Glucophage for Nodule??

[frogluvr2]

Hello All! It's been a little bit since I have posted to the board & am happy to report that I am FINALLY getting some treatment for my thyroid condition. However, I am not here for myself today. I am here actually to ask about my mom. About a year ago, I was noticing a lump in my mom's throat when she swallowed, so I told her she should have it checked out. Long story short, she had a 3.5cm cold nodule on the right lobe of her thyroid and an 11mm one on the left. She had them both biopsied and they are benign. She was being treated with a low dose of levothyroxine to see if that would aid in causing the nodule to shrink, this did not work. The nodule now is about 4cm & so she was referred to an endocrinologist. She met with him yesterday and though he did a very thorough examination, she is a bit concerned with the treatment option that he suggested. She is asking me if I think she should get a second opinion, but I honestly have no clue what to tell her. That's what brings me here. The endocrinologist told her that he would like to start her on Glucophage to try to shrink the nodule. He felt that surgically removing the nodule at this point would be aggressive, especially since they are benign.
Does anyone have an ideas on this, or experience? Is this a viable solution? I know that Glucophage is used for diabetics, but are there other uses, such as this? Any help would be appreciated!!!

[Kelly_i]

Hi there, I am just wondering whether your mother started on this treatment and what the outcome was? There is one study that had good results in using 2g/day metformin to shrink small thyroid nodules.

[Kelly_i]

Hi there, I amjust wondering whether your mother started on this treatment and what the outcome was? There is one study that had good results in using 2g/day metformin to shrink small thyroid nodules.

[frogluvr2]

So far, she is not having any issues with swallowing, however, she has in the past, and she constantly clears her throat. I always chalked it up to her smoking. (she has quit smoking...it's been a few weeks) My mom likes to sing and her voice has always been really strong and she's been able to project it very well, but lately she has said that "her voice just isn't like it used to be." I think we have all just thought that was age related, but maybe it's due to the nodule. I'm sorry, I can't remember what the report said for sure, but I think it was mixed. I will try to get a copy of her report again and post that. This Dr. wanted to try her on the Glucophage for 6 months and go from there. Is that a safe amount of time to allow this to go?

[SELECTTEA]

The only way I can think of is that Glucophage(Metformin)is know to increase FSH(in the pituitary gland). Maybe that increase takes away from any unwanted increase in TSH release since they both come from the pituitary gland. It works by decreasing some of the female hormones(just like if thyroid hormones were decreased the TSH would go up). This though is mainly for people with polycystic ovarian syndrome,a female hormonal problem. Kinda a roundabout way. But...like Manmon said if she's having symptoms,best to remove it. Also something can be hiding behind what appears benign.

[MANmom]

Is she having any trouble swallowing? Any issues with hoarseness? What it it's texture?  Solid? Cystic? Mixed?  If she is having symptoms, then maybe she should just have the side with the largest nodule removed.  The larger it gets, the more difficult it will be for the surgeon to remove without damaging the vocal nerve or preserving the parathyroids.  She will probably have to remove it eventually, I have not heard of that many nodules shrinking, unless they are cystic.