Metformin & Excess Hair ..
Claairey1992
Posts: 90 Member
Hi guys,
I was diagnosed with pcos in June 2013 and was put on pro longed release metformin .. I started off on 500mg per day and built up to 1000mg. Unfortunately, I was very ill with it and I cut it back down to 500 and was absolutely fine, I then waited a couple of weeks and went back up to 1000mg but no luck ... So my doc advised me to stick to the 500mg/day cos, I think her exact words were, any treatment is better than none!
It's been 6 months since I started taking 500mg/day and I'm actually having a period every month (yay!) but this excess hair thing is really really getting me down, I have it on my upper lip and chin (doesn't bother me as much can wax my lip and pluck my chin) but I have it across the top of my chest and inbetween my boobs and I have it at the top of my back!! I don't know what to do cos I thought once my periods were more regular that this would stop but it hasn't .. Have I not waited long enough?! Was wondering if there is anyone else on such a low dosage and if so do you still experience the excess hair??
please anyone help me out here guys cos I feel totally alone in this
Xxx
I was diagnosed with pcos in June 2013 and was put on pro longed release metformin .. I started off on 500mg per day and built up to 1000mg. Unfortunately, I was very ill with it and I cut it back down to 500 and was absolutely fine, I then waited a couple of weeks and went back up to 1000mg but no luck ... So my doc advised me to stick to the 500mg/day cos, I think her exact words were, any treatment is better than none!
It's been 6 months since I started taking 500mg/day and I'm actually having a period every month (yay!) but this excess hair thing is really really getting me down, I have it on my upper lip and chin (doesn't bother me as much can wax my lip and pluck my chin) but I have it across the top of my chest and inbetween my boobs and I have it at the top of my back!! I don't know what to do cos I thought once my periods were more regular that this would stop but it hasn't .. Have I not waited long enough?! Was wondering if there is anyone else on such a low dosage and if so do you still experience the excess hair??
please anyone help me out here guys cos I feel totally alone in this
Xxx
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Replies
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I don't have a lot of excess hair - maybe three or four hairs total on my chin but I can tell you that so far nothing, including Metformin OR pregnancy, has made those go away.
That's great about your periods. I have found that Met regulated my periods and also made me stop losing the hair on my head, which was really bad. Sorry I can't help more.0 -
I don't have a lot of excess hair - maybe three or four hairs total on my chin but I can tell you that so far nothing, including Metformin OR pregnancy, has made those go away.
That's great about your periods. I have found that Met regulated my periods and also made me stop losing the hair on my head, which was really bad. Sorry I can't help more.
Thank you for your reply. Like I say the chin thng doesn't bother me as much cos I can just pluck, it's the rest of it that's really bringing me down .. I either have hair on my chest or I pluck it and have big red blotches! I just dunno what to do!0 -
Sadly, there isn't much treatment for the hair thing. There are some creams that your doctor can prescribe that some people have success with. My approach for hair in the areas you describe would be to go get waxed on a regular basis. The waxing will, over time, inhibit the hair growth, and having it removed will help you to not feel insecure about it. It really doesn't hurt fyi. I little sting in more sensitive spots, but not painful and the professionals do it in such a way that redness is very minimal and dissipates quickly. I have had my legs and underarms waxed and Loved it...not so much the waxing, but the end result.0
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Interesting...I wasn't aware that Metformin helped with the excess hair. I take Spironolactone for my excess hair. I've been on it (off and on) for about 5 years. At first, I didn't notice much of a difference...I was told to give it about 6 months to start working. In the meantime, I tried waxing (didn't help), laser hair removal (didn't help), and finally just started shaving everything. Recently, I went off the Spironolactone (I didn't think it was doing anything) and I noticed that my excess hair grew back MUCH faster than when I was taking the medication. I'm back on 100mg/day and I actually do think it helps keep the hair from growing back as quickly. Not a miracle cure, but it helps!
You should not take it if you are trying to get pregnant...but if not, might be something to look into?0 -
The excess hair is a problem. I noticed when I lose weight the side effects of PCOS, including excess hair.... goes down. You always have them but alot less.0
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Spirinolactone helps some people. You can ask your doctor about prescribing that as long as you are not trying to conceive and you are actively preventing pregnancy. It takes a while to work so you have to give it some time.
The only permanent hair removal for women with PCOS is electrolysis. It is not cheap, but it is worth looking into if you are spending a lot on hair removal products anyway.
You are definitely not alone in this! Almost all women with PCOS suffer from the dreaded excess hair (except for actually on the tops of our heads where many of us don't have enough!) It's one of the least fair parts of all of this imo.0
