metformin

Oreobaby · #1 July 15th, 2009, 10:31 AM

For those of you that took Metformin to get PG, how long did you take it once you got your

did you stop taking metformin? My fertility specialist said that I should take it for the first tri-mester, but then I could stop, but I'm really nervous after hearing some stories of people having miscarriages after they stopped taking it, and I'm just not sure when they miscarried, and if I should continue to take it. I'm super nervous now that I have gotten used to the idea of having a baby bean, of lossing it.

Any help you girls could offer would be great. I know I never really joined you here, but do lurk.

Carrie429 · #2 July 15th, 2009, 11:41 AM

I am weaning off currently - only a few days left at 500mg.

After the first trimester the benefit regarding miscarriage is no longer applicable - as I understand it our (PCOSers) risks are the same as everyone else, with or without Met. I'd wean off though - I was told the great risk of losing the baby at anytime regarding met is when stopping it abruptly.

there is question regarding if staying on Met for longer (2nd tri, entire pregnancy, whatever) reduces the risk of gestational diabetes. From the way I heard people talking about this it was clear as day - stay on met, don't get GD. It is NOT quite so clear. My doctor went and researched this and decided to take me off anyway... So I went and researched and printed articles and you name it to bring into my doctor to make a case to stay on met...
In the end I didn't show them to her - Yes, there are several studies that say there IS a reduced risk of GD by staying on met... but I also found several studies, recent ones too, that say there is no significance. I wish they'd do more research on it.

imo - While there doesn't seem to be any harm to mom or baby by staying on the drug, I personally don't want to take any drug during pregnancy (or whenever) when there isn't any clear reason for me to do so. Who knows what they might figure out 10 years from now. I think for some people - diabetics, those who have had GD in the past, higher risk of getting it, etc - staying on the drug for any possible benefit makes sense. But all of my doctors feel its best for me to go off and at this point I agree. Even so I'm still worried - I'm worried its going to hurt the baby or that I'm going to get GD or whatever... But I guess those are bridges I'll have to cross when I get to them and I know I'd be worried to a certain extent regardless.

Outside of the worry I'm actually looking forward to going off met.

Nyzira · #3 July 15th, 2009, 01:40 PM

I answered you in the other thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrie429

I wish they'd do more research on it.

I actually know the answer to this! The reason there's not more research on the effects of various drugs during pregnancy is because it goes against medical ethics so they avoid it. Instead, they have "registries" where a pregnant patient (or her doctor) calls in and signs up and the registry company kind of just follows the pregnancy and after to see what problems arise, if any, and if they are related to the drug or not. As a result, it take a MUCH longer time to get any good numbers on it.

I'm currently on a registry for the anti-epileptic Lamictal, which I'm taking for bipolar II. They sent me a stack of paperwork to fill out and will be contacting me in the 3rd trimester and then a couple more times after the baby is born.

Carrie429 · #4 July 15th, 2009, 03:51 PM

I know/understand the ethics behind it (had to deal with ethics boards and dealings in college

) I just wish there were more clear answers is a better way to put it

This is a hard issue, at least it was for me (and still is). I hate unknowns lol.

*Stephanie* · #5 July 15th, 2009, 05:31 PM

I took it until the end of the first trimester and then I stopped cold turkey per my ob. Everything went well for me, I'm almost 37 weeks preggo now.

Oreobaby · #6 July 16th, 2009, 08:35 AM

Thanks girls...I will definately wean off of them...(I had planned on it cause it made sense weaning off wince I had to wean on. Thanks ladies!!

polarbearmama · #7 July 16th, 2009, 11:57 AM

I was extremely apprehensive to go off my Met (I was taking 1500mg/daily) at the end of my first trimester and actually didn't stop it until I was 15 weeks along. I explained to my doctor my worries about the co-relation between miscarriage rates and stopping met as well as the possibility of preventing GD.

She assured me that the studies were inconclusive about the miscarriage rate, especially once you get past the 1st trimester. I also spoke with a high risk (perinatologist, sp??) OB doctor about the situation and he said if I were to miscarry once the metformin is stopped after the 1st trimester, however tragic, it is more likely due to abnormalities within the baby and not the actual stopping of the met, though at the time, it didn't seem reassuring (though the logic made sense to me).

My doc also said that if I indeed do have GD or are prone to GD, then there are better ways to control it than taking Met, especially since I am not diabetic to begin with.

This has been my experience, I hope that helps!

STL_Beth · #8 July 16th, 2009, 12:34 PM

I think I answered this in other threads but it appears I'm the odd one out. My OB actually wants me to stay on the whole time. It said it would be ok if I backed down to like 1000 mg but if I'm not noticing any side effects while pregnant than it's not that big of a deal. We didn't go into a lengthy discussion on it, but it seems like if you are insulin resistant before pregnancy, you would still be during pregnancy. I think I'm with you guys when I say that I also wish there was more research on this topic. It almost seems like it doesn't really do much to help or do anything to harm, so it could just be something that doesn't affect pregnancy AT ALL!

Nyzira · #9 July 16th, 2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STL_Beth

We didn't go into a lengthy discussion on it, but it seems like if you are insulin resistant before pregnancy, you would still be during pregnancy.

I think that might be the key differentiation. Not everyone on met for PCOS (like me) is actually IR so there's less of a reason to take it throughout pregnancy whereas if you actually are IR, it's best to treat you as if you're diabetic.... and a doctor wouldn't take a diabetic off of met when she got pregnant.

Of course, I don't know everyone else's situations nor do I pretend to play doctor but I like to think that I have an idea of where the various doctors are coming from in these decisions.

DawnN · #10 July 21st, 2009, 06:50 PM

After losing a baby when getting off of Metformin (during the first trimester), I did a bunch of research and brought it to my obgyn who agreed for me to stay on it my entire pg with my dd Sarah. I have been taking 2000 mg. of metformin a day since July 2003 (other than the short time I stopped in 2004 ..which ended in a m/c).

Not only does it make your womb more hospitable to the baby, but it helps keep mommy healthy. My thoughts (for what they're worth

), is that a healthy mommy will certainly be better in making a healthy baby. Also, my endocrinologist (who originally put me on the Metformin) told me that it would help prevent gestational diabetes (and it did in all three of my kid's pg's).

Another wonderful benefit of Metformin that I found out, for those with pcos, is that it helps with milk production.

Personally, Metformin has made such a drastic change in my health and life that I won't go off of it until Menopause or death (depending on which the doctor recommends lol). I'm not diabetic, but without the Metformin, my tests came up a bit abnormal for insulin resistance. It truly has made my quality of life soooo much better.

WoodysWife2005 · #11 August 16th, 2009, 10:17 AM

I had my Dr. appt last Monday and I told her I did not feel comfortable going off Met. I explained to her that the reason I was on it to begin with (as I am not diabetic) is because my hormones were all out of whack- met has helped tremendously with keeping me level. They suspect I am insulin resistant as well. She said she was fine with that, I could stay on it all the way thru or if I decided I wanted to lower it or go off at some point, I could do that also. The same day I met with my endocronologist and told her about this and she was also fine with it. She said she does have patients that tried to go off as well, but many realized they did not feel right being off it and felt inbalanced. I take mine at the same times approx each day- if I get too far off from either time, I feel the difference. So, for now, I'm staying on. The NT ultrasound I took later that same day showed our baby actually growing quite well- even ahead of schedule a bit and things look good. Good luck to you all. I really believe it is a personal decision.

I totally believe it is a quality of life decision for me too. I feel so much better and level hormonally (as much as you can be pregnant), but one less worry for me.