Metformin-Anyone on this trial?
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gracie
What does the 24 hr urine test for ?
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Ginger, a doctor is not going to say not to take it if you have diabetes.
But diabetes is a leading cause of kidney disease, and metformin is not safe for people with kidney disease. If you walk into a doctor's office, are 50 years old and healthy as a horse, you have much greater odds of being able to take metformin safely than if you walk into a doctor's office, are 50 years old, and have had diabetes for several years. Ironic, isn't it?
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Well, I've had diabetes for 11 years and I safely take metformin. Like any drug, there are potential side effects. And uncontrolled diabetes can cause kidney disease. So metformin is perfectly appropriate for diabetics so long as their liver and kidneys are working properly. And that is why having regular labwork is essential. The point is to control glucose levels so you don't end up with kidney disease, or diabetic retinopathy, or neuropathy, or any of the other nasty side effects that can come from uncontrolled diabetes.
The 24 hour urine catch is a very thorough test for proteins and other problems with your kidneys. You literally "catch" all your urine for a day, then deliver it to your doctor or a lab. Most doctors don't perform that test unless a urinalysis or CMP gives an indication that there might be a problem.
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My mom is 83. She had breast cancer last year and is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and put on this drug. I don't remember her dr saying anything about these tests so I will certainly be asking. Thanks!
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LuvRV'ing - metformin is safe for many people. I didn't mean to imply it's not, but to make some sense of what this other doc has said which on the surface sounds crazy.
Ginger, 24 hour urine has been pretty much replaced with spot urine:creatinine ratios to quantify heavy proteinuria, and with urine microalbumin for screening. 24's aren't very accurate because there are so many collection errors and even most nephrologists don't bother with them anymore. I'm sure if your mom has been diagnosed with diabetes, she's had a "CMP" - that's just shorthand for the usual electrolytes. It might be the most common lab test ever ordered.
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Gee, I am already on Metformin for diabetes. I hope this works for me.
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Outfield, thanks for that info. I will take a look at her labs.
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I'm just guessing, but it's probably all in how it's being used. If you're diabetic, it's a good thing. If you're not, and using it for cancer treatment like I am, it's probably a little less safe because my kidney (only have one), is already being compromised by pamidronate for bone mets. I seem to remember him saying something along those lines when he gave me the prescription. I guess that's why all the tests. I'm assuming he just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be hit with a double whammy of diabetes and a bisphosphonate because they are so hard on kidneys to begin with. I'll ask next time I go in. LuvRving, thanks for the explanation of what the 24 hour urine is for....I didn't know myself.
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I have to say that I've been diabetic for a long time and never had to do a 24 hour catch. I agree with Outfield - a urinalysis and the CMP usually is enough. But I can understand where extra caution might be required, like if you have just one kidney.
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Metformin is starting to sound like a miracle drug! Repairing brain cels too? Pretty sure I could use some of that.
My MO brushed me off when I asked about it. Hoping to have better luck with my PCP next week. If no, there is still an Integrative doctor I can try in September when I finally get to see her.
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I saw the endocronoligst today. He mentioned my blood sugar HBA1C levels if I have that right...are not really too high. I am kind of on the cusp. At first I didn't think he was going to write me a script but then he seemed to change his mind. He gave me the extended release form of Metformin/GLuchophage brand name. I know the clinical trials are just doing Metformin but I guess the extended release has less side effects but they do the same job.
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For those ladies that are actually on the trail...are you taking generic Metformin or are you taking the Brand name.....Glucophage?
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Smiley,
My big bottle of pills for the trial just says Metformin 850mg or Placebo so no way to know!
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Smiley - Metformin has been generic for years, so it's highly probable that the trial med is the generic version.
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Since we're involved in a clinical trial, we have no idea WHAT we are taking. We've all been randomized to either 1) receive metformin or 2) receive a placebo. Since the trial is what's known as "double blind", our oncologists don't know either. No one will know who was randomized to what group until the end of the study when the codes are broken.
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It's been interesting to explain the trial to other medical professionals. I went to see a podiatrist for the first time recently (taxol wrecked my toenails, they have been growing back slowly and oddly so MO suggested I try that), and on the medications section of the form I basically put exactly what's on the bottle: Metformin or placebo. The pod was quite interested in hearing more about that (he's not affiliated with the teaching hospitals here).....
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I mentioned it to my naturopath and his eyes lit right up! He wanted all the details and was fascinated that a drug for something else entirely, might prove beneficial for breast cancer.
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How many days do you go off this before a scan? And what does Metformin do to a scan or scan resutls?
