Glucophage, also known by the brand name Metformin, is a drug used to treat type II diabetes and has shown promise in treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS have elevated levels of testosterone. Metformin appears to help lower these levels, though research into exactly why Metformin helps PCOS patients is new and ongoing. Lowering testosterone levels can reverse many PCOS symptoms, including weight gain, excess hair growth and infertility.
Instructions
Treat PCOS with Metformin
1. Consult your doctor. According to Dr. Mark Perloe, fertility expert with Georgia Reproductive Specialists, the use of Metformin in treating PCOS is relatively new, and many doctors are not aware of new research indicating that the drug is being used successfully in PCOS cases. If your doctor has not mentioned Metformin as a possible treatment for your PCOS, make an appointment to discuss this option. Go to your appointment prepared to make your case and, if possible, take information regarding PCOS and Metformin to show your doctor. If your doctor is unwilling to write you a prescription for Metformin, consider visiting another doctor who is more open to the potential benefits of the drug.
2. Start with a small dose. Only your doctor can determine the correct starting dose for you, but Metformin is almost always introduced to patients slowly. Its side effects, especially nausea and diarrhea, can be extreme, and so starting use slowly will allow you to adjust. The goal is to reach a dose of between 1,500mg and 2,550mg daily. The time it takes you to reach the top dosage depends on the dose at which your doctor starts you and how well you adapt to the medication. Most patients find it easiest to break up the large dose into two doses per day so that the side effects are lessened.
3. Know what to expect. Metformin is not effective in all PCOS patients, although doctors are not sure why. About 85 percent of women experience an improvement in their PCOS symptoms after taking Metformin for six months, but 20 to 30 percent of women stop taking the drug because they cannot tolerate its side effects.
Likewise, it is not a miracle pill. The patients who have the best luck with Metformin also stick to a healthy diet and exercise regimen. In the long term, about half of the women who keep taking Metformin past six months and change their eating habits see their PCOS improve.
