Anyone on Metformin and NOT hungry?

gf320

I just recently started taking Metformin again (I stopped during college and just started taking it again). I started at 500 mg for a few weeks and upped to 1000mg about a week ago.

I AM NOT hungry. I am only eating about 1200-1300 calories a day, and I am struggling to even hit that. I really want to hit that goal since I have been having good success losing weight at that level (about 25 pounds since May at that level).

Do you have any advice to INCREASE my appetite, or experience with this? I just don't know if it's okay to go under 1200 calories a day... I eat about 40-100g carbs depending on the day, and usually eat nuts and vegetables with chicken or tuna for lunch and dinner, with an energy bar for breakfast most days (also makes Metformin tolerable).

Edit: I'm not diabetic. I take it for PCOS and insulin resistance.

pacislander

Hi there,
First day joining...I see you're having great success with your weight loss...can you share some of your meal plans? I'm trying to get down to the 200 mark for now but hope to lose more once I reach that...

Are you diabetic? What are sugar levels if you don't mind me asking? I am diabetic and also on Metformin and insulin..If your sugar levels are good from the way you've been eating I would suggest you ask your Dr to change your dose back to 500mg..

gf320

I'm not diabetic, I'm on Metformin for PCOS and I don't monitor my sugar levels.

If you want, I can add you as my friend and you should be able to see my diary and my whole profile so you'll be able to see my whole meals. It's relatively diabetic friendly, since PCOS diets are very similar. It breaks it all down.

irridia

My understanding is that most people on metformin are starving, so be happy that your are not among them, but check w/doc to see if everything else is normal. i.e. no liver or oddball reactions.

sherrik10

I am pre-diabetic and take 500 mg Metformin. I find if I take half for breakfast and half for dinner I am not as hungry throughout the day. Ask your dr. if that would work for you.

Richard170

Metformin help reduce blood sugar levels and helps the insulin in your body work better so your pancreas should be producing less insulin. Insulin acts as an appetite suppressant so lower levels of insulin in your blood should result in an increase in appetite. As you are not experiencing what would be expected by going back on metformin, it might be a good idea to have a chat with your endocrinologist.

gf320

I've read that Metformin can cause anorexia (not the eating disorder, that's anorexia nervosa) or loss of appetite. It's pretty normal, especially in non-diabetic patients.

stizeph

We use metformin in patients who are overweight, specifically for it's weight loss potential (as opposed to many other oral hypoglycemics which cause weight gain). It induces loss of appetite and nausea often, causing people to want to eat less. This is normal reaction to the medication.