1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

What you're suggesting is practicing medicine without a license. For gawd's sake, check with a doctor. Find a qualified doctor and present your idea. If you don't like the answer that doctor gives you, check with another doctor. If they BOTH tell you it would be a bad idea then it's probably a bad idea.

Well my mother always wanted me to be a doctor but I knew that wasn’t gonna happen when I couldn't dissect a frog in 8th grade biology class.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Americans love taking drugs, they've been brainwashed, if pre diabetic change your diet and reverse it as others have said, very lazy to opt for drugs instead

Not only about diabetes.

3 hours ago, keemapoot said:

Many longevity experts (both MDs and others) are taking metformin (usually 500mg daily, aka and sold under brand name Glucophage in Thailand). As Cheryl mentions that research has not conclusively proven benefits but the evidence is convincing enough for many people to take this not only for controlling blood sugar but also for its purported longevity benefits. I do take it daily, but A1C readings range from very good to pre-diabetes over the years, and my cardiologist (one of the top ones in Thailand) does also take it and is not pre-diabetes.  The drug has been around a long time and tons of research has been done so that potential side effects are well known.

That's a very interesting post. Thanks.

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That's a very interesting post. Thanks.

Glucophage - Developed by France/Germany over 75 years ago, millions of people taking it, as I have 10+ years, went from full type 2 Diabetic to normal.  Benefits?  My skin is clear, having plaque psoriasis most of my adult life, A1C down from 11.2 to 5.4, but still take 250mg daily. Never had a gall or kidney stone, I look at as a vitamin to flush out sugars and salts, everything we eat has sugar and salt in it, either naturally or chemically    I am not a Doctor, but read a lot           Cheers

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Thank you very much for commenting

Pretty much as I assumed though.

However, suppose some of these positive possibilities are solidly proven decades from now.

Wouldn't help me or many others who MIGHT benefit now.

Considering this, I suppose the most important question might be about the downsides even if it doesn't help, which so far to me seem not so much.

I understand you're speaking as a medical professional and that's what I would expect from a medical professional. Not knocking that at all. I respect it but at the end of the day as adults, we need to make our own medical decisions for our own lives in the here or now. Especially in places like Thailand if you know what I mean and I think that you do.

Diagnosed diabetes type2 by my return home country at HbA1c at 14 % ,now 1.5 years later i am HbA1c 6.4% ,that is almost to neutral or pre diabetes level by using 2 pills a day of this metformin / metformax (same med. Different naming) under dr. Supervision and dr. specialist with other med. Controls ,the side effect as diareah was not severe and dissapeared after a while ,of course this result was not only by the medication but also by a strict avoiding sugar ,espec.soft drinks and in case no jam on my bread anymore ,it was before more jam with bread....! Also no more fruit drinks as they hide too much sugar added.The metformin is NOT a just by yourself to take med.as i get almost a 3 monthly blood test to check ,yearly kidney check also ,IT IS NOT A PLAY MEDICATION it need controled  by docter use ,also risk of hypoglacamedia ,so use it by a glucose meter control ,i do this so i can eat almost normal now in choise of food,still no sugar added anymore 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check with a doctor. Metformin can have side effects that are unpleasant.

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

A number of them including prevention of dementia.

Interesting. Dementia is sometimes referred to as type III diabetes. My mother suffers from dementia. I should investigate the side-effects of Metformin.

12 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

We are subject to mental conditionong. So perfectly natural for you to think that.

 

But illnesses don't just happen. There are reasons why we get sick. And those reasons are quite limited, depending a great deal on environment, lifestyle and diet. There is also the medicine factor. What were the medical procedures growing up? 

You tried a career as a doctor, right? Got no job, so bad freelance is your gig.

37 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Sorry about the kidney stones.

There is that kidney connection again.

Can I ask if you had any kidney issues and or stones before taking the med?

I do have some kidney disease, but it’s stabilized since I changed medication with known kidney toxicity.

 

Metformin is believed to have some kidney protection effects.

 

The major study in off-label use was about 2,000 nuns IIRC.

12 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Why not both and more?

On the diabetes (or pre), diet should bring your glucose down.   May affect your sweet tooth smile factor for a while, till you break the sugar / carb addiction.

 

But I brought my glucose down from 6.3 (2020) to 5.3 (May 2025), giving the pancreas & liver a break.  It was a lot easier than I thought.  Just minor research of some foods, understanding fibrous and starchy carbs (glycemic index/load) and mostly common sense about sugars.  

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

...

and I'm considering doing that without a doctor's advice.

 

This is a bit of a can of worms topic.

 

Metformin is a very common med for people with Type 2 (not Type 1) diabetes.

 

I don't have such a diagnosis though I suspect possibly pre-diabetes which I do plan to get screened for medically first which of course would also be a screening for Type 2.

 

That said, based on reading I have done recently Metformin seems to be very promising for off label purposes. A number of them including prevention of dementia.

 

Being in Thailand, I don't expect a doctor here would usually suggest this. As I'm not aware of much in the way of downsides of taking it as a non-diabetic, I am strongly considering taking it anyway as it can be bought without a scrip here.

