Stopping Metformin

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Hi, newbie here. I actually came across Ray Peat three years ago midway through a ketogenic diet experiment, when I found my hair rapidly falling out. Somehow I found Danny Roddy through some intense googling. I couldn't handle any weight gain, so I never took to it. But I filed it away, for another day. Shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. I rebounded from low carb, hard, and put on about 30+ lbs of "metabolic recovery" weight (found in the way of pizza and ice cream).

After those metabolic recovery pounds, my fasting insulin was 20, so therefore my GP put me on Metformin. That was in Autumn 2014, and I have been on it ever since.

Now, I am committed to repairing my metabolism, and I am now so confused by all the whirlwind of info I am finding out. Tonight I discovered that Metformin is forcing my cells to create lactic acid (somehow, I was afraid of this), and I would like them to create CO2, please, thanks.

I've read about @haidut 's Two week Aspirin protocol, and Niacinamide, and Brewer's yeast, but I need some help in planning how to quit Metformin. It does help control my weight, and keep my PCOS acne under control. I currently take 1500mg daily.

I am already taking 500mg 2x of Niacinamide. Should adding Aspirin, Taurine, Biotin and Brewer's yeast help matters as well? Sorry if I seem a little lost, I've been reading the vaults for three weeks now and I feel like I discover a treasure trove of new info each day.
 

haidut

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If you want to make you doctor happy, ask for bromcriptine since it is an actual drug, it is Peat-friendly, and it has been approved for pre-diabetes and diabetes type II.
Bromocriptine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Metformin can easily cause lactic acidosis, though not as easily as fenformin, and it is quite dangerous actually.
Remember, whatever your doctor wants to push on you, you can refuse. Also, your doctor is legally required to prescribe whatever medication for your condition you prefer, provided it is approved for that conditions just like metformin and there are no safety reasons to avoid it. So, if I were you I'd ask for bromo and if the request is denied gently remind your doctor that according to federal regulations a simple "No" won't cut it. He/she must cite a safety reason or why the drug is not expected to work in your case.
 
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Metformin does nothing to reduce all cause mortality rates. It reduces b12 and causes peripheral neuropathy.
 
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I know now that Metformin is insidious - but when I was prescribed it, I wasn't aware of that. Now that I am, I want to stop taking it.
 
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and there are no safety reasons to avoid it

Hello haidut and ALL.....barging in on the conversation here. I emailed Dr. Peat two years ago and asked him about Bromocriptine to use for myself (a middle aged female was 40 pounds over weight, diabetic at the time and had some PCOS symptoms). This was his response back to me:

"Bromocriptine is effective for antagonizing some of serotonin's effects, such as reducing prolactin, but it has some overlap with serotonin, and prolonged use can affect hearth (his spelling not mine) valves."

What do you suppose he means by affecting the heart valves?
 

haidut

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Hello haidut and ALL.....barging in on the conversation here. I emailed Dr. Peat two years ago and asked him about Bromocriptine to use for myself (a middle aged female was 40 pounds over weight, diabetic at the time and had some PCOS symptoms). This was his response back to me:

"Bromocriptine is effective for antagonizing some of serotonin's effects, such as reducing prolactin, but it has some overlap with serotonin, and prolonged use can affect hearth (his spelling not mine) valves."

What do you suppose he means by affecting the heart valves?

It can cause heart valve fibrosis, like all LSD-derived drugs can do. Cabergoline and methysergide are notorious for those side effects eeven at low doses, but bromocriptine has only been shown to do that in doses of excess of 32mg daily. There is a case study showing fibrosis from 16mg bromo daily but nothing has been published on side effects from the 2.5mg daily used for diabetes II. Adding cypro to bromo or using lisuride on its own pretty much removes the risk of fibrosis. Lisuride is unique among the LSD derivatives that not only does it NOT have fibrotic effects it is actually anti-fubrotic due to being antagonist on 5-HT2B. Cypro is also antagonist on 5HT2B, hence its effects on protecting from damage by cause by bromo. But again, at 2.5mg or less a day, bromocriptine has not been shown to have any side effects.
 
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Thank you SO MUCH for your reply, I really appreciate it!!!

Years ago, I was told (by a chiropractor) that I have noisy heart valves and to see a heart specialist. My regular doc disagreed, said she heard nothing through her stethoscope and would not put in for a referral to a cardiologist. I pressed her for more info and she said I probably had mitral valve prolapse and it was nothing to be concerned about, very common and all that.

