The latest MS research shows positive results from Metformin and alternate days fasting.
However, I am sure I’ve read somewhere that it can worsen RLS. It’s used for type 2 diabetes but repurposing the drug for MS has shown encouraging results.
I definitely wouldn’t take it if it worsens RLS. Does anyone have any experience of this drug?
Metformin can lower intrinsic factor leading to malabsorption of B12. B12 deficiency can cause rls. I've also wondered whether it affects absorption of iron, but apparently there's no evidence for that.
If you do go on metformin ask for your B12 to be monitored. British doctors don't automatically do this, although they do in Germany apparently.
Hi Joolsg
Yes I took it from February stopped in October this year
I am certain it has made my RSL worse . I symptoms after 2 weeks however I still don’t feel as good as I used to before I started metformin however I had shingles around the same time I started metformin.
I also had a rare side effect Acidosis after taking one tablets of 850 gm daily for 6 months .
It must accumulate after a time .
Dr said it would be out of my system within a week
I don’t believe it .
Very slowly still improving
Got my fingers crossed to be the old me once again .
If I do I will still have rsl without the other parts of my body being involved and the juggling and timing of opioids
Good luck 😉
I sure do !
I started it early feb 2019 last and I was fasting probably to extreme . Then I got shingles my doctor said it was because I had put my body under extreme stress with my rigours fasting . Who knows !
Fast forward to May
I went to John Hopkins institute in Maryland. They prescribed gabapentin and edible marijuana no one could work out why I was spiralling . Sleep study showed I woke 48 times an hr from movement.
By July my RSL was fully body starting at 1 pm every day plus severe pain of which I had Botox in my calves, thighs , shoulders to help with the pain . By September I stopped taking the metformin because I had been so sick since feb thinking it was all connected to the Shingles truly thought I was going to die I had lost 15 kilos and in so much pain I could not even carry a hand bag and only spent 3 hours a day out of bed . I was on Oxycodone by then for RSL . By October I was hospitalised still in agony , sick ,still losing weight , my memory was shot suicidal you name it .
They wanted to increase my oxycodone and prescribed Amitriptyline of which I refused both End of October I flew to NYC Dr Brooks prescribes Buprenorphine,
10 days later went to Boston Dr Winkleman confirmed Dr Brooks prescribing and was on the same page . I still could not carry a hand bag for the pain but was improving very slowly and my appetite was returning very very slowly I was still losing weight .
So what did the metformin do ?
Turns out it caused neuropathy and the reason it is taking so long to heal is I need to coat my nerve endings again . Apparently a lot of people take Metformin for diabetes and then get neuropathy and they think it’s from the diabetes however very likely it’s the METFORMIN.
Neuropathy caused from medication will heal it just takes time .
Eating heaps of good fats and oils to help the process .
So here we are in February and I am really getting there I’ve put on a few kilos nearly no pain , perfect sleep . Not strong enough to exercise however not far off .
Now I don’t worry about my weight
Taught me a good lesson interment fasting will be enough for me from here in .
Metformin certainly caused great weight loss and neatly cost me my life . So it’s not for everyone .
🙂
Private neurologist in Scotland
RLS