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http://radiology.yale.edu/patientcare/physicians/er/contrastquestions.aspx
Seems to only be a problem if your kidneys are operating at less than optimum level. The concern is not in what the scan will show but kidney damage from the dye.
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Purple, metformin is free at my grocery store, so check around. My pcp prescribed it and basically said the same thing as another poster. Don't run it through insurance. You don't need to have diabetes on your record.
My husband is pre-diabetic. He doesn't take anything yet, but does est. I know he doesn't run it through insurance, and he is cheap. I will have to ask him where he gets his strips.
I take tamoxifen also. With both drus, I neither gained nor lost weight. Stayed pretty much the same.
I have been kind of surprised at the number of doctors that are familiar with the trial, yet not cancer related docs. At my last fat grafting surgery, my anesthesiologist knew all about it and my PS didn't. He couldn't believe the sleep doc knew about it.
When I was originally supposed to be in the trial, before they realized my tumor was a smidge too small, the onc in charge at the med center said they discovered the potential when they realized that diabetics with breast cancer who were also on metformin were having far less recurrences than those on other diabetic drugs.0 -
fluffqueen.... how many fatgrafting surgeries have you had? I am having my first in early fall,, Did it make a difference? Are you happy with the result? How much pain and how long were you off work?
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I am on the blind study, I have started 3 weeks ago tomorrow and I have only had 3 to 4 days of side effects of runny stool, it seems to have gone away. I wonder now whether I have the placebo, has anyone else had minor side effects from metformin?
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Interesting you mention that fluffqueen. When my family physician and I were discussing the drug I immediately asked why my oncologist hadn't put me on it, or everybody else with cancer for that matter. He said that they are bound by the rules of the clinical trials. Even though they may know of it's benefits, they probably don't want to give false hope to someone by mentioning a drug they can't prescribe outside of their mandate. Kind of a yucky position to be in...but good for us that other doctors are being made aware. I'll never know for sure, and I'm not going to ask, but I have a distinct feeling my onc may have contacted my doctor to recommend it...just because he brought it up out of the blue and was so overly prepared with all the information right there in front of him. Made me wonder anyway. However it happened, I'm certainly glad it did...and happy for others who've been lucky enough to get it via other sources. Been a long time since such a hopeful discovery has been made.
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Hi fluffqueen
THX . Yes, I went through Walmart.
I have changed my diet a lot since my DX, and in the past ( months ago) I used to use a meter a friend had and I would avg 100 or so fasting.
Now it is steady at 91, fasting.
I cannot believe it is from the metfomin as I only take one (so far) and it's been about a week. With such a low number, I am a little concerned now about titrating upward !
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Purple - no need to worry unless you start seeing 70's. Your numbers are absolutely normal!
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THX LuvRVing
I appreciate knowing that . You're always such a help!
I truly believe it is the dietary changes. I was a BIG carb addict, and I have pretty much cut all the bad carbs ...eating lots of fruit though.In any case, I am a little concerned about taking *more* metformin which these norm numbers. It's not that I wanted to be pre-diabetic or on the cusp, but I felt if the metformin brought me from 100 to 97, fine. That is, all 4 pills of metformin! I dunno'.
Think I will watch my numbers for another week anyway.Going to my PCP tomorrow. Of course, I must tell him I am on it, but not sure what I will say as to why. I dont think my endo dr. will be too happy with the whole thing. I certainly cant say I'm diabetic. I also dont want him thinking she's a jerk.
What to do ?
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Purple, I just picked up my prescription yesterday, where they have a f,yer on their free diabetic program. I noticed that universal lancets are free also, with a prescription, so you might check around your area to see if someone has a similar program.
Ossa, I have had one, but since I have maxxed out my insurance this year, I am going to have another final boost. For me, I would have done the whole thing with fat and no implant if he, or someone near me did that. It made a big difference. I had a red area where the skin was thin due to an infection. He grafted around that and filled in the upper pole. My nurse
Practitioner best friend is with me going to my vaccine trial, so she had the big reveal last night. Felt them and checked them out and said she was really impressed. My ps is going to a conference in August and has promised to go to the fat grafting seminars, to see if he learns anything new. Then I will have my booster after that.0 -
Thanks fluffqueen.
That would be amazing! It's the strips that cost.
My BS was 87 this morning. I used to avg 99/100.This is one pill and a change in diet. I have to say, I'm pretty concernd about upping the dosage at this point :>(
Has anyone else had a similar drop ?
Feel like I was better off with the sugar filled junk food habit.....ironically!
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