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Berberine v metformin

wildswimmer

Member
Messages
7
Location
Runcorn
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I can't take metformin - it can make me seriously ill. I've now started taking the natural remedy Berberine (500mg three times a day just before meals) and according my glucometer I'm keeping 7-8, with Diastix pee strips reading "clear". Berberine has received favourable peer reviews, with blind trials indicating it's every bit as effective as metformin. Only problem, it's fairly expensive - I'm paying £20 for 120 capsules - 40 days' supply.

Berberine is derived from barberry, a native British wild plant.
 
That's interesting. What sort of side effects were you getting with the metformin? Have you asked your doctor about the possibility of getting the natural meds on prescription ?

Mikeee
 
Personally I am always wary of these supplements, they are not subject to the same level of regulatory approvals and quality can be suspect.
 
Mikeee said:
That's interesting. What sort of side effects were you getting with the metformin? Have you asked your doctor about the possibility of getting the natural meds on prescription ?

Mikeee
Click to expand...

Severe hyperventilation, and I didn't have any sign of ketosis. Turned out I don't need to take metformin because my condition is under control - one particular symptom of diabetes is a thirst. Not only do I have no thirst but I have to ensure that I do drink enough fluid. It wouldn't be the first time I managed to become partly dehydrated.

Regarding quality of supplements, the most important supplement I take is 200mg Ubiquinol (reduced CoQ10) which is made solely by the patent holders, Japan's Kaneka Corp, who only supply to licenced sellers. Sellers' products must always carry the Kaneka QH trademark. Oddly CoQ10 is available on prescription, but only to children. We old farts have to pay the full price.
 
I ordered some beriberine tablets last week, started taking them at the weekend, had the same symptoms as metformin yesterday. Almost passed out in the evening and had to call for an ambulance. The doctors at A&E were not very impressed that I had tried an off the shelf med!

Mikeee
 


I was given metformin not because i am diabetic ( well not yet anyway) but i have polycyctic ovaries and that can make you insulin resistant . but **** that medication made me ill managed to get up to 2 tablets 3 times a day feeling terrible but then came out in itchy hives everywhere so had to admit defeat and stop taking them . then had to have steroids to overcome the hives but unfortunately they didn't work so now have break outs of hives (urticaria) . Have come across berberine mentioned a few times in pcos studys . just wanted to ask if there is a particular type of berberine you have used or are recomended becasue searching on line there are lots of different named things coming from different plants and at massively different price ranges too


thanks in advance for any help

kate
 
Seems I'm in a rare minority who has zero problems with metformin......I even like the aftertaste.....yep, sick puppy
 
Might lead us to believe. but might end up sounding like a hard sell blogspiel,

I have seen many posters claiming this to be a wonder supplement, but the threads never seem to go far, amd I have not seen any personal success stories being posted.

As with any alternative treatment, these are not regulated either for quality, or safety, or for drug interactions, so it becomes Caveat Emptor.

Having said that, I have found this article which sings its praises. However, their study of phytochemicals seems to suggest a certain bias IMO.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0ef2/db0dd9eeb0dff874550958d0dd939f88921d.pdf
This is not from a trusted source.

There are warnings that long term use may be detrimental for CHF sufferers due to lactic acid build up, but then so does Metformin. Also may cause kidney problems long term. Like Metformin, there are reports of gastric kickbacks and discomfort.
 
i tried berberin for few months , made no difference to me at all. So stopped and I now just focus on strength training and low carb. If physically possible, strength training seems to be best option of numerous thing I have tried,
 
My feeling is that if berberine was a proven anti-diabetic drug then pharmaceutical companies would have isolated the active ingredients and be selling the regulated form of the drug worldwide.
This does not mean that berberine may not have positive outcomes for some people. After all metformin is derived from French lilac and is therefore in effect 'herbal'. However, the production of metformin is rigorous and herbal remedies can be variable in quality and quantity of active ingredients.
 
I suffered side effects when I started Metformin, and again when I quit it, but otherwise I tolerated it quite well.
 
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