 

Obviously if diagnosed with Type 2 I would follow a doctor's treatment plan which would likely include Metformin anyway. If diagnosed with pre-diabetes even more reason to take it than no diagnosis. But again I'm considering taking it without any such diagnoses. 

 

I'm not going to post links about this but if you're interested this info is widely available.

 

If you go taking everything Google tells you of this and that will prevent such and such, you'll find yourself dining on dozens of whatnots, lot's of confusing and misleading information out there, so if you trust your doctor, follow his/her advice.

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

...

and I'm considering doing that without a doctor's advice.

 

This is a bit of a can of worms topic.

 

Metformin is a very common med for people with Type 2 (not Type 1) diabetes.

 

I don't have such a diagnosis though I suspect possibly pre-diabetes which I do plan to get screened for medically first which of course would also be a screening for Type 2.

 

That said, based on reading I have done recently Metformin seems to be very promising for off label purposes. A number of them including prevention of dementia.

 

Being in Thailand, I don't expect a doctor here would usually suggest this. As I'm not aware of much in the way of downsides of taking it as a non-diabetic, I am strongly considering taking it anyway as it can be bought without a scrip here.

 

Obviously if diagnosed with Type 2 I would follow a doctor's treatment plan which would likely include Metformin anyway. If diagnosed with pre-diabetes even more reason to take it than no diagnosis. But again I'm considering taking it without any such diagnoses. 

 

I'm not going to post links about this but if you're interested this info is widely available.

 

Try it. But be careful if you have to take other medication regularly (protone inhibitors eg)

However, don't expect too much. It works slowly and might not fulfill your expectations.

After checking Diabetes2 you might chose Wegovy or Ozempic if you're overweight.

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

These reported off-label "benefits"  are not actually proven benefits.

 

Rather they are mas media misreporting/exaggerating of research that shows (or suggests, sometimes there are confounding factors nto well controlled for)  some correlations (which does not mean causation) worth further investigation.

 

A long, long  way from proven benefit. If/when such benefits are proven the relevant usage will become "on label". 

 

All drugs have side effects, and  this includes metformin. 

Common sense 

10 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

You tried a career as a doctor, right? Got no job, so bad freelance is your gig.

Shoot the messenger; why don't you Sir!

 

I'm here to try to help people. 

 

Nature has the answers. We are nature. Nature is us.

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

What you're suggesting is practicing medicine without a license. For gawd's sake, check with a doctor. Find a qualified doctor and present your idea. If you don't like the answer that doctor gives you, check with another doctor. If they BOTH tell you it would be a bad idea then it's probably a bad idea.

 

practicing medicine without a license.!! - problem is you see a Dr how many times in a year ? for me 4 times a year. your just a name on the records,,,  also depends on the age of the Dr, an older Dr is happy to continue your Prescription, a younger Dr will try to put you on the newer or lastest Meds + sometime I have no idea until I get home meds have changed...  i live with my medical problems 24/7 so I am the best person to know what is working..

 

on the other hand go to a Pharmacy and see the Pharmacists [Pharmacists have also done 4 years traming but more on effects of different meds] 

some years ago my Prescription changed from the Hospital, had problem 90 days later spoke with the Hospital Dr, your get used to the Meds was the answer there good ??  

Spoke with the Pharmacists said that Med is the problem, he was right

 

As for Metformin, have taken for 34 years, I have kidney problems  CKD , again what Dr you see some say Metformin is good for CKD others say is bad ?

 

As for self medication, told many years ago by a Hospital Dr, take BP meds + Diabetic meds according to you readings every day...   no way would I take my Insulin if my reading was below 70,,,  like way found for me taking a smaller dose of BP meds twice a day works better then the subscribed 1 tablet mornings

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

These reported off-label "benefits"  are not actually proven benefits.

 

Rather they are mas media misreporting/exaggerating of research that shows (or suggests, sometimes there are confounding factors nto well controlled for)  some correlations (which does not mean causation) worth further investigation.

 

A long, long  way from proven benefit. If/when such benefits are proven the relevant usage will become "on label". 

 

All drugs have side effects, and  this includes metformin. 

Metformin was/is prescribed by doctors over decades.

Side effects are well known.

Benefits as well.

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

...

and I'm considering doing that without a doctor's advice.

 

This is a bit of a can of worms topic.

 

Metformin is a very common med for people with Type 2 (not Type 1) diabetes.

 

I don't have such a diagnosis though I suspect possibly pre-diabetes which I do plan to get screened for medically first which of course would also be a screening for Type 2.

 

That said, based on reading I have done recently Metformin seems to be very promising for off label purposes. A number of them including prevention of dementia.

 

Being in Thailand, I don't expect a doctor here would usually suggest this. As I'm not aware of much in the way of downsides of taking it as a non-diabetic, I am strongly considering taking it anyway as it can be bought without a scrip here.

 

Obviously if diagnosed with Type 2 I would follow a doctor's treatment plan which would likely include Metformin anyway. If diagnosed with pre-diabetes even more reason to take it than no diagnosis. But again I'm considering taking it without any such diagnoses. 

 

I'm not going to post links about this but if you're interested this info is widely available.

