I went to the doc yesterday b/c I have gained 30 lbs. in a two year period while also doing Weight Watchers. He persribed me Glucophage (500 mg per day) and Phentermeen. I am concerned b/c I am not diabetic. This may sound dumb, but can taking a med that is for diabetics, give me diabetes? He gave it to me strictly for weight loss. I am afriad to take it, not only am i worried about taking a med for a condition I don't have, but I am also concerned with the side effects. I heard it causes bad diarrah. That would be enough to make me not take it. Does anyone have this same issue? Also, does anyone take Phentermeen? I am so scared, will these harm my body? HELP PLEASE!

Glucophage (metformin) is frequently prescribed for conditions other than diabetes, such as weight loss and PCOS/PCOD. Everyone will experience different side effects so it's impossible to say which ones, if any, you might encounter. It gave me stomach problems when I first started taking it, so I now take it with my meal instead of beforehand and the problems have disappeared. I've been on it for over 2 years.

Have you lost weight? I am also on Phentermine, but haven't started Gluc. b/c I have been so scared. I am only suppose to take one a day, maybe I'll take mine with food just in case.

I lost quite of bit of weight, but I also modified my diet at the same time to get my diabetes under control, so I don't know if the metformin had anything to do with the weight loss or not.

Don't be scared, just try it and see how it goes.

Don't worry about it causing diabetes. It's actually been shown to help prevent diabetes in people with pre-diabetes conditions (like insulin resistance, which you very well might have with the extra weight). Most people who I've read who've been on it say the side effects stop after a week or so, your body just needs time to adjust. I was put on it b/c I have PCOS, which most doctors think is caused by insulin resistance. I went off it b/c it was causing vomitting, and I just couldn't stand that. It also cuased diarrhea, but not so bad. Anyway, some people have no problem. What has helped me regulate my cycles (which the PCOS was messing up) was the South Beach Diet, that's all I needed. Have you looked at just doing a low carb or good carb diet like the south beach diet?

I do weight watcher's, and when I stick to it, it works well. I had labs done on Friday to see if I have a blood sugar problem, and when I find out for sure, I will then decide whether or not to take the Metformin. I would like to, I need to lose weight.

You won't get diabetes if you take Glucophage or when you stop taking it. It is used for other things such as regulating hormones in women who cannot conceive. It helped me lose weight because it made me feel full and, yes, I'm sure the loose bowels helped too. It is not bad--doesn't give me cramps or anything. Most of the time it was in the morning and then it stopped having that side effect. I do not have any side effects from GLucophage now. I'm glad I was put on it. I would try it. I am not sure about mixing it with phentermine. I took phen fen before it was found to be a problem, but I never mixed phen with glucophage. Maybe try the GLuco first? It's always hard to make those decisions.


I went to the doc yesterday b/c I have gained 30 lbs. in a two year period while also doing Weight Watchers. He persribed me Glucophage (500 mg per day) and Phentermeen. I am concerned b/c I am not diabetic. This may sound dumb, but can taking a med that is for diabetics, give me diabetes? He gave it to me strictly for weight loss. I am afriad to take it, not only am i worried about taking a med for a condition I don't have, but I am also concerned with the side effects. I heard it causes bad diarrah. That would be enough to make me not take it. Does anyone have this same issue? Also, does anyone take Phentermeen? I am so scared, will these harm my body? HELP PLEASE!

You won't get diabetes if you take Glucophage or when you stop taking it. It is used for other things such as regulating hormones in women who cannot conceive. It helped me lose weight because it made me feel full and, yes, I'm sure the loose bowels helped too. It is not bad--doesn't give me cramps or anything. Most of the time it was in the morning and then it stopped having that side effect. I do not have any side effects from GLucophage now. I'm glad I was put on it. I would try it. I am not sure about mixing it with phentermine. I took phen fen before it was found to be a problem, but I never mixed phen with glucophage. Maybe try the GLuco first? It's always hard to make those decisions.Also-------ALWAYS ALWAYS take glucophage after eating. Always. I can't describe the nausea you will experience if you don't. I've never been nauseous after eating though.

Insecure,
I'm curious...did you try it yet? I had the 3 hour glucose tolerance test yesterday and I'm sure Doc wants to put me on metformin. We're almost 90% sure I have PCOS along with hashimotos/hypothyroidism......uuuggghhh.
He said we may try it just for the weight loss if nothing else.....so I guess it is used for other things besides diabetes.
Has anyone else lost weight using this medicine? I'm already on South Beach and have been for almost a year. I also exercise....but no weight loss.

I am pre-diabetic, and a month ago my endocrinologist put me on metformin, a glucophage, and told me that research has shown that it can help prevent or forestall the development of Type II diabetes. My brother, who is seven years older than I am, developed Type II at a few years older than I am.

I have since discovered a couple of things that seem to reduce my glucose readings more than the metformin.

1) Cinnamon. If I put 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon in my tea or oatmeal in the morning, my blood sugar stays well within normal levels.

2) Spice drops--This is a shocker, and I found it out by accident. I am not recommending that anyone do this who is actually diabetic, but a few days ago I found that eating a handful of spice drops (those small gumdrops) actually decreases my blood sugar. Can anyone tell me why this would happen? I get my lowest readings for six hours after eating spice drops.

I have dawn syndrome (saw someone else comment on this). If I have a normal dinner and no cinnamon or spice drops at night, then my blood sugar is about 115 - 125 in the morning. If I have cinnamon at night, it will be about 100 in the morning, but if I have spice drops at night, it will be 75 in the morning.

One other thing--for about 4 years I've had peripheral neuropathy--tingling and numbness in the toes--at night. When the doctor tested my sensitivity he had to go halfway up my shin before I could detect the electric charge. He said this was indicative of the pre-diabetic condition and one of the first indicators of insulin resistance.

This is my first question to the board. I don't know how to start a new post, so I attached this to another one.

Thanks for any reasons you might be able to give me on why spice drops candy reduce my blood sugar for hours instead of raise it. That's totally confusing me.

Just bumping this to see if anyone has an answer...my grandmother used to love those spice drops!!