It's good to know that Bromo is safe, but since I have Lisurida already on hand....I have NO idea if it will help My Situation, will go study some more.

Thanks again...pretty sure haidut means "HERO" in some obscure and beautiful language:)
 

haidut

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Thank you SO MUCH for your reply, I really appreciate it!!!

Years ago, I was told (by a chiropractor) that I have noisy heart valves and to see a heart specialist. My regular doc disagreed, said she heard nothing through her stethoscope and would not put in for a referral to a cardiologist. I pressed her for more info and she said I probably had mitral valve prolapse and it was nothing to be concerned about, very common and all that.

It's good to know that Bromo is safe, but since I have Lisurida already on hand....I have NO idea if it will help My Situation, will go study some more.

Thanks again...pretty sure haidut means "HERO" in some obscure and beautiful language:)

Lol, thanks. "Haidut" actually means "rebel" or "vagabond" depending on whom you ask.
Balkan people will say it means the former, while Turkish people the latter. Haidut's were active during the days of the Ottoman Empire.
See my avatar. It is a picture of an actual "haidut".
Here is the Wiki page:
Hajduk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

lindsay

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Also, your doctor is legally required to prescribe whatever medication for your condition you prefer, provided it is approved for that conditions just like metformin and there are no safety reasons to avoid it. So, if I were you I'd ask for bromo and if the request is denied gently remind your doctor that according to federal regulations a simple "No" won't cut it. He/she must cite a safety reason or why the drug is not expected to work in your case.

I had no idea about this! That advice is like pure gold. Is it the same with blood tests? I feel like you have to go to five different doctors to get one simple blood panel ordered.
 

haidut

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I had no idea about this! That advice is like pure gold. Is it the same with blood tests? I feel like you have to go to five different doctors to get one simple blood panel ordered.

Blood tests are more of a gray ares as it comes down to what is "medically necessary" and what the insurance will cover. While insurance will typically cover any drug that is FDA-approved for the condition, the blood tests are left more to the doctor's discretion and the insurance may deny covering it. But if you are paying for them yourself the doctor should not care. I guess in case of approved drugs the doctor MUST prescribe whatever drug you want that is considered equivalent, while in case of blood tests there is no actual requirement.
 

Parsifal

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Blood tests are more of a gray ares as it comes down to what is "medically necessary" and what the insurance will cover. While insurance will typically cover any drug that is FDA-approved for the condition, the blood tests are left more to the doctor's discretion and the insurance may deny covering it. But if you are paying for them yourself the doctor should not care. I guess in case of approved drugs the doctor MUST prescribe whatever drug you want that is considered equivalent, while in case of blood tests there is no actual requirement.
Wow, I need to check if this applies in France too :D.
 

Dobster

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Proseandpassion,

thanks for your post. Interesting read. I am too on Metformin. Right now it's the only thing that seems to work to keep BS down. I also suffer from AFS. Stress is my friend. Somewhat have cortisol balanced. Adrenalin always pumping, Interesting that lactic acid is a 'by product'. How does one get rid of lactic acid ?
Also tried the B1/Niacin/Taurine/Asprin/Biotin ritual, I can say it hasn't had any significant effect on me, Haidut or anyone else please share your thoughts on this.

Thanks
Dobster
 

Blossom

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Proseandpassion,

thanks for your post. Interesting read. I am too on Metformin. Right now it's the only thing that seems to work to keep BS down. I also suffer from AFS. Stress is my friend. Somewhat have cortisol balanced. Adrenalin always pumping, Interesting that lactic acid is a 'by product'. How does one get rid of lactic acid ?
Also tried the B1/Niacin/Taurine/Asprin/Biotin ritual, I can say it hasn't had any significant effect on me, Haidut or anyone else please share your thoughts on this.

Thanks
Dobster
If you would like a particular forum member to be alerted to your post such as haidut above just put an @ sign before their username otherwise they may not know you have mentioned them and are hoping for a reply. Example: @Dobster. Quoting a person will also notify them of course.
 
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Also tried the B1/Niacin/Taurine/Asprin/Biotin ritual, I can say it hasn't had any significant effect on me, Haidut or anyone else please share your thoughts on this.

I'm not having much luck with this regiment either Dobster, just so you know, you're not alone....the only thing that has worked for me has been calorie restriction...I know, NOT Peaty.
 

papaya

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wow this info is kinda shocking considering that metformin is being studied/touted as the 1st anti aging drug & people that don't need it have probably already started taking it.
 

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