Metformin for PCOS: How much do you take?

[rdy4number2]

My general dr. diagnosed me with PCOS and put me on 1000mg of metformin a day. It just doesn't seem like enough to me. Everything I look at online leans toward 1500 mg a day. What dose do you take??

 

[wishingbaby]

Hi My name is Carla and I am new to this website.
I too was diagnosed with PCOS. I am on Clomid (50g) and Metformin (1000mg a day). I have been on Clomid since May 2010 and just recently (Dec 1st) was put on Metformin. My OB/GYN told me that Metformin will help get pregnant faster as it increases the chances of becoming pregnant. Hopefully it works because I am impatiently waiting to take a pregnancy test and getting a positive result...
-Carla

 

[Keableg]

Hi,
New girl here. I've been diagnosed PCOS and I'm on 500mg metformin once a day, mainly because I have such a bad stomach with it. Doctor has assured me it will still help.

 

[Beanie4]

I'm on 1500mg of ER metformin daily. I have irregular cycles (ranging from 32-45 days usually) and have only been on it for 2 full months now. I did get pg the 1st month but it was a chemical. I have yet to see if it'll help even out my cycles or not. If you don't notice a difference on the 500mg I'd definitely ask for an increase.

 

[MollyMalone]

I only started taking it yesterday. I was told to start on a VERY small dose and increase it over a period of time so I don't get sick. I took progesterone 200mg for 10 days to bring about AF, which isn't that much, and made me extremely sich so had to start taking vaginally instead.

I started with half a tablet (425mg) a day, after 5 days I have to take 850 (half a tablet after breakfast and half after dinner, then after 5 days start taking half at lunch time as well.....etc. The final goes is 3 tablets daily (2550mg), but if it makes me very sick I have to lower the dose a bit to the one that didnt make me sick.... Confusing I know.

So pretty much the goal is 2250mg a day, but I might not get there.

 

[VickyJo]

Hello, i also have PCOS and have been prescribed 1500 a day of metformin and 100 of clomid. Fingers crossed!

 

[Baby_Fever]

I have PCOS and was put on Metformin 1500mgs a day - my RE warned me that it would be hard on my stomach and to ease onto it by taking 500mgs a day for a week then up it to 1000mgs a day for the second week and the 3rd week to take the full 1500mgs a day - I felt like I was always going to the bathroom those 3 weeks but I was determined.

 

[MollyMalone]

I'm on 1275mg right now and so far so good. Had a few episodes of nausea n lose bowel movements, but only when I over ate sugar or carbs, nothing major though. Uppin the dose to 1700 tomoro...let's see how it goes.

 

[Mandie831]

I am getting ready to start metformin hopefully tomorrow, I don't yet know what dosage I will be on, will know when I pick up my prescription.

I had a scan last Friday and I do have some cysts, but not big enough to make my ovaries enlarge or anything, but enough to not make me ovulate or get periods.

Now I dont recall my blood sugar levels being off EVER, so do I really have the insulin resistance that goes with pcos?
Yes I have weight, and it is all in my abdomen.

I am hoping that metformin will hopefully help me lose weight, get my periods on track (I dont get any without provera) and help me ovulate. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year.

I have also heard that eating basically ANY carbs will make metformin not work right, is this accurate?
As of now I am eating a high protein diet, but it also includes a bit of carbs, but all whole wheat, brown rice or beans and etc, and obviously minimal sugar and NO soda.
On top of that I walk on the treadmill at 5kmh for 3km at least 5 days a week.

How long after starting metformin should I maybe expect a period and maybe even ovulation?
Any experiences?
Any opinions on my situation?



Thanks, any help is really appreciated!

 

[rdy4number2]

I am getting ready to start metformin hopefully tomorrow, I don't yet know what dosage I will be on, will know when I pick up my prescription.

I had a scan last Friday and I do have some cysts, but not big enough to make my ovaries enlarge or anything, but enough to not make me ovulate or get periods.

Now I dont recall my blood sugar levels being off EVER, so do I really have the insulin resistance that goes with pcos?
Yes I have weight, and it is all in my abdomen.

I am hoping that metformin will hopefully help me lose weight, get my periods on track (I dont get any without provera) and help me ovulate. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year.

I have also heard that eating basically ANY carbs will make metformin not work right, is this accurate?
As of now I am eating a high protein diet, but it also includes a bit of carbs, but all whole wheat, brown rice or beans and etc, and obviously minimal sugar and NO soda.
On top of that I walk on the treadmill at 5kmh for 3km at least 5 days a week.

How long after starting metformin should I maybe expect a period and maybe even ovulation?
Any experiences?
Any opinions on my situation?



