Side effects from PCOS medication
Dear Dr Mitchell,
I am a 20-year-old girl. I have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disease syndrome (PCOS) and have been given Apobromocriptine and Metformin. I have received some terrible side effects and I am wondering if there is a substitute for them. Do you think if I start taking Minigynon it will help my problem?
Polycystic ovarian disease syndrome is a common cause of irregular menstrual periods in women in the reproductive age group. It is associated with excessive weight gain, a higher than usual risk of developing diabetes mellitus, excessive testosterone levels and difficulty getting pregnant.
The high testosterone level is associated with excessive hair growth on the body (male pattern), sometimes with male pattern type of baldness and an enlarged clitoris.
The management of polycystic ovarian disease will depend on your own personal desires. Weight loss is usually a good starting point. Once you are able to lose weight successfully and achieve as close as possible your ideal weight for height, then the abnormal menstrual cycles usually will resolve and fertility is improved since ovulation becomes more frequent.
Weight loss is usually best done by regular exercises and a diet low in carbohydrate and fats. It is always best to avoid refined sugars such as cake, ice cream and sweet drinks.
The bromocriptine is usually used if there is an associated elevation of the hormone prolactin. This is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland.
Sometimes the gland enlarges and the hormone level increases. This usually causes milk to be produced by the breasts even though there is no associated pregnancy. Metformin is a drug that is also used to help to induce ovulation and reverse the abnormal metabolic changes associated with polycystic ovarian disease. This can sometimes cause dizziness, nausea, bloating, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. The bromocriptine can also cause headaches and dizzy spells. The good thing is that after being on the treatment for a couple of weeks these symptoms improve dramatically and most women tolerate the drugs quite well.
If you have no desire to become pregnant soon then there is no need to go on these tablets. The use of the oral contraceptive pill Minigynon is effective in establishing regular predictable cycles and is quite safe.
Weight loss and the use of the contraceptive pills will be more than adequate treatment until you decide to try for conception. Weight loss will also help to reduce your risk of developing diabetes mellitus later on in your reproductive years.
Best wishes.
