Clomid and Metformin - Seekonk,MA

Have you considered that you may be gluten intolerant? This is a hugely underrated cause of infertility/hormonal imbalances. Email me if you want more info...

Hang in there Margret!
My girlfriend also has PCOS and had the same combo of fertility meds-the clomid makes you crazy and i believe the metformin is the culprit for dizziness.I was on clomid also for a cycle and yes success! You'll be happy to know that my girlfriend just had her first baby 3 weeks ago!

Best of luck!

Hi M.,
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. We are in a very similar situation. We started trying when our son was 2 and he's going to turn 4 next month. We're just about to start back on the meds for the 3rd time after taking a break for our sanity. I seem to feel all of the effects of the meds. The only thing that works for me, especially with the headaches, is a Diet Coke. It sounds a little crazy but someone mentioned it to me and I thought I would give it a try. I usually don't drink caffeine since we're usually in some part of the trying-to-conceive cycle, but this seems to help. Whether it's the soda or all in my head, it helps me get through the day. Good luck with everything and I wish you and your family the best.

K.

Hi M..
I have been on clomid before, but not metformin. I know when I was taking clomid, I had symptoms that mirrored Menopause...........crankiness, wicked hot flashes etc. If the symptoms are uncomfortable, I suggest a quick discussion with your nurse or Dr. Good Luck
A.

I have PCOS and take metformin for it. I found that it had really serious intestinal effects for me, and my doctor recommended the "extended release" version, and to definitely take it with meals. My bottle says "Metformin HCL ER". It might be worth asking your doctor about. Good luck!

I struggled with secondary infertility. I did acupuncture and I also went to a Naturopath. I was pregnant within 5 months. I would be very careful about using medication and avoid it whenever possible... especially with the side effects... try the natural approach first. I also have a 2 year old boy... would you be interested in meeting for a playdate? May God Bless you and your family.

Allie

I've been there....It's a horrible struggle! I felt guilty for wanting another one thinking that others thought that I wasn't being appreciative of the fact that I had been able to have one. It hurts just as bad when you want #2 and you can't seem to get it! I took the Clomid for the full six months and then I started injections and ultrasounds almost every other day. My emotions were all over the place and overall I was miserable. I was also on Metformin 1500mg per day and was having horrible diarrhea every morning. During this time we decided to start foster parenting as another way to get our daughter a younger sibling, hoping for adoption because we couldn't afford adoption the "traditional" way. Two months after we had our second foster child placed with us (she was 5 weeks old at the time of placement) I ended up getting pregnant on my own! I had stopped the fertility drugs a couple of months before because we just couldn't afford it any longer and I was on a huge emotional roller coaster. The metformin helped me lose about 40 lbs and when I got pregnant I was the same weight that I had been when I got pregnant with #1. Maybe the weight was the key for me - I don't know. They kept me on the metformin until the end of my first trimester to help reduce the chance of miscarriage. There's a six year difference between the kids (I had been hoping that they'd be about 3 years apart) but we've got him now, and it doesn't matter. The funny thing is that we also adopted our foster daughter and our baby #2 is just one year younger than our adopted child. It's an odd combo but now our family is complete. I truly feel for you - it's a horrible situation to be in. Medically speaking, PCOS has affected me in other ways. I've gained that 40lbs back and I have high blood pressure. I've been taking antidepressants for 10 years and will probably be on them for the rest of my life. I've actually asked the doctor if I can go back on metformin, maybe a lower dose, to help me lose weight but he says no even though my skin is now really oily and I have these dark wiry hairs that grow under my skin - I'm terribly self conscious about that so I'm constantly tweezing them out. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that my story has shown you that you are not alone!!! Hang in there.:)

I had similar side effects while on both of these medications for PCOS, in addition to bloating and constipation. Just to be on the safe side, you should contact your doctor to be sure you don't need the dosage adjusted. Hang in there...it is all worth it. Don't feel alone, there are tons of us out there that have gone through the same thing. I conceived a beautiful, healthy daughter after similar treatment for PCOS (and then went on to have another son without any fertility help). Good luck!

I don't know about the clomid, but I am on metformin for my diabetes and it does cause those side effects.

Here are two websites on the medications.
http://www.advancedfertility.com/metformin.htm
http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/clomid.htm

