Is it effective for loosing my weight?  how many to take it in per day?  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I forgot my password so I have been unable to get on.  Finally remembered it :)  How did that work for you?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
have you been tested for celiac? its a wheat allergy and causes some of the same type symptoms that lactose intolerance causes in people that cant digest that...I was part of a breastfeeding network and one of our members had this issue withing 6 months she looked and felt like a different person, it can cause weight gain and retention..might not be your issue but worth checking into.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would very much like to know your results as I have had a very similar exp, we have diabetes in my family, my daughter age 16 was diagnosed insulin resistant, but they did nothing for her, she's gone threw eating disordered behavior trying to loose weight and now lives on vegetables and yet still gains??? I have low thyroid too but meds have never helped with weight loss, I also eat one small healthy meal a day, and only loose if I totally starve for days...one day of eating halts the loss...its very discouraging...now I am loosing my hair I look like a radiation victim and still my doc does nothing, I like you have lost faith, and have great research skills, can you keep me posted on your progress, we are in Canada
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Audrey - I started on Metphormin about 2 months ago,  up to 1000 mg daily.  Im not diabetic,  but my doctor prescribed it because I was gaining weight despite a decent diet and a ton of excercise.  She was thinking that perhaps my body wasnt doing what it was supposed to regarding insulin.  I havent lost any weight,  and getting pretty dejected over it. There are some days I actually excercise twice a day!  Eating lots of protein,  etc.   I'll give it another 30 days,  see what happens.  I hope it works for you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm 51 and have been on metformin for several years for type 2 diabetes.  It does help to regulate the period.  I was very irregular for years, had endometriosis and had been on the pill.  I stopped the pill over 5 years ago, gained a lot of weight and am somewhat surprised to hear that metformin is used for weight loss.   I still get my period but have missed a month here and there, peri-menapause? who knows.  Sorry I can't comment on weight loss.  I was on another T2 diabetes med that made me blow up.  I just got off that and have seen crazy fluctuations in my weight.  I lose and gain 2-3 lbs on a daily basis.  Hoping that will finally settle to a steady weight loss.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi joyelane,

  I am 57 years old.  I had a period January of 2010, another in January of 2011, another in February of 2012 and the last in February of 2013 (with none in  between).  That was BEFORE I started taking Metformin.  I have been taken 1 in the morning and 2 inthe evening since April and have lost approximately 28 lbs.  I don't think having your period has anything to do with Metformin, you may wish to consult your gynecologist and have your hormone levels re-tested.  
Helpful - 0
4826850 tn?1359675640
I thank you so much for your honesty.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was prescribed Metformin 500 mg, to be taken twice or three times daily, to help with weight loss and cravings. I have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, with a fasting blood glucose of 101 and fasting insulin levels of 23 (should be <5 according to doctor). I am also on thyroid medication (Armour Thyroid) and Medrol and Florinef for adrenal fatigue.

I recently went on a low carb diet, but could not stand it. All that fat made me feel sick. I also found that diet very boring after a couple of weeks; only meat, fish, oil, butter, cream, cheese and low glycemic vegetables allowed. I ended up missing fresh fruit and berries,  starchy vegetables like carrots and chick peas and some nuts and almonds.

My question is: are fresh fruit, berries, beans, chick peas and nuts OK when you are trying to lose weight with Metformin? Or are you supposed to stay off all of these foods?

I need to lose 40-50 pounds according to my doctor.

Is there anyone else here with a thyroid/adrenal problem who needs to lose weight? It seems a double challenge with endocrine disease, even on optimal dosages of replacement hormones...

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My story is a little different - I've been put on Metformin for weight loss and to help with the cravings I get from my psychiatric medication. I have bipolar disorder.  Does anyone else share this illness and if so, how successful has Metformin been for weight loss?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey, did it help you? your story is very much like mine! i've been suffering for 3 years and i'm been extremly ill, i've been that ill i've had to go into hospital! i put 17 kilos on in 3 months! and due to that i started to have stage one liver failure! since the begining i have put on 30 kilos, it's ruining my life, i don't know what to do, i don't have pcos or diabetes but i do have a adrenal gland tumor BUT the doctors said it's on the bottom of it and it doesn't effect my hormones, so i don't know what to do! i've had hormones problems since taking the pill (three years ago) and just in the 3 months i took it (like i said i put on 17 kilos) no one would belieive me, one hospital have finally said "we think your weight gain may be due to your hormone problems" and all my doctor says is you have to loose weight before my hormones get better, but i can't loose weight because of my hormones!! i don't know what to do anymore, the hospitals won't take me seriously, just because i'm fat they think i eat lots, but i don't! My doctor is refusing to give me metformin because my blood sugar levels are fine, but my gamma gt has gone up and i've having liver pains again! i just wish someone would listen to me and take me seriously! me and my fiancé are also trying for a baby, when i was finallt pregnant last year... I lost the baby due to low progesterone  :( since my miscarriage i only have a period once every three months,  we are desperatly wanting a baby but there is no point in trying now because my hormones are all over the place and my testosterone is way to high!  what can i do? how do i convince him to prescrib me it ?
if anyone has answers please email me ? liccle_leigh_eya***@****
Helpful - 0
1068689 tn?1325827206
Metformin helped a little bit in the beginning for weight loss. I dropped 20 or so lbs at that time.
I've been taking it two years now and hasn't contributed to any additional weight loss by itself.

