GENERIC NAME: metformin
BRAND NAME: Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Metformin is an oral medication that lowers blood glucose (sugar) and is used for treating type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that controls glucose levels in blood by reducing the amount of glucose made by the liver and by increasing the removal of glucose from the blood by muscle and fat tissues. As a result, blood glucose levels fall. Diabetes caused by a decrease in production of insulin that causes increased production of glucose by the liver, and reduced uptake (and effects) of insulin on fat and muscle tissues. Metformin acts by increasing the sensitivity of liver, muscle, fat, and other tissues to the uptake and effects of insulin. These actions lower the level of sugar in the blood.

Unlike glucose-lowering drugs of the sulfonylurea class, for example glyburide (Micronase; DiaBeta) or glipizide (Glucotrol), metformin does not increase the concentration of insulin in the blood and, therefore, does not cause excessively low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) when used alone. In scientific studies, metformin reduced the complications of diabetes such as heart disease, blindness and kidney disease. Metformin was approved by the FDA in December 1994.

PRESCRIPTION: Yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 500, 850, and 1000 mg. Tablets (extended release): 500, 750, and 1000 mg. Solution: 500 mg/5 ml

STORAGE: Metformin should be stored at room temperature between 20-25°C (68-77°F).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Metformin is used for treating type 2 diabetes in adults and children. It may be used alone or in combination with other diabetic medications. Metformin also has been used to prevent the development of diabetes in people at risk for diabetes, treatment of polycystic ovaries, and weight gain due to medications used for treating psychoses.

DOSING: For treating type 2 diabetes in adults, metformin (immediate release) usually is begun at a dose of 500 mg twice a day or 850 mg once daily. The dose is gradually increased by 500 mg weekly or 850 mg every two weeks as tolerated and based on the response of the levels of glucose in the blood. The maximum daily dose is 2550 mg given in three divided doses. If extended tablets are used, the starting dose is 500 mg or 1000 mg daily with the evening meal. The dose can be increased by 500 mg weekly up to a maximum dose of 2000 mg (2500 mg of Fortamet) once daily or in two divided doses. Glumetza tablets are given once daily. Metformin should be taken with meals.

For pediatric patients 10-16 years of age, the starting dose is 500 mg twice a day. The dose can be increased by 500 mg weekly up to a maximum dose of 2000 mg. Glucophage XR has not been studied in children.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Cimetidine (Tagamet), by decreasing the elimination of metformin from the body, can increase the amount of metformin in the blood by 40%. This may increase the frequency of side effects from metformin.

PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies in pregnant women. Most experts agree that insulin is the best treatment for pregnant women with diabetes.

NURSING MOTHERS: Metformin is excreted into breast milk and can therefore be transferred to the nursing infant. Nursing mothers should not use metformin.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects with metformin are nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, diarrhea and loss of appetite. These symptoms occur in one out of every three patients. These side effects may be severe enough to cause therapy to be discontinued in one out of every 20 patients. These side effects are related to the dose of the medication and may decrease if the dose is reduced.

A serious but rare side effect of metformin is lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis occurs in one out of every 30,000 patients and is fatal in 50% of cases. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are weakness, trouble breathing, abnormal heartbeats, unusual muscle pain, stomach discomfort, light-headedness and feeling cold. Patients at risk for lactic acidosis include those with reduced function of the kidneys or liver, congestive heart failure, severe acute illnesses, and dehydration.

What Is Clomid?
Clomid is the brand name for the fertility drug clomiphene citrate. Clomiphene citrate may also be sold under the brand name Serophene. Whether you’re taking the brand name Clomid, Serophene, or a generic version of clomiphene citrate, it’s all the same drug. (Think of Clomid in the same way that we use Kleenex® to refer to facial tissues.)

Clomid is the most well-known fertility drug, probably because it is the most commonly used. And with good reason. About 25% of female factor infertility involves a problem with ovulation, and clomiphene citrate, as a fertility drug, is easy to use (taken as a pill, not an injection), with not too many side effects, is pretty inexpensive compared to other fertility drugs, and is effective in stimulating ovulation 80% of the time.

