Why take Meds

[RayDS]

Let me explain. I was taking a combo drug name ActosPlusMet. I was taking this once per day and the dosage was 15mg of Actos and 850mg of Metformin. I also was taking Junavia, 100mg once per day. I have not taken these drugs in 6 months. Now my BG numbers are starting to creep back up. I have decided to start back taking the drugs listed herein except for the Junavia.

Is it ok to stop and start meds? My numbers were so good so I stopped and now they are starting to creep back up. I have done this before and I works well for me. I will start getting lows.

I exercise 5-6 days a week and I am in overall good health. I suspect at some point I will discontinue the meds again. I this a good Idea. I do not need a physicians to tell me this. The physician only diagnosis the problem however; it is up to us to treat our illness. :confused:

[princesslinda]

The only medication you are on that I have any experience with is metformin....and it can take a few weeks to build to optimal levels in your body....so it can also take a few weeks to totally get out of your system. Therefore, it would not be the best medication IMO to take sporadically, as the effects would slowly build or taper off.

I'd definitely suggest increased testing as you add or delete meds, so you can see any trends upwards or downwards with your blood sugar.

[RayDS]

I test alot now. I agree with the amount of time it takes to get in your system. Thank you for your input.

[cherokee_psh]

I've used both metformin and januvia. For me Januvia worked better. As far as it taking time to build up, I'm unclear beacuse I went straight from metformin to Januvia.

[TomB]

Every now and then I get to eliminate a pill, a cause for real celebration. We won't talk about swapping all diabetic pills for insulin. If you can maintain good numbers, go for it. But of course, there's got to be a "But."
. Morning fasting BG < 110mg/dl? Great. If it's usually under a hundred you might want to check it once or twice a week.
. Post Prandial - the old 2 hour thing after a meal < 140? Great.
. Random < 140mg. This is the one that nails me a lot. 45 minutes to an hour after a meal. 3 or 4 hours after a meal, I can bang out a 300+ without a clue as to why.
FYI - I took Actos for several years until one day it took me hypo and the more sugar I ate, the more hypo I would go. After a few of those, it was identified as the culprit and eliminated. Took metformin for many years, sulfas had killer side effects so out they went. Now, I shoot insulin 3 or 4 times a day and it's working kind of OK.
Keep doing whatever keeps you off the meds until your body says differently.
Good luck,
Tom

[busdriver]

I have a similar question.

Last week, I was waking up in the morning in the 180s and decided to try to improve my control. I've been exercising a lot and eating much better (and much less). Now I'm in the 90s the last few mornings.

I take Metformin 2X850mg and Glucotrol XL 1X5mg. I would really, really like to get off the Glucotrol....to eliminate possible lows and/or burning out (what's left of) my pancreas. Is this realistic?

PS: My doc is a total waste of time...I just go to him for his convenient hours. After 20 years, I seriously doubt he could tell me my name. The extent of our conversations about my D is...he asks "How's your BGs"....I say "pretty good".....and that's the end of that...LOL

[RayDS]

Good stuff and support....I love you GUY...and Girls

[RayDS]

Busdriver,

You have a great point about the Doc's. They really do not care about your health. I believe they have desensitized to us. They believe that all diabetics are alike and they do not care about complications. ****, I would not be here talking with you guys if I did not care.
I have recieved more advice here than from and "MD"

[EsMom]

I've been on Metformin now for 5 weeks and feel worse than when I started, even though my BG has been great. I feel extremely tired/fatigued and lots of stomach problems that I can't seem to shake. I have a f/u with my endo next week, which will be 6 weeks since diagnosis (and 6 weeks on Met). I'll get the results of my blood work then too (GAD, c-peptide, islet cell, etc). If those come back normal I'm thinking of trying diet and exercise for a while and seeing what happens.

My fastings have always been normal, it's the post prandials that shoot up (normal up to mid-200's).

Anyone else feel like "you-know-what" on Metformin? I don't think it's uncommon!

[TomB]

EsMom -
Are you taking metformin XR? That's the extended release type and is a lot easier on your digestive track. As for your doctor's appointment, I suggest that you write down your list of issues, problems and concerns. Hand it to the doc, tell him you forget stuff so please write down his instructions to you. Take along your meter and if don't have the capability to download its data to your computer, yet, then make a table of your last week's BG numbers with time and what you ate. I have not yet met a doctor who wasn't favorably impressed when I presented that kind of stuff. FYI - a random glucose test, one that's taken at any time, >200mg/dl is diabetic.
Best to you,
Tom

[RayDS]

I agree. You are no longer Pre-diabetic with reading >200mg/dl. EsMom, you very well could use diet and exercise to control your diabetes. Good luck

[busdriver]

Man, I just don't trust these MDs when it comes to drugs!

I just got home from my doctor's and while I was sitting in the waiting room, this guy in a suit and 2 of those huge salesman type handbags comes walking out of the back. I figure he had to be a drug salesman....what patient carries all that stuff into an appointment?

I get back there, and the doc says, "whatta you say we try a different BP med" and starts stacking up sample boxes on the desk. Was this a co-incidence....or did the doc just get an offer he couldn't refuse?

I imagine (but am not at all sure) that overt payments (kickbacks) to doctors from big pharma would be illegal/unethical, but I wouldn't put anything past these SOBs. Do they wine and dine the doctors? Weekend golf outings and the like?

And since IMO the FDA is a wholly owned subsidiary of big pharma....if I can help it, I ain't trying any new wonder drugs until it's known if they'll kill ya! It seems that the last three diabetes drugs have either been pulled (rezulin) or have raised serious questions about their safety (Avandia & Janumet).

I know one thing, I trust the University of Sydney FAR more than the FDA and/or the big drug companies!

Or maybe I'm just too cynical, and my doc and the guy in the suit are deeply concerned for my well-being?

[dkyle]

Sure they are...... and the government is here to help
:)

[Jacque]

I am sure we have all felt the way you feel about doctors at one point or another in our lives. :)

By the way, what's so special about the University of Sydney ?

[Ed B]

Very good question. I have a similar question that I intended to create a thread for. I'll add it here and hope I am not hijacking.

I also take ActoPlus Met. That is the only diabetes medicine I am on at this time. I am admittedly not very religious about taking it. If my numbers are a little high I will take it. If they are “OK” and I know I am eating right (low carb – no sugar) I tend to skip the dose… sometimes for a couple of days.

I was instructed to take it twice a day with food back in 2007 when I was diagnosed. At times I have stopped taking it for a few months because I was being fairly active and my numbers were pretty good. The reason I tend not to take it regularly is I am concerned with going low.

Is going hypo a real concern with ActoPlus Met if I am not doing strenuous activities? In a normal day where I drive from home to my desk and back home to the TV and computer, can this medicine cause me to go low if my BG level is in 120 or less range at the time and well after my last meal?

As a point of reference, I begin to feel the effects of going hypo when my meter shows I am in the high 70s and sometimes as high as 80ish depending on how fast my numbers dropped. 80 is supposed to be good but I get shaky, sweaty and can feel myself getting close to feinting in the low to mid 70s based on my meter.

I am wondering if I am approaching this particular medicine the wrong way. If ActoPlus Met does not work in a way that can have a quick lowering effect on BG levels then I should just take it regularly - morning and evening - unless I am about to work out or do some strenuous activities. On the other hand, if taking it can bring my BG level down within the next few hours because of taking it, then maybe I shouldn't take it if my BG level is 120ish or below.