Avandamet, etc
(kinda long, sorry)
Hi all,
Glad to be on this list and hear from others’ experience.
I’ve been on Byetta for over a year… on "5" at first, lost some weight, then
put on "10 - got sick as a dog. I get motion sickness real easy, I think I’m
just a queasy person… so the 10 about killed me! Went back on 5 for months….
Had been on Metformin along with it, had good numbers.
Then I went away from home for 4 mos. (taking care of business in another
state last summer, kind of a personal AND business type of vacation trip), was
without my hubby during that time, and kind of fell off the wagon.
My numbers went up higher than ever.
RECENTLY have gotten back on 5 for one month, then on 10 for the last few
weeks. It still makes me somewhat queasy but not as bad as before. I think I can
handle it. BUT, she also put me on Avandamet (I got diahreah from Metformin)
… but she said the Avandamet takes "about 3 mos" to actually be fully
effectual. (Anyone ever heard that?)
So now, with the News abt Avandamet, etc., I’m not thrilled with being on it.
I have seen SO MANY pharmaceutical Reps in my doc’s office, in their cute suits
and dresses, practically flirting with the docs, it makes me sick! It’s called
SALES! So I sure wouldnt trust a Sales person’s opinion, that’s for sure! (I
one time got a new doctor because my regular doc kept me waiting in his office
for over half an hour (after waiting in the waiting room for close to an hour),
while he stood right outside the door talking/flirting with the young blond
pharm. sales rep! I could HEAR THEM talking, and it wasnt ‘business’ talk…
well, maybe a little, but I resented sitting there waiting and waiting. Finally
I stuck my head out the door and said something like "Oh, I thought I heard you
out here." He didnt say much. I didnt appreciate it. He didnt apologize or
anything when he came in. I soon after found another doc and had my records
transferred. (I didnt LOVE this doc to begin with, so that was the last straw)
… sorry I’m going on abt this !
Anyway, I guess Avandamet is not as harsh on the gastro system as plain
Metformin, but sounds like it’s not as readily effective either. Anyone know?
Oh, also, she had put me in btwn th ose two, on GLUMETZA, but then changed
that to Avandamet.
I may ask abt going back on METFORMIN - I was starting to get used to it when
she switched me, so I s’pose it would give me the major diahreah again, if I
restarted it.
But it does worry me abt the News about Avandamet. I dont think we shd ignore
those things, "even if" the doc says "go ahead, it’s fine." I dont know. I will
see the doc again soon, will ask him then. (The "she" I’m referring to above is
his NP, who I do like alot…)
Thanks for all the info and help. For the longest time I was the ONLY PERSON I
knew who was on Byetta, no one else had every heard of it!
Thanks,
Tina
March 30th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Asked my Endocrin. last week about continuing with AVANDAMET (Avandia), and he
said NO PROBLEM. He doesnt feel it’s a problem at all.
Unless I hear more to the contrary, I will trust him. I trust his advice more
than the drug company’s!
STARTING INJECTING BYETTA: Do not worry abt it - it’s very simple and
quick…BUT DO have your doc or his nurse show you HOW…. that’s what I did,
never having injected MYSELF w/anything! And it helped to do it with him.
Actually, he didnt inject me, but sad right there with me, instructing me (even
tho he too read the instructions as I did it, cuz I was his first patient on it,
abt 18 mos. ago!) — It went smoothly, it was kinda scary at first…but after
a while, you know exactly where and how to do it comfortably. It takes a second.
Good luck!
Tina