In this article, I’ll refer to clomiphene citrate by the brand name Clomid, just because that is how most people know the drug.

When Is Clomid Used?
Clomid is used when there are problems with ovulation, but no problems with blocked fallopian tubes. (In that case, stimulating ovulation would be pointless –- the egg and sperm can’t meet if the tubes are blocked.) If a woman has irregular cycles, or anovulatory cycles (menstruation without ovulation), Clomid may be tried first.

Clomid is often used in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) related infertility. It may also be used in cases of unexplained infertility, or when a couple prefers not to use the more expensive and invasive fertility treatments, like IVF.

Clomid may also be used during an IUI (intrauterine insemination) procedure, but it is rarely used during IVF treatment. With IVF, injectable ovulation meds are more frequently chosen.

All About Fertility Drugs
How Is Clomid Taken?
You should follow the directions your doctor gives you, as every doctor has a slightly different protocol.

However, the most common dosage of Clomid is 50 mg, taken for five days, on days 3 through 7 of your cycle, or days 5 through 9 of your cycle. (With day one of your cycle being the first day of real menstrual bleeding, and not just spotting.) Ovulation and pregnancy rates have been shown to be similar whether the drug is started on day two, three, four, or five, so don’t feel concerned if your doctor tells you a different protocol to follow than your friend.

If 50 mg doesn’t work, your doctor may increase the medication, according to their judgment, for a successive cycle. Or, they may give it another try at 50 mg. You might think that more is always better, but higher doses, especially at or above 150 mg, can actually make conception more difficult. (See below, under side effects.)

What Are Clomid’s Common Side Effects?
Clomid’s side effects aren’t so bad, as far as fertility drugs are concerned. The most common side effects are hot flashes, breast tenderness, mood swings, and nausea. But once the medication is stopped, the side effects will leave, too.

The side effect you’re probably most familiar with is the risk of multiples. You have a 10% chance of having twins when taking Clomid, but triplets or multiples of more are rare, happening less than 1% of the time.

Should You Try To Have Twins?
One of the more annoying side effects to comprehend is that Clomid can decrease the quality of your cervical mucus (which sperm need to make their way to the egg), making conception more difficult. Clomid can also make the lining of your uterus thinner and less ideal for implantation. This is why “more” is not necessarily better when it comes to Clomid dosage and use.

How Successful Is Clomid?
Clomid will jumpstart ovulation in 80% of patients, and about 40% to 45% of women using Clomid will get pregnant within six cycles of use.

Using Clomid for more than six cycles is not generally recommended. If six cycles go by, and pregnancy is not achieved, other alternatives may be considered.

An Overview of Femara for Infertility
Femara® (letrozole) is a prescription medication licensed to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is part of a group of medications called aromatase inhibitors. Femara may also be recommended in an "off-label" fashion to treat infertility. Early studies have shown that it may be at least as effective as Clomid® (clomiphene citrate) in treating infertility. These studies have also shown that Femara may be effective in women who did not become pregnant while taking Clomid. (Clomid is a prescription medication often used as a standard infertility treatment.)

How Femara Works for Infertility
Femara is part of a group of medications called aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase is an enzyme found in various places in the body. These enzymes help produce estrogens (particularly, a certain estrogen called estradiol). As the name implies, aromatase inhibitors block these enzymes. By doing this, Femara helps to decrease the amount of estrogen in the body.

When a woman uses Femara for infertility, the medicine is taken for a few days near the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Temporarily decreasing the amount of estrogen in the body sends a message to the brain to increase the production of substances that stimulate the ovaries. This often causes ovulation in women who do not normally ovulate or who do not ovulate regularly.

In many ways, Femara works similarly to Clomid. However, Femara may be less likely to cause certain problems with cervical mucus. Clomid often causes cervical mucus problems, leading to vaginal dryness or cervical mucus changes that interfere with the motility of sperm. Femara is also less likely to cause the lining of the uterus to thin, as Clomid sometimes does. A thin uterine lining can make pregnancy less likely.
Research on Femara for Infertility
Several small studies have compared Clomid to Femara for treating infertility. Some of these studies showed that Femara is more effective than Clomid, while other studies showed that they are equally effective. A few studies have also suggested that Femara may be effective in cases in which women have not ovulated while taking Clomid (these women are referred to as "Clomid-resistant" or "clomiphene-resistant").

