Metformin for weight loss??

Does anyone have any experiences with metformin & weight loss?

I had a conversation with my Dr early last year (before the cansas were discovered) about the weight around my middle, my fatty liver issue, and insulin resistance since it seems to hard to budge.

She said "I have no doubt that you could be insulin resistant"...we then segued onto some other discussion (probably about low-GI diets).

But now I'm wondering, if insulin-resistance-related health conditions are treated using metformin, then doesn't it make sense that insulin-resistant overweightness could also be assited with metformin (in conjuction with diet & exercise)? Has anyone discussed this with their dr or used metformin in this way?

ETA- this is of double interest to me because of the role of insulin in the formation of cancers - some studies suggest that metformin reduces breast cancer incidence.

That's why I'm back on Metformin MD - my GP said that they don't know why it works for PCOS, but it also helps with weightloss which can't be a bad thing in my case :) I think because it helps the body use the sugars correctly, instead of turning them into fat? Not 100% sure TBH, but it was definitely one of the reasons I was put on it again :)

I don't think they'd specifically use metformin for weightloss.. the weightloss is kind of a bonus side effect.. but then not everyone has the weightloss. I wasn't on it long enough to see any weightloss.. I was pregnant the 2nd cycle on it.

But yeah.. if they treat your insulin resistance with it, it could well help! Wow at the connection to reducing breastcancer incidence.

Berenice, have you noticed that is has helped with your weightloss - was there a noticeable boost?

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Berenice, have you noticed that is has helped with your weightloss - was there a noticeable boost?

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I've only been back on it for a couple of weeks, so not really long enough to notice. Last time I was on it I lost 5 kgs, but I also had diarrhoea for 4 months straight, so that mightve been it :)

I'll let you know though!

I was put on Diabex- XR (metformin) for 3 months. My doctor said its used for insulin resistance but has been used for weightloss (as usually a high insulin resistance is the cause) and many women have used it as a fertility drug as it increases womens fertility.

After the 3 months of being on it i lost 9kgs. Didn't exersise didnt really change my diet.

i took Metformin for 6 weeks before the DR told me to stop because i was pregnant(thats a whole other issue) i lost 1kg a week using it.. by 12weeks being pregnant i had lost 12kg and have only put 4-6kg of it back on & im nearly 29weeks. If i cant breastfeed with this baby, i will be going back on Metformin for my PCOS(i orginally went on it to help fall pregnant which it did, i was pregnant within the 1st month) but also since it helped shift the weight because it stabled my insulin levels. theres no harm in giving it a shot :)

Hi Marydean

I regard metformin as being somewhat of a wonder drug and all my friends wanted to get a prescription!

I had mild PCOS and borderline insulin resistance, and weight kept slowly going up despite a great diet and exercise. I got to the stage where I was a the uppermost limit of my 'healthy' BMI.

Then I started on the metformin. In the first month (no grog, tried to do low GI eating, and extra exercise) I lost 5 kg. The following 3 months (yes grog, whatever GI, bugger all exercise!) I continued to lose 1kg per month. It also regulated my period. I then stopped as I was UTD.

Incidentally I did NOT get the gastro intestinal side effects that most people get (cramps and the runs). In fact I became more 'solid' on it, which was a good thing for me (i have a bit of irritable bowel).

I believe they are prescribing it for weight loss overseas but it hasn't been approved for solely those purposes in Australia yet? But if you have insulin/hormonal issues you can probably get a script :)

Of course no medication is risk free and if you are taking it for some period of time you should make a note to ask your doc about having certain vitamin levels tested. - apparently an issue with metformin.

GL

Wow those are some great results!

I've done a bit more reading and it seems like the only big weightloss studies have been in children & adolescents - so it'll be interesting to see what my (excellent) GP has to say on the matter.

I didn't lose an ounce sadly...

Been on it for years and the only way I lost weight was damn hard work..

My endo did tell me that for 'some' people 'some' weightloss will happen.

Sadly, I know many people taking it and no weight change. Mine only happened later and it was by choice...