Metformin side effects

Liquoriceallsort · 2014-04-02T07:20:17+00:00

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to kick in? I started yesterday with two and feel ok but I am assuming I won't feel ok shortly..!

sparkle101 · 02/04/2014 15:46

I took this for 12 weeks on run up to having ds. Had no side effects at all.

Original poster

Liquoriceallsort · 02/04/2014 15:58

That's great, you are lucky! I have taken 5 so far and don't feel any different... I am waiting to feel like poop. Fingers crossed it won't happen!

OP posts:

naty1 · 03/04/2014 09:59

Well if you are on extended release you may be fine.
I just switched after suffering with not ER ones for months.

Original poster

Liquoriceallsort · 03/04/2014 14:14

Why don't they just give everyone that to begin with? Seems the non er ones make most people ill.

I had a look at the box, it just says Metformin 500mg, not slow release but maybe that's a low dose? I'm on day 3 now and nothing...

OP posts:

naty1 · 03/04/2014 20:25

I think mine say SR on them. I believe they are more expensive but pharmacist said not such a big difference anymore.
It probably depends on diet as well.
I selected slow release ones on my repeat prescription and got normal anyway.... So got pharmacist to call dr and they switched them :) i couldnt have carried on that way. During ivf 2ww i had upset stomach every other day. I think for me it was interacting with the progesterone pessaries (and maybe thyroxine). Hardly surprising the ivf didnt work.
I was on 2 850 (previously 2500) i had better fert with this higher dose so wanted to continue it but they dont seem to offer 850 in SR so switched to 3*500 and so far only 1 upset stomach in 2 weeks which is much better.
Of course the better fert rates could have been caused by anything

naty1 · 03/04/2014 20:26

I think mine say SR on them. I believe they are more expensive but pharmacist said not such a big difference anymore.
It probably depends on diet as well.
I selected slow release ones on my repeat prescription and got normal anyway.... So got pharmacist to call dr and they switched them :) i couldnt have carried on that way. During ivf 2ww i had upset stomach every other day. I think for me it was interacting with the progesterone pessaries (and maybe thyroxine). Hardly surprising the ivf didnt work.
I was on 2 850 (previously 2500) i had better fert with this higher dose so wanted to continue it but they dont seem to offer 850 in SR so switched to 3*500 and so far only 1 upset stomach in 2 weeks which is much better.
Of course the better fert rates could have been caused by anything

Original poster

Liquoriceallsort · 03/04/2014 20:36

Yes it makes sense that you need to be feeling healthy for IVF to work, are you having it again this time? Good that you haven't felt so rough on these.

I'm a bit confused as to why I am on them, I have pcos but it doesn't present any symptoms and I've had two different blood tests to check for ovulation and both times they have showed ovulation occurred. I suppose the reduced risk of miscarriage is a very positive benefit of the drug. I don't think it will make me more fertile though?!

OP posts:

naty1 · 03/04/2014 20:56

I think supposedly better quality eggs-- lower miscarriage.
They only said 6 weeks worth for icsi. But ive been quiet about it and stayed on between my failed cycle and hope that it improves the egg quality

zipzap · 03/04/2014 21:29

liquorice - I took metformin for pcos and just felt better on it.

First time around - originally wasn't ttc, just taking it to feel better. however, when I eventually did ttc, happened pretty easily despite the pcos.

second time around - really struggled to get GP to put me back onto metformin after having ds1. Took over 2 years - eventually went privately to the consultant I'd seen previously (I'd moved in the mean time) who was amazed I hadn't been given it and gave me a private prescription there and then, plus a snotty letter for my gp to say to prescribe it for me. I'd been trying ttc for the best part of 2 years with no success. Started to take metformin and was pg within 2 months... Could have been chance but given the way that metformin seems to help with pg I reckon that it definitely had something to do with it. Annoying as I would have loved to have had dc closer together (although obviously I do adore ds2 so can't imagine life without him now but you get what I mean).

There were some side effects to start with - mostly dodgy stomach - but it wore off and I definitely felt better for it.

And after ds2 the gp flat refused to give me metformin any more on the basis that I can't have pcos as I've had kids and so even if I did it must be cured and I just haven't had the energy to go into battle to get it which is silly of me really but there we go.

hope it all goes well for you!

naty1 · 04/04/2014 17:27

Thats crazy i imagine most people with pcos end up having kids.
But i just dont think they want the nhs to pay to keep people withput diabetes on it long term. Some drs think its their own money.
In some ways it makes me a bit angry as i am thin with it but lots of people now get diabetes from being overweight and can control this. I dont think many people would live on the diet you would need to get rid of pcos that way.
They did scan me again when i went back for #2 but they never said they expected it should have gone away.
I can see though that all medicines have side effects and its easier for gps if people arent on things long term.
I feel like i always end up with a stingy gp.
(I also have hypothyroidism and they tell me the level is fine when its not for ttc and wont test antibodies as i presume all my medicines would then be free.)

zipzap · 05/04/2014 05:45

And you'd have thought that they wouldn't have minded prescribing metformin from a money point of view - the ordinary one anyhow - not sure about the slow release one - as it's an old drug that's well out of patent, lots of generic varieties and only supposed to cost a penny or two a pill, so one of the drugs that 'they' earn money from when you get it on prescription...