Final Thoughts on Using Femara for Infertility
Femara appears to be a promising infertility treatment that may be an option for women in whom Clomid has not been successful. Most healthcare providers view Femara as a second choice, however, using it only when Clomid is not working for a woman. It is important to know that Femara is much more expensive than Clomid and has not been studied as much as Clomid has for this use.

How the Ovulex System Works
Non-prescription Ovulex has helped countless women join the ranks of motherhood. This one of a kind product differs from other fertility treatments. These differences are discussed in this article.

The difference between Ovulex and other fertility drugs has a lot to do with hormones. A woman’s body requires several hormones to become pregnant. Hormones including estrogen, progesterone, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) and prolactin. These hormones have to be in the proper levels for a pregnancy to occur, some have to increase while others have to decrease. When all of the hormones work together the proper environment is created and conception is possible.

Most fertility products that are currently available work to produce changes in your reproductive system, forcing changes to cause you to conceive. Ovulex is not like most other products.

Ovulex extends the ovulation cycle increasing the chances of getting pregnant. Ovulex’s real magic is in how it prepares your body to conceive and enhances your health so you will be ready to give birth. Ovulex creates a breeding ground as you would in a garden. You can look at the way Ovulex enhances the conception process as you would enhance your garden by adding fertilizer in the garden. It doesn’t alter the process of conception, instead it allows the process to happen naturally while it assists to create the proper environment.

Ovulex assists you creating the right conditions for a pregnancy to begin. Keeping with the gardening theme here, you have certain times of the year that you can plant knowing you will have a good crop. The software included in the program will teach you when to “plant the seed” so that your probability of becoming pregnant increases.

Ovulex was engineered for couples who are healthy and able to have children but who have been having difficulty becoming pregnant. This is not a cure for infertility. Couples with health or biological conditions stopping them from conceiving are not going to be able to cure their infertility with Ovulex.

Ovulex may be the treatment you have been looking for. Join the thousands of women who have been successful in getting pregnant by using Ovulex.

Ovulex Review: An Honest Evaluation
The all-natural product called Ovulex has satisfied thousands of expectant couples that have spent years battling against many unsuccessful tries.

So, is Ovulex really all it is cracked up to be? When it comes to the advantages and disadvantages of this product, what are they?

Firstly, it is not necessary to have a prescription in order to acquire Ovulex, as there are no drugs contained in its makeup. Herbal botanical extracts is all you will find in Ovulex. This means that there is no fuss in trying to get a prescription from a doctor, which saves a great amount of time and effort.

On the other hand, you should know that Ovulex is advertised as a supplement to improve health, where they are not expected to follow the rules of the FDA. This means that Selmedica Healthcare Corporation, which is the manufacturer of Ovulex, is free to describe their product in whatever way they feel to.

A decent amount of thoroughness is needed if you are truly interested in seeing what this product can accomplish. Since you do not need a prescription to obtain the product, it is recommended to speak with your doctor before using, as no two females will react in the same manner to a product.

Now, after getting the possible physical obstacles concerning the use of Ovulex, now it is time to deal with the economic and practical details of the product.

When looking for a way to bring children into your life, the price of Ovulex is truly inexpensive. Additionally, anyone buying the product is guaranteed their money for an entire year if not completely satisfied. This means that you either enter pregnancy for this small price or you are unsuccessful in your pregnancy attempt and will receive every penny you spent.

Ovulex is much more than just a supplement for health, as it is a total package that educates you on how to heighten your chances of becoming pregnant and even supplies software called Fertistat that helps pinpoint the best time to make love.

When it comes to credibility, Selmedica Healthcare Corporation has been bringing health products to the public for over 50 years. The brand is definitely trustworthy. Using your own effort, you may conduct a bit of research on the Internet to come to a final conclusion.