I've yet to be on both at the same time but have been on both medications at different points. When I was on the clomid, I would get severe migranes. I tried taking what my dr had prescribed for them (800 mg ibuprofen) and would wind up sick so they switched me to roxicet for them only to be used when I was on the clomid. I don't get the dizziness usually with the metformin unless my blood sugar is too low. The nauseaousness seems to be relivent as to whether I eat before taking it or not. If I take it without eating then get in a car, my motion sickness is a little more sensitive than normal. Hence, I make sure to eat before I take it. As for the hot flashes, well, I've had that off and on for years as an indicator that I was close to starting. As far as diagnosing and not having had it before, to my limited understanding, it is something that usually isn't diagnosed til you're in your 30's as they will attempt to treat the infertility side effect of it when you are in your 20's rather than try to find out what is causing it. Some drs will even go so far as to blame some of your habits; especially if you happen to smoke. However, it is fairly common (about 1 in 10 women have it if I remember right) and there are concerns that it may be genetically incoded as they see it more in women whose mothers had it than women whose mothers didn't have it. I personally have to wonder if family history of diabetes comes into play in it as my survivng grandparents have problems with blood sugar and my paternal grandmother was diabetic prior to her death (she had been for years to my understanding from my mother). A really good web site that I love to check everything on is webmd.com. I always find a lot of information on anything I check on there and, as my drs have become accustomed to, brings up more questions for me that I write down and ask when I see them. Admittedly, though, I also think I have great drs as I can call and ask a question and they usually get back to me by the end of the day (even if that means 4 hours after their office closed). Before I end this, a recommendation that my GYN gave me, it may help in the getting pregnant area(and I know they are expensive) to get an ovulation predictor kit. Good luck and best wishes.

I took clomid for our second pregnancy (and we were blessed with triplets, btw...) and I totally remember waking up in a literal puddle of sweat. Not fun! But worth it! I don't specifically remember other side effects, other than the sweats~ Good luck!

Hi M. - I took clomid for a while and definitely had crankiness, hormonal fluctuations, hot flashes and some headaches. I finally looked into acupuncture to minmize the side effects of the clomid and it did wonders...in addition to helping me manage stress and anxiety about the whole situation. I went to Family Acupuncture http://www.acufamily.com in Portsmouth NH. Good luck!

Hi,
We also stuggled with getting pregnant with our second child. I did not take metformin but did take clomid. My husband and I reffered to this time as the clomid crazies. I found it that it had VERY strong side effects. I was very irritable and hormonal along with everything else you mentioned. The good news is that the side effects do go away as soon as you stp taking it. I had spoken with several other friends who had alo taken it and had the same exprience. Good luck and stay positive.
p.s. accupuncture was what finally worked for us. I had never done it and became pregnant very shortly after I began the treatments.

Clomid does evil things to people, but it can be worth it if it works! My daughter (who just turned two) was conceived on our first round of Clomid, during which I felt extremely depressed due to the Clomid. I'd check with your doctor to make sure your side effects are normal, then stick it out if you can. Also, remember that there are many more options if Clomid isn't right for you. We're also trying for number two and struggling with infertility. Clomid didn't work, so now we're on to injectable medications, and even if that doesn't work, as scary as it is, there's the "big gun" (IVF). Hopefully your struggle will be over soon!

Hi there. Not much advice for you, but I can tell you that I was on clomid when we were trying for our 2nd ( undiagnosed infertility) and I definitely had hot flashes, and headaches. My friend was on both of the drugs you mentioned for PCOS, and she had all of the things you mentioned really awful.
Good luck, there is light at the end of the tunnel, we finally got pregnant and had a healthy #2, and randomly (and quickly!) got pregnant w/ #3.
Good luck, you are not alone. I have discovered that infertility is actually quite common.
L.

M.:

Yes such side effects are common with infertility drugs but you might want to run it by one of the nurses at your clinic just to be sure-they may want to adjust your dosage or monitor you more closely depending on the severity of your symptoms.

I would also suggest checking out the webpage by RESOLVE. They are a support organization for infertily. They have message boards and chat rooms and lots of info. You can also find the local chapter for your area. I found this website very helpful when I was going through treatments. Hang in there you are not alone! My advise: gather all the support you can and utlize all the resources available to you while you are going through this:)

N.

HI
I take metformin for my diabetes and it made me sick for about a week. After that I had a couple days of intestinal problems...but then it was ok. If you can, just stick with it and hopefully it will pass like mine did.

I take Metformin for PCOS. Nausea is the main side effect of the Metformin. I take a low dose (500mg)and it drives my stomach crazy. My GYN recommended that I be sure to take the Metformin with a meal. (I take it at lunch because I eat more substantial food then than I do at breakfast.) You can also split up your dose and take it at two different times. I can't comment about Clomid because I haven't taken it.

A lot of women have PCOS. You can find information and support groups for PCOS sufferers online. You are definitely not the only one dealing with this issue. God bless and good luck to you.

Hi M.,

I am sorry I can't give to much info on the clomid/metformin issue as I did not seem to have any side effects from the clomid. I can tell you that you are not alone and that the struggle that you are going through can be well worth it!!! I had secondary infertility and did use the clomid and then went onto shots. Three rounds of IUI's and two rounds of IVF have given me girl/boy twins just a year old. I wish you all the best and know that there are others like you out there that are always will ing to talk!!! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!!! There are many yahoo groups for infertility that you can join and if you want to email me I can surely anything that I may know.

Best of luck to you!!!!
S. @ ____@____.com