Posts: 5,203
3/2/11 12:02 P

I was taking 1500 mg of the ER version a day all at night but I was having a lot of GI problems. I asked to be switched to the 1000mg pills but they don't have that in the ER version. Even still the GI issues have been reduced and I'm guessing it is the coating of the ER pills that was aggravating my system. I now take 1000mg in the morning and 1000 mg in the evening. My endo didn't say anything about it being like reducing the dosage as I was looking for a way to increase the dose without causing more stress to my system.

I don't know if you are a diet pop drinker but I have found that artificial sweeteners actually trigger my hunger (insulin) more than most foods. I have a similar problem with apples as well. My old endo also told me to eat only 3 times per day as every time we eat we produce more insulin and add to the problem. It did help when I was able to stick with it but then I went off track for awhile so it is taking me longer to get back to just 3 meals per day and be able to plan enough calories in those meals.

HTH


Edited by: NEELIXNKES at: 3/2/2011 (12:03)

Total SparkPoints: 47,978

	40,000 42,499 44,999 47,499	49,999
SparkPoints Level 16

Posts: 62
3/1/11 2:48 P

I agree with what Kitty said. I've known I have PCOS for roughly 18 years. Metformin and limiting (significantly) my carbs are the only things that have killed the carb cravings. That sounds ridiculous I know, but once the blood sugar is closer to normal, the less insulin, the less hungry. I have actually gotten my cycles straightened out limiting the carbs. (not saying that'll work for all, but it did for me.)

Posts: 6
2/27/11 12:25 A

Thanks everyone. I will try mints like LIFE2SHORT suggested. I will also try to excersice more and reduce carbs. I know those are the things I need to do. It's just really hard because I think women with PCOS do crave carbs. Excersice isn't my favorite thing to do but I have been trying to use the treadmill. So, what everyone is saying is that 1000mg of the time released once a day really is the same as taking 1000mg of regular metformin twice a day. I think I get into a cycle that is hard to break. I get really hungry so I just eat whatever is easiest just to satisfy my hunger and carbs are usually the easiest to grab. Then I just, very quickly, get hungry again. Does anyone know if drinking coffee/latte's has any affect with hunger? I do love my latte's and I know that's probably not good either.

Posts: 682
2/27/11 12:24 A

There is no 'right' amount of metformin that will suit everyone. Some people only need a very small dose - 250mg or 500 mg a day, others take as much as 3000 mg a day before they see any results. The majority of women with PCOS take 1500 - 2000 mg a day once they have gotten used to it. Some women with PCOS should not take metformin at all. As a rule, if your BMI is under 35 and you don't have diabetes, then the risks of metformin outweigh the benefits according to a meta-analysis I read a year or two ago. In those cases, exercise and low carb are more effective.

Posts: 4,714
2/24/11 9:32 A

you know, I forgot to mention in my first post. reducing carbs also is said to INCREASE cell sensitivity to the insulin you DO produce, so that should aid in hunger management as well and hopefully protect you from diabetes.

And another way to increase sensitivity is to..... EXERCISE!!
so, we should eat a low carb diet, EXERCISE and if the doctor prescribes, take metformin and PERHAPS you won't get diabetes, and if you do it should come on later
I'll add this to the first post as well.

Edited by: KITTYF54 at: 2/24/2011 (09:36)

current weight: 275.8

291 268.25 245.5 222.75

200

Posts: 4,714
2/24/11 9:14 A

Well, if both wolfwalker and Lynnzy have doctors who say the same thing it sounds like a consensus of two at least.
I take 2000 of regular, as well. Wonder if I should ask about the time released stuff. I know I sometimes forget to take my regular pills when I should and I find that if I take it 1000 twice a day as perscribed it doesn't seem to keep my blood sugars down as well as breaking it up into 500 mg doses 4 times a day. I guess it'd be worth talking over with the doctor.

My friend goes to an Endocrinologist and takes more than 2000 but I can't remember the dose. maybe 750 three times daily that only comes to 2250 daily, but it'd be more even than taking 1000 daily.

Edited by: KITTYF54 at: 2/24/2011 (09:18)

current weight: 275.8

291 268.25 245.5 222.75

200

SparkPoints: (126,235)
Fitness Minutes: (127,817)
Posts: 14,717
2/23/11 10:07 P

I'm on 1,000 mg of Glumetza (extended release metformin) been on that doesage since the start of 09 and my endo will not up it he says there is no need to do so (I was on 2,000 of regular met up to that point that he changed me over).

Pounds lost: 48.0

0 17 34 51

68

Posts: 25
2/23/11 8:36 P

I am on 2000mg once a day of metformin, I don't know if that is the norm dosage or not. I have noticed that I am less hungry since start my metformin. I didn't realize until I read kitty post that the insulin levels influence how hungry we feel. For me, having a mint whether it be york mint pattie or life saver mint. The mint seems to settle my stomach but also kill my appetite. Sometimes exercise or keep busy or even coming on here helps as well. Hope this helps!

Posts: 4,714
2/23/11 6:32 P

the amount you need is what works, up to a point. to much and it can give problems so there's an upper limit. your doctor is your best reference for that.

what to do about the hunger.

One of PCOS's identifying markers is insulin resistance. your cells resist all the insulin present in the blood stream and therefore your body makes more insulin to try to get rid of the high levels of glucose because those high levels of glucose damage the cells, esp the delicate cells in the tiny capilaries such as at the back of the eyes, in the liver, Kidneys and fingertips and tips of toes.

one of metformin's actions is to reduce your cell's resistance to insulin, allowing the insulin to insert the glucose into the cells, (reducing the serum glucose in the blood stream.. when there is less glucose floating around in your bloodstream, you have need of less insulin to try to shove it into the cells so your body makes less.

Insulin's other action is to tell you your hungry, so the hungrier you are, the more insulin is floating around in your blood stream.
So how do you reduce your insulin levels in the blood stream so your not so hungry so often or so long? reduce the carbs so you reduce the blood glucose levels which means you need less insulin to shove it into the cells and you won't be as hungry.

this is why a low carb diet has been considered the best diet for PCOS for over 10 years and is now advocated for diabetics as well.

Edited to include:
you know, I forgot to mention in my first post. reducing carbs also is said to INCREASE cell sensitivity to the insulin you DO produce, so that should aid in hunger management as well and hopefully protect you from diabetes.

And another way to increase sensitivity is to..... EXERCISE!!
so, we should eat a low carb diet, EXERCISE and if the doctor prescribes, take metformin and PERHAPS you won't get diabetes, and if you do it should come on later

hope this helps, Kitty

Edited by: KITTYF54 at: 2/24/2011 (09:37)

current weight: 275.8

291 268.25 245.5 222.75

200

Posts: 6
2/23/11 10:04 A

How much Metformin should most people be on? I'm now on the time released Metformin. I'm taking 1000mg in the morning but since it's time released my doc says it's like taking 2000. I don't get it. Does that sound right? When I first went on Metformin about 10 years ago it was great. I wasn't hungry anymore, the weight just fell off and I was only on 500mg in the morning and 500 at night. I didn't have a huge amount to lose but it was easy to lose about 30 pounds. Over time it seemed like the Metformin wasn't working as well and have tried uping it. The weight has all come back and I'm starving all the time especially since I started to track and watch what I eat on Spark People less than a week ago. What can I do to not be hungry all the time. I know there's a connection between Metformin and hunger. When I forget to take it I really notice.