Herbal/natural alternative to Metformin?

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QueenSansaStark
QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Does anyone know of/use a good herbal or natural alternative to Metformin?

I have heard nothing but good things about Metformin and BC prevention. Unfortunately the last time I saw my onc he did not want to prescribe it for me. (I'm not diabetic and all my blood sugars are normal, thankfully. I could stand to lose some weight, though - stoopid chemopause!) My onc's office is quite conservative about "new" developments. Alas!

So does anyone know of a good herbal/natural alternative that works like Metformin? I'm already taking turmeric (anti-inflammatory) and fish oil, doing my best to limit white carbs, and doing intensive exercise (weight training, Pilates and TRX). That seems to be working - I'm losing weight, hooray.

I've seen fenugreek mentioned, but apparently it's estrogenic and that's out for me as I am ER+. Anything else out there that works like Metformin and is not estrogenic? I see my onc again this month and am going to plead for Metformin again, but if I'm refused, the Vitamin Shoppe is my resort. I'm six years cancer-free since my dx and want to stay that way!

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited July 2013

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2236322/Asparagus--trendy-vegetable-fights-diabetes.html

    How about asparagus? I don't know about the safety of high doses though. Can't hurt as part of a veggie-rich diet. I'd also look into the British Medical Journal study which says asparagus increases glucose uptake by muscles by 81%. Can't find the link though.

    Exercise is another natural substitute for Metformin. My sister, a diabetic, stopped Metformin due to side effects and has been able to normalize her blood sugar with daily exercise and diet. There are many studies on exercise and BC prevention. Exercise lowers estrogen levels, too.

    One more thing to look up: bitter melon. It's an acquired taste though.

    Congrats on losing weight!

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  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited July 2013

    Thanks, Heidi. Good for your sister - that's awesome she was able to normalize her blood sugar with exercise and diet.

    So it sounds like I'm on the right track with exercise/diet/herbs that reduce systemic inflammation (that is why I take the turmeric, or actually Jarrow brand curcumin extract). I also take a Coenzyme Q10 + Carnitine liquid supplement. 

    FWIW I was diagnosed with BC after a couple of years of considerable weight gain and I think that might have triggered the BC. I lived in San Francisco, didn't own a car and walked everywhere and up all those hills; then I moved to the 'burbs, bought a car and put on a lot of weight. Then the diagnosis.

    I do like asparagus, just the tips, though - not the stalks. The season is long past so I'll have to look for frozen asparagus, I guess!

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  • crabbiepattie
    crabbiepattie Member Posts: 108
    edited August 2013

    Berberine is a natural alternative to metformin.

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  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited August 2013

    I heard Dr. Oz recommend Chromium Polynicotinate and so I got a bottle at the Vitamin Shoppe. Apparently it works to regulate blood sugar and help blast belly fat (which is inflammatory in itself). I just started taking it this AM. I'll keep everyone posted about it.

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  • savgigi
    savgigi Member Posts: 376
    edited August 2013

    I cannot speak to natural alternatives to metformin. I just wanted to point out that I have been on metformin since 2009 and was diagnosed with DCIS this year. So it certainly did not act as a preventive for me. I have also heard that there are studies indicating baby aspirin may prevent breast cancer. I have been taking baby aspirin daily for 15 years.

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  • pearlady
    pearlady Member Posts: 882
    edited August 2013

    I do not know about any alternatives to Metformin, but my onc is very much in favor of it for breast cancer prevention and helping to stabilize those of us with stage 1V.  When I was on Metformin several years ago my tumor markers were very low, but I stoppoed taking due to the GI side effects. I recently read a study which stated that Metformin did not offer much help in cancer prevention for women who were diabetic, but was more helpful for women who were not diabetic.  Metformin is difficult to take many times with the GI side effects.  I have recently started on the brand name Glucophage which is suppossed to be the form with the least side effects.  Believe it or not, my onc also takes Metformin for prevention.