I don't know why it works for some or most and not others. I'm one of those in that percentage it doesn't work for weight loss. I'm taking 2000mg's a day, two tabs in the morning, two at night.  Be great if it aided in some weight loss though!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Alll
I was diagnosed type 2 diabetes 7weeks ago, I have lost 24.5lbs in that time. You will loose weight on meta formin ;500mg twice a day by just talking it but to grt the true benefit  my advice is eat  little and often using the gi index to plan your meals and snacks.i also attend slimming world and follow the green plan ,planning to go to the gym next week and put some exercise into my  life haha. You only get out of it what you put into it I don't want to be labeled I have been overweight al my life it's time to change now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
over a year ago my wonderful husband was put on diabetic med. metaformin 500 mg a day. he takes his in the day time. he weight 237lb at time of diagnos  and has in a less than a year dropped over 50 lbs not dieting but he contributes it to the medcine working his body right.  ten days ago my doctor who is interesed in my severe fluid ( rare lymph edema that is absorbing all over the body due to fluid leaking from accident.  I say I got Garryez  my own research is on it.) problem benefiting from metaformin. I weight 287lb at that visit. gained twenty pd a year did not lose even at 600calorie diets.  she suspect im my problem coulod be metabolic syndrom.  something I did not check before or really knew much about.  I would go on the same drug. and in ten days I lost. and I actual did not diet. did not increase my exercise as I was peesing alot. I did not check it. more I drink the more I pee.  a neighbor noticed I lost weight and ask me If I had. I said I check it in a month time at my doctors appt. I did not want to have false hope but had a vision from God that I would have help to reverese the condition.  apparently it working for me. I suspect alot faster than my hubby was due to lymph absorbtion.  it gives me no changes in bowels though I am on a heartburn med to help me. I do not get nausea. but feel extreley tired. and also have top of head heaches.  I start a pt class for my knee and hips to strenthen next friday and plan on getting weight then. I will report back. my water diet is on tripod.  and I plan on sharing the good news with everyone.  I can't find my scale. but I feel smaller.but at my big size I would not want to excite anyone with a three lbs this after drinking fluid weight water loss.  but I am hopeful since 2004 summer I had not lost fluid..  and I am not dieting.I actual began forcing myself to eat 6 meal smaller a day. metaformin makes me not able to eat a large meal.  I don't know why.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also just started Metformin, 500mg 3x a day, on March 8th because I have PCOS. I watch what I eat now but never deprive myself 100% from the good stuff. I just eat smaller amounts and have a healthy breakfast. After work, around 5pm, I do 30 minutes on my elliptical. I have lost 7 pounds in the last two weeks, starting at 178 lbs. and weighing in this morning at 171 lbs. I just wanted to share this because I know that when I first started Metformin, I was very eager to see the positive results that others were having. As for pregnancy, it is not the reason I decided to start Metformin, it was more for weight loss and the other side effects of PCOS, but if I do get pregnant, it would be absolutely wonderful! Good luck all!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 65yr.  I have been off Metfomim for years.  I was presecribed 500mg ER 2 x day.  After one day I am extremely tired after I take one pill.
I am concerned because unusual tiredness is a Severe side effect requiring immediate medical attention.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Weight Loss Alternatives Community

Top Healthy Living Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
Learn About Top Answerers
Popular Resources
14 super-healthy foods that are worth the hype
Small changes make a big impact with these easy ways to cut hundreds of calories a day.
Forget the fountain of youth – try flossing instead! Here are 11 surprising ways to live longer.
From STD tests to mammograms, find out which screening tests you need - and when to get them.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.