Metformin (Glucophage)-has anyone been able to stop taking this?

(Jane Srygley) #1

One of my hopes in starting keto is getting off the Metformin I’ve been taking for at least 18 years for PCOS… maybe 20+? Has anyone been able to do this?

(bulkbiker) #2

Gave it up after 3 weeks of toilet time…
HbA1c now low end of “normal” all down to keto and intermittent fasting. 3 1/2 years later…

#3

I was taking both insulin and metformin. No more.

(Karim Wassef) #4

Does metformin have negative side effects?

(Paul H) #5

@OgreZed , @MarkGossage How long did it take to get off the meds? Insulin included? At what point did you decide to stop them?

(Paul H) #6

Of all the medications for T2D it’s my understanding this is one of the last to stop taking… It does upset stomachs but, I take 4 500mg pills along with my other meds at one time. Including insulin shots and have never noticed negatives.

(Jane Srygley) #7

I have heard this as well, but in my case, it’s the only one I take. I’ve never been diagnosed with T2 and take it for PCOS.

(Paul H) #8

Gotcha. I am no help with that unfortunately. Might want to add that to the title. People with that issue might notice it and give you more relevant info. :slightly_smiling_face: So many diabetics here.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #9

I would discuss this with your doctor and start reducing your dose if you can. I think most people who took this for diabetes and went keto got off of it from what I read here. I never took it but I dropped a whole slew of medications since I started keto. Best of luck and health to you Jane. :cowboy_hat_face:

(bulkbiker) #10

Never been on insulin… took metformin for 3 weeks then stopped due to inability to leave the house. Diet only since then.

(bulkbiker) #11

Did for me… tied to the toilet all the time I was taking it…!

(Raj Seth) #12

Lacking ovaries, I did not have the symptoms of PCOS :grinning: , but I had the other usual symptoms of the same disease. I got off all medications within 2 1/2 months of adopting the Keto WOE. I was taking max dose metformin for 10 yrs, along with Hypertension meds, statins, sulfolynureas. Stopped all that in 2 1/2 months. Haven’t looked back.

#13

I stopped insulin almost immediately because I was taking it on a sliding scale, when testing my blood sugar before a meal. Something like:

  • 200+ = 2 syringes
  • 160-200 = 1 syringe
  • 140-160 = Half syringe

I waited for 8 months or so before going off metformin, after my next two A1c tests came back as 5.4 (7.3 before keto). Under my doctor’s supervision. First cutting the dosage in half for several weeks, then stopping it altogether. I didn’t really see any change in blood sugars with either cutback. The next A1c was 5.2, the lowest I’ve had since starting keto.

(Paul H) #14

Thank you for sharing.

(559f7a27498819c90d33) #15

How does Metforman work? I have a friend who is very overweight that started taking what he called Glucophage, and he lost lots of weight. He was so thrilled. Does that mean he was T2diabetic?

(Jane Srygley) #16

It reduces the sugar from the liver and also improves insulin sensitivity. Wikipedia has a good article on it. Metformin is generic for Glucophage. You’d have to ask your friend about his diagnosis but it is often prescribed for T2 Diabetes and PCOS.