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited August 2013

    QueenSansaStark, I had not heard of the chromium picolinate until a few weeks ago. I was whining to my doctor about the gi issues with the metformin I have been taking for some time. Thought I'd get over them at some point but that never happened. Anyhoo, he suggested this supplement as an alternative, so I've been mulling it over. Having said that I'm scared to stop or change anything I'm currently taking because so far, its working at keeping me stable. What to do.......what to do. Making myself nuts thinking about it.



    I'll be looking forward to your posts to see how it's working out for you....and thanks for posting. I NEED to have others' experiences before I take the plunge.

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  • pearlady
    pearlady Member Posts: 882
    edited August 2013

    Leggo have you asked your onc regarding Glucophage?  That is the brand name for Metformin and produces only minimal side effects compared to Metformin.  I was on Metformin for almost a year and was in misery from the GI effects, but my markers were very stable.  I stopped it due to quality of life issues and my markers were not as stable.  After finding out about the brand Glucophage I am now back on the drug and so far (fingers crossed), so much easier.  I think the Glucophage is worth a try.  Your onc just needs to write the prescription, DAW. 

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2013

    In the Research News section of the main Breastcancer.org site, there's a report called Diabetes Medicine Linked to Lower Risk that may also be interesting.

    • The Mods

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited August 2013

    Pearlady, when I read your post, I checked my pill bottle and it's labelled "Metformin (Glucophage)", so I called the pharmacist to find out the scoop. Pharmacist said they were the same thing and it was not generic. He also looked back in my records and found that last year I was taking "Metformin (Glyco). Unless I misunderstood, the Glyco is generic so it seems I've tried both without knowing. Seriously confusing. Do you know the difference? I'm in Canada and not sure if it's labelled differently. I'm glad you've had better success with a different version. I still don't really have a clear answer about what the heck I'm taking, but whatever it is, it's working and I should quit whining. I guess I'll suck up a few GI issues, considering the alternative. Thanks though, for posting about the different name.



    Thank you too, mods. I often forget about the information that can be found beyond the discussion board.

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  • pearlady
    pearlady Member Posts: 882
    edited August 2013

    Hi Leggo.  Perhaps they label differently in Canada or dispense differently.  When my onc originally prescribed Metformin, what I got was a generic brand and I had terrible GI issues.  When I complained I was then was given Glumetza which is another generic brand made by a division of Novartis, but that was not agreeeing with me either.  Another woman on these boards recommended that I try the brand name Glucophage.  In the US, unless the Dr. writes DAW (dispense as written) on the prescription you typically get a generic.  In researching all of this I found out that while the generics do have the same active ingredient, it is the inactive ingedients that some generics contain that can give some people problems.  This can be the case for any drug, not just Metformin.  All generics are not formulated exactly as the original drug.  Another issue here in the US is with insurance.  Sometimes your insurance will not allow you to have the brand name drug and will only allow the less expensive generics. 

    I'm so glad that what you are taking is working for you so I wouldn't worry.  I've read that there are so many different generic brands of Metformin and that some are tolerated well, but the problem is in the US, many times the pharmacy will change the generic that you are getting without tell you.  Very frustrating and as usual the patient has to remain on top of things.

    I am pleased now that I found the Glucophage and that I was able to get it under my insurance.  Honestly, my onc was not aware of this and said that he is going to recommend it for other women who have trouble with some of the generics. For me it has made a huge difference in being able to tolerate it.  I'm glad you are doing well on it also. 

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  • pipers_dream
    pipers_dream Member Posts: 618
    edited December 2013

    You might want to look up N-acetyl-cysteine, which is an amino acid.  I read about it when I was looking up alternatives for my teenage daughter's PCOS.  One of the great things about NAC is that it helps build glutathione in your liver and that is your body's master antioxidant.  It's given in ER's to detox people who have OD'd on tylenol and I believe also for mushroom poisoning.  

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