PCOS

Hi

I am 25 and have been trying, with my husband to get pregnant for a year.  Recently I visited a nutritionist who suggested I ask my OB/GYN about PCOS and metformin. I have several of the symptoms.  Is there anyone out there who has taken this drug for PCOS?  What were the results/effects?

I took Metformin for three days.  I was so sick from it that I couldn't function or eat at all.  I actually cried and became hysterical because I knew it would help me lose weight, but I couldn't even go to work or classes!  

I was later prescribed Byetta (twice daily injection with a epi-pen like devise) for my PCOS and I did start to get my period again.  If I were you, I would try both!  You might not react as badly to Metformin as I did, but don't be surprised if it makes you sick! 

I had all the symptoms of PCOS for my whole life and never knew I had it until about 2 years ago.  I spoke with my best friend's father who informed me that he has several female friends with PCOS who were able to conceive naturally, it just took them a little longer!

I also read recently that a 10% loss of your body weight can do a lot to reduce the effects of PCOS.   I lost 10% of my body weight in 2006 and another 10% in 2007.  I believe if I can take off the last 20% I need to lose (about 40 pounds) then my body will be as normal as it will ever get.  Good Luck to you!

I was also diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. I was put on Metformin and actually lost about 40 pounds with that med alone, no diet or exercise, and no side effects. It also regulated my period, so I am very thankful to metformin, because it has tremendously helped me begin to get back on track. The weight loss has slowed down, so now I believe the rest of my weight loss is up to me. I was also prescribed Byetta, and was on it for a while. It really helps lessen your appetite, but it is a twice daily injection. Not too bad though! I switched jobs and my new insurance doesn't cover it, so now it will cost $240/month, so I may not be able to continue on it, but if you can get it covered, take it! Good luck to you!

Thanks for the input. I tried calling my OB today and am just waiting for a return call.   What were the signs that you had PCOS?  And how did they finally diagnose it?

I've been on Metformin for about two months.  There were a few side effects at first, an upset tummy, but after taking it for a few days the effects quit.  My doctor said to expect this. 

The doctor did blood tests that showed higher levels of testosterone and did an ultrasound that showed the cysts which equaled a diagnosis of PCOS.  First I was given a few rounds of progesterone and estrogen to "kick-start" my system.  That didn't work, so I went in for a Laprascopsy (sp?) where the doc drained the cysts, removed some endometrisosis (sp?), as well as some scaring (they have no idea where this came from).  Anyway, about a month after that I finally had a period...now I'm waiting for another one with my fingers crossed that my body is back to normal :)

However, I will stay on metformin for a while longer as well as try to loose about 15 lbs.

Nannabee, you should look into a few different pharmacies.  I didn't have insurance for 30 days (I had switched jobs) and when I refilled my prescription w/o insurance it only cost me $30 for a 30 day supply.  Also, I think this is one of walmart's $4 prescriptions.

Original Post by rdgatewood:

Nannabee, you should look into a few different pharmacies.  I didn't have insurance for 30 days (I had switched jobs) and when I refilled my prescription w/o insurance it only cost me $30 for a 30 day supply.  Also, I think this is one of walmart's $4 prescriptions.

 

The byetta is one of the $4 prescriptions? I have Humana insurance, and at Walgreens my coverage for the med was completely denied. They didn't pay a penny! If this is true, maybe I could stay on it! :) Even if it's $30, that's WAYYY better than $240!

nvyscr22,

I am also 25 and was diagnosed with PCOS in October (3 months or so ago...).  The biggest read flag that my OB/GYN noticed was that I had gained almost 20 pounds in 2 months...weight gain comes with PCOS.  I also started to get acne worse than I've ever had it (not HORRIBLELY bad, but horrible for me!).

My doctor did blood tests that confirmed PCOS.  I was put on Metformin, a VERY low dose at first (500 mg).  After a month, she moved me to 1000 mg.  Just today, I visited her again and she now has me at 1500 mg.  I did not notice ANY side effects at all.  I take it right before bed, so that probably helps not to notice any side effects.  At the low dose, I had no upset stomach and no weight loss.  After moving to 1000 mg and changing my diet some, I lost about 5 pounds in a month.  With the higher dose that I am starting today, my doc says that should help control the PCOS and even help the weight loss more. 

Unlike rdgatewood, I did not have to have any of the cysts drained and I had no endometriosis.  It just depends on the person I think, and the severity of the PCOS! 

Good luck to you, and if you have any other questions just ask!

Thanks for all of the great stories and advice. I got a call back from my OB clinic nurse and she said the doctor had called in a prescription for Metformin for me.  I was somewhat surprised as I had never actually talked directly with the doctor (only left a message that the nutritionist I had seen had suggested I had PCOS and that I look into Metformin).  Long story short, I guess the doctor didn't need to run any tests on me, so she just called in the prescription???  When I questioned the nurse, she said metformin was safe and that doctor said I could "try" it.

 

Does that seem normal and safe??

Hmm...that does seam odd. But, Metformin regulates blood sugar/insulin levels. I think as long as you are starting off with a a low dose, it won't hurt.

I am at 1000mg a day right now (one 500mg pill twice a day) and then next week I move to three pills a day.

That's a bit quicker than my doc had me progress.  I took one pill (500 mg) for an entire month, then 1000 mg for two months.  Just yesterday I moved to 1500 mg. 

Follow what your doctor orders, but if you feel sick or experience side effects, I would check on that!

Good luck.

thank you so much

I would just like to tell you that sometimes doctors are so very wrong.  I was "diagnosed" ( i will use that term loosely and i'll explain why) with PCOS in september of 07.  The doctor didn't do any test, he just looked at me and said "You are overweight and have dark hair you have PCOS" the only thing i was complaining about was irregular periods.  After that he claimed i had cervical cancer because there was irregular PaP smear.  Talk about a scare.  Well after 4 weeks of "oh come back we'll test for the cancer another day" i decided that if he wasn't that scared of it i am not going to be.  He put me on metforin, prenatals birth control and one other thing i can't remember what it was for.  I asked the doctor what the odds of my getting pregnant were, he told me i would never get pregnant on my own and i was so upset. well i decided that day that i wasn't going to keep paying for drugs that were never going to get me a child without dr intervention. 

October 24th of 07 i concieved.  i now have a 5 month old baby who is happy and healthy i didn't loose weight i didn't change my diet i only took the pills for 3 days because of the horrid side effects i was missing work from them. 

i share this story because i just want you to know there is the chance the doctors are wrong and if you just relax it will happen.  i had came to terms with never having kids even though i really really wanted them and then i got one.  Just relax and have fun trying for a baby and don't stress it.