Thanks, any help is really appreciated!

It's hard to say. Some women get pregnant within a few weeks of taking it. I have been taking it since Oct.28 and still no baby. I have heard it can take a year to be fully effective. I still eat carbs, but the med. is making me want them less. My diet said to take the metformin, lose weight, and exercise. She said those 3 things would greatly lower my testosterone. So far I've only lost 20 pounds. Need to lose like 40 more.

 

[Hoping Julie]

I was recently prescribed metformin. Starting at 500 and to increase by 500 every two weeks until i hit 1500 mg. Also i will begin clomid 50 tomorrow. I had a 20 mm folly last cycle but it didnt release? so i guess if this combo doesnt work by the next two months the next step is some sort of injectible to force the folly release? does that sound right?

 

[felecia]

I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS, but I am insulin resistant and carry all my weight in my stomache. I was given 500 mg of metformin in October and increased to 1,000 mg 2 weeks later. I was on b/c pills at the time until Dember, so I didn't lose any weight. However, I went off b/c pills end of December and have since lost 10 pounds and not even doing anything different except eating 3 meals a day instead of only 1 meal a day. They upped my dosage to 2,000 mg daily now and I'm currently ending 150 mg of clomid so hoping this is my month GL to all of you ladies!

 

[2011SJ]

I love how you posted this topic I was actually going to ask the same question as my doctor only prescribed 500mg a day of metformin ( with no conversation of increasing the dose) ...yet every site I go on I see people are on way higher doses..is taking a higher dose more effective?

 

[Hoping Julie]

I love how you posted this topic I was actually going to ask the same question as my doctor only prescribed 500mg a day of metformin ( with no conversation of increasing the dose) ...yet every site I go on I see people are on way higher doses..is taking a higher dose more effective?

No idea, this is my first experience with metformin. My dr said to increase the dose every two weeks until I hit 1500.. He says to gradually increase to avoid unpleasant side effects. Do you have a scan appt with him/her soon? Maybe you can question the doc then about dosage increase. Have you noticed any s/e?

 

[2011SJ]

I love how you posted this topic I was actually going to ask the same question as my doctor only prescribed 500mg a day of metformin ( with no conversation of increasing the dose) ...yet every site I go on I see people are on way higher doses..is taking a higher dose more effective?

No idea, this is my first experience with metformin. My dr said to increase the dose every two weeks until I hit 1500.. He says to gradually increase to avoid unpleasant side effects. Do you have a scan appt with him/her soon? Maybe you can question the doc then about dosage increase. Have you noticed any s/e?

Wow ya! Everyone I talk to says that they where told to increase to dose after a few days/week... Hmm... I am scheduled for a scan on March 19th... However she basically just told me to take 500mg for 3 months and if nothing changes in three months she would start me on clomid... Just seems bizarre that she would start me on clomid without increasing the dose of metformin?? Hmmm... Maybe I should call the doctors office and just double check and make sure I am only supposed to be taking the 500mg a day....

 

[Hoping Julie]

Wow ya! Everyone I talk to says that they where told to increase to dose after a few days/week... Hmm... I am scheduled for a scan on March 19th... However she basically just told me to take 500mg for 3 months and if nothing changes in three months she would start me on clomid... Just seems bizarre that she would start me on clomid without increasing the dose of metformin?? Hmmm... Maybe I should call the doctors office and just double check and make sure I am only supposed to be taking the 500mg a day....

I would! She may have very well miscommunicated or just plain been absent minded. Absolutely nothing wrong with questioning her

 

[MollyMalone]

Drs explanations can sometimes be confusing too.
My Dr explained how to gradually increase my metformin, I nodded thinking I had understood, only to realise when I got home that what I thought didn't make sense at all
Thank goodnes that DH had gone in with me and he was able to SLOWLY explain it so I could understand hahaha. He was slagging me too asking what kind of nurse I was... the cheek of him!

 

[ann89]

I was on 1500mg of metformin

 

[Hoping Julie]

Ok i just went from 500 mg to 1000 and I feel dizzy today. Did anyone else experience that?

 

[wantsababeee]

My general dr. diagnosed me with PCOS and put me on 1000mg of metformin a day. It just doesn't seem like enough to me. Everything I look at online leans toward 1500 mg a day. What dose do you take??

Hi my name is Erin, I to have been diagnosed with PCOS I am taking 1500mg of metformin per day my specialist is looking at adding clomid to my next cycle, if you think you can handle a higher dosage check with doctor as that is what I did, I haven't noticed much of a difference as of yet but it has only been a month or so.
Wishing you baby dust