Metformin - I just found out that

[very-near]

Metformin - I just found out that it is an appetite suppressant

Metformin is an apetite suppressant which is prescribed to help weight loss. I have lost 2.5kg since my last annual checkup (I'm type 2 diabetic) and don't really watch the quantity of food I eat so was at a loss as to why this is until another diabetic I work with said this was the case and had been told this by his GP.

Only another 3 years and I will be down to my target weight

 

[Jonathan M]

No it isn't. Metformin is licensed for use in treatment of diabetes & is an unlicensed drug treatment for Polycystic ovary syndrome. The British National Formulary doesn't list it as being a licenced or unlicenced therapy for weight loss.

Without knowing your individual case you could have lost 2.5kg simply through poor diabetes control. Metformin is probably best described as a weight neutral anti-diabetic drug, and a person would probably see less weight gain if they can control Type 2 diabetes on Metformin than if insulin therapy is introduced, with or without metformin. There is some (very limited) evidence that it may have a role to play in obese Type 1 diabetes management, but this is not for reasons of decreasing appetite.

Metformin has no licence as an appetite suppresor, although side effects can include gastro-intestinal side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarhoea & abdominal pain. These though are usually transient and occur in the immediate weeks after commencing treatment. Some diabetes centres will therefore start a patient on a low dose & titrate upwards over a number of weeks.

Obviosuly it goes without saying that if unstable diabetes control isn't the cause (HbA1c less than 6.5%) then sudden unexpected wieght loss needs discussing with your GP.

 

[Davidc]

And it makes you fart a lot - that doesn't wear off!

 

[very-near]

No it isn't. Metformin is licensed for use in treatment of diabetes & is an unlicensed drug treatment for Polycystic ovary syndrome. The British National Formulary doesn't list it as being a licenced or unlicenced therapy for weight loss.

Without knowing your individual case you could have lost 2.5kg simply through poor diabetes control. Metformin is probably best described as a weight neutral anti-diabetic drug, and a person would probably see less weight gain if they can control Type 2 diabetes on Metformin than if insulin therapy is introduced, with or without metformin. There is some (very limited) evidence that it may have a role to play in obese Type 1 diabetes management, but this is not for reasons of decreasing appetite.

Metformin has no licence as an appetite suppresor, although side effects can include gastro-intestinal side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarhoea & abdominal pain. These though are usually transient and occur in the immediate weeks after commencing treatment. Some diabetes centres will therefore start a patient on a low dose & titrate upwards over a number of weeks.

Obviosuly it goes without saying that if unstable diabetes control isn't the cause (HbA1c less than 6.5%) then sudden unexpected wieght loss needs discussing with your GP.

Mine was 6.6 at the last count down from 7.0 .
It may not be licensed as an appetite suppressor, but there seems to be a fair bit of info statside on its use as this.

Are you a doc ?

 

[very-near]

And it makes you fart a lot - that doesn't wear off!

I've not noticed TBH. I'm using the slow release 'Glucophage' brand (sounds like something out of star trek )

 

[Jonathan M]

Mine was 6.6 at the last count down from 7.0 .
It may not be licensed as an appetite suppressor, but there seems to be a fair bit of info statside on its use as this.

Are you a doc ?

So your weight loss isn't down to poor control, 6.6% is a good level. You describe not watching quantities of food, so it can't be said your weight loss is related to your diabetes therapy, especially as improving diabetes control can often cause weight gain, although 7.0 to 6.6% isn't the sort of massive improvement that is sometimes seen when commencing insulin for example, when weight gain can be significant.

Metformin has been used in obese people who do not have diabetes, but this has often been part of trials aimed at those at significant risk of T2DM, and to the best of my knowledge still doesn't play a significant role in obesity management in the UK.

I'm not a doctor, but I am a registered nurse specialising in diabetes care of children & young people. Sadly we see more & more under 18's with T2DM, which 10 years ago was greatly unheard of in the UK, and Metformin is first line treatment if diet & lfestyle does not make an impact.