Saturday, May 14, 2011
Metformin as well as every other prescription drug has a "label" (in the US, called a "United States package insert" or USPI, and in Europe called the "Summary of Product Characteristics" or SPC). The label spells out what governmental agencies authorize drug companies to say about the good and bad o...
Hi Dr. Quick,
I found your post very interesting. I do not have diabetes, but i do take Metformin everyday for PCOS. My doctor has told me that if I get pregnant I would be instructed to continue to take the same amount of Metformin daily throughout my pregnancy. There is some variablity with other PCOS metformin takers i have spoken to. Some are told to stop taking it when they learn they are pregnant. Some are told to keep taking it through the first trimester. But most are told to continue to take it throughout the pregnancy. It seems to depend on the doctor. Perhaps there are different implications because PCOS is a different condition than diabetes, but I thought your post was interesting in light of this. I'd love to know your thoughts.
Thanks!
Sorry, but I have no idea if continuing metformin or stopping it is a better idea during pregnancy. I don't know if any studies have compared outcomes for mom and baby depending on whether it is continued -- sounds like an easy study, and perhaps it's already been done. Maybe your OB-Gyn knows if there has been such a study -- be sure to ask!