Starting Metformin

I have gained nearly 20 lbs since starting clozaril in February. I eat healthy and exercise when I can but the weight is just happening. I'm now 100 lbs. over my pre-psych med weight.

I saw my family dr. today and he agreed I can try Metformin (in case this makes no sense it is a diabetes drug that sometimes helps with weight loss from APs.). He isn't sure I can tolerate it because my blood sugar was a little low when it was drawn but I think it was more than 12 hours of fasting. And I have glucose tabs in case. But hopefully it will all be fine.

I am really hoping this at least stops the weight gain. I really want to lose weight but I would be happy if it just stops me from gaining weight constantly. I have no option with going off clozaril since it is the only stuff that works and if I stopped it I would just be without meds that work.

So I'm excited and scared both. (And I don't know when I'm starting it because my doctor had to call in a bunch of scripts and sort of forgot thi one).

Good luck! I'm about 100lbs over what I used to be before this thrilling bipolar journey. I just can't find any motivation to do anything about it. I applaud your effort! (I was eating a bowl of cereal as I wrote this )

I have had great luck with Metformin.

What we are doing is called taking a medication 'off label'. Doctors are still studying this but it is showing good results and becoming more common. I am guessing you take great amounts of Seroquel (Quetiapine). Some studies have linked diabetes to high doses of Seroquel. The Metformin apparently has the additional benefit of staving this off.

I lost about 30lbs in three months and I credit the Metformin.

BUT, I was prescribed an anti-obsessive since and put it back on. Thankfully this medication was withdrawn. It has been a few months and the weight loss is happening again.

Did you have any trouble with it? My vague understanding is that eating carbs can lead to diarrhea or is that just a side effect that doesn't always happen? I did some reading about it and didn't get a very clear understanding and didn't ask the doctor about that.]\

I'm glad you've had a good experience and hope it works for me too.

Wishing you the best!!! HUGS

(looks like we were posting over one another, I edited my post above)

I've never noticed any problem like this.

Good! I hope my dr gets it called in so I can get started and see what happens. I can't stand to gain more weight. We're still trying to get my dose worked out so that I have motivation to do things like exercise. It's tricky and is taking some time. The doctor also said my thyroid med may need adjusted but it's borderline right now and he doesn't want to mess with my metabolism when I'm getting frequent psych med adjustments. So I'll get another blood test later.

I really hope this stuff helps. Even if I just get to where I was before clozaril I'll be happy. Still fat but happy.

I tried metformin but couldn't handle the diarrhea. Good luck to you tho.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but its not just eating carbs that cause me the diarrhea. I have had diarrhea for about 3 years now because of metformin. About two to 3 times a week I cant really leave the house its so bad.

I really hope this works out for you. As for me I would practically saw off a leg to get my Dr to take me off metformin. This appointment I am going to push the issue and I don't care if my Dr. likes it or not. I am fed up with these diabetes pills especially since the other one put me in the hospital. I want to go on insulin and might just refuse to take anymore diabetes pills until someone decides to listen to me and put me on it.

Did you talk to your pdoc? They sometimes will prescribe topomax for the weight loss caused by meds. Hopefully the Metformin will help though.
best part of topomax for me? I gave up my soda addiction because it makes soda taste flat...no sense in drinking it! And in just that part I lost some weight.

I tried Metformin. It didn't do anything for me but I didn't have any problems with diarrhea either. I ended up having weight loss surgery in April (and have lost 91 lbs so far with that).

I'm sorry it's been so difficult for you. I'm on a whole lot of medication for constipation so going off that may be enough to neutralize any diarrhea. I guess I'll know soon.

I hope your doctor works with you at your appointment.

I'm on topamax already. But I don't tolerate it well and haven't been able to take more than 25 mg. I think with clozaril I also need something that affects my metabolism since the clozaril really screws it up. We'll see soon I guess.

Me too I really wish she would just listen to me. I really hope the metformin works out for you. You would think with all the diarrhea I would have lost at least some weight but I haven't. I honestly do hope this works out for you, I guess it does for some people. Good luck

Hugs

I think it works for weight control better when it is used off-label for AP related insulin resistance than it does for diabetes. Which seems really unfair; if you have diabetes you should get rewarded for taking your meds.

I have a scary family history with diabetes so losing this weight or at least stopping the gain is really important or I'll be fighting both battles too.

Yeah I don't blame you. You really do want to get a handle on it before you wind up with diabetes. With a strong family history I would be asking for an A1C as often as they will give you one just to be safe. Out of the two I will still say being bipolar still sucks worse but diabetes runs a close second.

I get A1Cs annually or twice a year if it goes up. After changing from Seroquel this year it actually went down to 5.6 so it's really good right now. But we're pretty careful since diabetes killed several of my uncles and runs rampant on one side and on the other there's been at least one bad case. 100 extra lbs is just asking for it though. I just keep praying this works.

That's great Polibeth! Congratulations!