Has anyone ever had Metformin quit working?
Dragonwolf
Posts: 5,600 Member
Has anyone had Metformin work for them for a time, then quit working?
The usual things I see are:
1. It doesn't work at all, ever.
2. It works with the starting dose
3. It works, but takes a few months to find the right dose
However, what I feel like I'm running into is that it worked for me for about 6-8 months, but just stopped. This time around is the longest I've been on it, since the last time I was on it, I got pregnant within a couple of months and a few months into the pregnancy, I stopped the Metformin, because it was exacerbating the morning sickness.
It was working for me for the first few months (I want to say for about the same length of time I was on it last time), but my last bloodwork had my insulin higher than it was before I started this round of Metformin, and despite reigning my diet back in and getting back to exercising, I suspect that my insulin hasn't changed much, if at all (judging by my weight and its fluctuations).
Granted, it's possible that I'm still allowing too much sugar/starch in my diet (I've gotten lax on both of late), but the last time, I lost a bunch of weight despite a less than ideal diet (in fact, I was still eating a lot of carbs, particularly pasta, at the time). So it seems odd to me that significantly less sugar/starch, plus the same amount of Metformin, doesn't seem to be affecting my insulin like it seems it should.
I really wish I could monitor things like fasting insulin on my own, instead of having to go through a doctor and lab....
The usual things I see are:
1. It doesn't work at all, ever.
2. It works with the starting dose
3. It works, but takes a few months to find the right dose
However, what I feel like I'm running into is that it worked for me for about 6-8 months, but just stopped. This time around is the longest I've been on it, since the last time I was on it, I got pregnant within a couple of months and a few months into the pregnancy, I stopped the Metformin, because it was exacerbating the morning sickness.
It was working for me for the first few months (I want to say for about the same length of time I was on it last time), but my last bloodwork had my insulin higher than it was before I started this round of Metformin, and despite reigning my diet back in and getting back to exercising, I suspect that my insulin hasn't changed much, if at all (judging by my weight and its fluctuations).
Granted, it's possible that I'm still allowing too much sugar/starch in my diet (I've gotten lax on both of late), but the last time, I lost a bunch of weight despite a less than ideal diet (in fact, I was still eating a lot of carbs, particularly pasta, at the time). So it seems odd to me that significantly less sugar/starch, plus the same amount of Metformin, doesn't seem to be affecting my insulin like it seems it should.
I really wish I could monitor things like fasting insulin on my own, instead of having to go through a doctor and lab....
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Replies
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As far as sugar levels. It hasn't at all. I was increased from 500mg in evening to 500mg in morning and evening. Haven't gone back in but I suspect it hasn't changed anything and I've been compliant. I take them. I maybe missed a couple doses. I may kick the eating habit changes in fuller gear so I can go off them. I don't see a difference anyway.
What other things is it supposed to help with in regards to PCOS? I know some people notice cycle changes. Mine are the same semi regular on 35 days or so cycles but occasionally longer. Mostly long 5-7 days with one or two really heavy days with clotting(sorry for TMI and oversharing).
Oh and I'm labeled pre-diabetic and its the reason for the Metformin but i suspect its more PCOS than anything. Only its gotten worse(from high weight than before) in the last few years.0 -
For me, Metformin seemed to work for a year or so, but then I started having flare ups of cysts. Doc put me on Byetta in addition to the metformin, and after awhile, I became hypoglycemic!
So, I was taken off both medications and put on Spironolactone (a blood pressure med - not sure how it's supposed to work) and continuous birth control (taking active pills for three months, then one week off), and that combination has been working mostly. I still get flare ups (mostly during the week off of birth control when I have a period), but they are not as severe, and not as often.0 -
well the minimum effective dose of met for pcos is 1500.are u taking this much???0
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Also noting...I've never tested high on my insulin levels as far as I know. Weird, because PCOS is supposed to mean you test high, right?0
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My doc won't put me on Metformin because he said my fasting insulin wasn't bad enough. But I have experienced all manner meds becoming less effective over time. Hopefully you can find a way to reboot, because you had such success before!
I'm still struggling across the board, so hoping the bloodwork and 24-hour urine test tell the doc something, because I've been miserable and exhausted way too long!
And "Thezestiest," your insulin levels would be bad if you were insulin resistant, not just because of PCOS. Two related conditions that can occur together (and do for many patients), but also can be present without each other...0 -
As far as sugar levels. It hasn't at all. I was increased from 500mg in evening to 500mg in morning and evening. Haven't gone back in but I suspect it hasn't changed anything and I've been compliant. I take them. I maybe missed a couple doses. I may kick the eating habit changes in fuller gear so I can go off them. I don't see a difference anyway.
What other things is it supposed to help with in regards to PCOS? I know some people notice cycle changes. Mine are the same semi regular on 35 days or so cycles but occasionally longer. Mostly long 5-7 days with one or two really heavy days with clotting(sorry for TMI and oversharing).
Oh and I'm labeled pre-diabetic and its the reason for the Metformin but i suspect its more PCOS than anything. Only its gotten worse(from high weight than before) in the last few years.
Metformin doesn't specifically help anything in PCOS other than lowering insulin. There is the illusion that it does more, but that's because elevated insulin in PCOS is often the prime factor in the other hormonal issues. High insulin prompts the body to produce more testosterone, which prompts more estrogen, which screws up the balance of everything. In a portion of PCOS women, getting the insulin down is enough to fix the other hormones.well the minimum effective dose of met for pcos is 1500.are u taking this much???
I'm taking 2000mg total (1000mg in the morning and 1000mg in the evening). It's the maximum allowed daily dose for the extended release version.Also noting...I've never tested high on my insulin levels as far as I know. Weird, because PCOS is supposed to mean you test high, right?
Not necessarily. There are actually at least two types of PCOS (and upwards of 5, depending on the criteria used) -- with insulin resistance and without insulin resistance. Additionally, PCOS is a syndrome, which means that not everyone will have the same symptoms. This is also why you can have PCOS without actually having any cysts (which I don't, generally).My doc won't put me on Metformin because he said my fasting insulin wasn't bad enough. But I have experienced all manner meds becoming less effective over time. Hopefully you can find a way to reboot, because you had such success before!
I'm still struggling across the board, so hoping the bloodwork and 24-hour urine test tell the doc something, because I've been miserable and exhausted way too long!
I'd recommend seeing about talking to your doctor about insulin-reducing measures (including Metformin) even if it's "only" on the high end of normal. That's the problem I've run into -- my insulin has so far capped out at 19 (ml/dl? I'm not sure the unit), which is below the cutoff for pre-diabetes (20), but above my body's threshold for being able to function properly (~15). When I first started the Metformin (both times), I didn't really do anything differently on the diet and exercise front, and it dropped my insulin and I lost weight fairly easily.0