 

If you do go ahead with it, get a glucose sensor (I'd recommend you Ottai one as it's 15 days lasting, connects to app in your phone so there's no need to buy a reader or side load any unofficial apps) to track your blood glucose. Metmorfin does drop your glucose and you should be observant of symptoms of too low sugar and always have something sweet at arm's reach. Werther's original candies are apparently a sugar bomb (the original one, not the sugar free one). If you start sweating very badly at night, you've overdone it. Maybe, if you are taking it, do so in the morning, not in the evening.

 

The <1000 baht sensor for 15 days would show you what's happening with your glucose levels, and possibly also answer your question on how close to pre-diabetic stage you are.

 

There are several other ways to avoid dementia, though. From avoiding some foods, to exercise, to actively communicating with others, to gaining new knowledge... When in MBA course I had a schoolmate, a retired brain surgeon in his late 60s. He didn't need that knowledge. He was there to delay dementia.

 

And I encourage you to find ways to avoid it. I do know what it means to it. My father suffered from worsening condition for a decade before passing away. I would never want to go through that myself.

37 minutes ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Shoot the messenger; why don't you Sir!

 

I'm here to try to help people. 

 

Nature has the answers. We are nature. Nature is us.

What you are doing is grandstanding to hear yourself talk nonsense. You are an anti-vax crusader, pushing lies and dangerous conspiracy theories. Shut up and sit down.

Take it. 500mg daily or bid.

 

There's other stuff recently discovered and presented at the Alzheimer's conference:

 

Shingles and RSV vaccines both show a marked improvement in slowing down progression.

 

Analyzing brains of people that had dementia showed a lack of lithium in the affected parts of the afflicted's brains. The theory is taking lithium orotate 5mg daily may alleviate some of the symptoms.

 

There was a very strict vegan diet with supplements including circumin, probiotics, etc that also showed an impressive improvement.

 

Google for more details.

1 hour ago, david555 said:

Diagnosed diabetes type2 by my return home country at HbA1c at 14 % ,now 1.5 years later i am HbA1c 6.4% ,that is almost to neutral or pre diabetes level by using 2 pills a day of this metformin / metformax (same med. Different naming) under dr. Supervision and dr. specialist with other med. Controls ,the side effect as diareah was not severe and dissapeared after a while ,of course this result was not only by the medication but also by a strict avoiding sugar ,espec.soft drinks and in case no jam on my bread anymore ,it was before more jam with bread....! Also no more fruit drinks as they hide too much sugar added.The metformin is NOT a just by yourself to take med.as i get almost a 3 monthly blood test to check ,yearly kidney check also ,IT IS NOT A PLAY MEDICATION it need controled  by docter use ,also risk of hypoglacamedia ,so use it by a glucose meter control ,i do this so i can eat almost normal now in choise of food,still no sugar added anymore 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair enough and I mentioned the need for kidney screening. But taking it as a treatment for Type 2 or pre is different than taking it without diabetes. 

9 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Take it. 500mg daily or bid.

 

There's other stuff recently discovered and presented at the Alzheimer's conference:

 

Shingles and RSV vaccines both show a marked improvement in slowing down progression.

 

Analyzing brains of people that had dementia showed a lack of lithium in the affected parts of the afflicted's brains. The theory is taking lithium orotate 5mg daily may alleviate some of the symptoms.

 

There was a very strict vegan diet with supplements including circumin, probiotics, etc that also showed an impressive improvement.

 

Google for more details.

I've been taking circumin for decades but it is toxic in high doses.

Thais see it as a treatment for bloating and gas which is funny when buying it for something else.

What do you mean by or bid?

If I take it I was assuming a 500 mg. dose.

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Try it. But be careful if you have to take other medication regularly (protone inhibitors eg)

However, don't expect too much. It works slowly and might not fulfill your expectations.

After checking Diabetes2 you might chose Wegovy or Ozempic if you're overweight.

I wouldn't really be expecting any dramatic quick benefits. I'm most interested in the possibly true but unproven long term benefits mostly prevention for multiple things that I am not talking about here out of respect for not broadcasting "pop culture" medical news.

In other words day by day if something really bad DOESN'T happen, you're cool with that, but you dont really look for a reason something really bad DIDN'T happen. But when something really bad DOES happen ...

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

What you are doing is grandstanding to hear yourself talk nonsense. You are an anti-vax crusader, pushing lies and dangerous conspiracy theories. Shut up and sit down.

Keeping on topic Sir, I was suggesting that a change of diet is preferable to meds. If you don't agree; that's fine with me.

 

Nature is not nonsense. We are nature. Even you.

1 minute ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Keeping on topic Sir, I was suggesting that a change of diet is preferable to meds. If you don't agree; that's fine with me.

 

Nature is not nonsense. We are nature. Even you.

200 years ago, the average lifespan was 35, now it is over 75. The difference is science, mostly antibiotics and vaccines.

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I understand you're speaking as a medical professional and that's what I would expect from a medical professional. Not knocking that at all. I respect it but at the end of the day as adults, we need to make our own medical decisions for our own lives in the here or now. Especially in places like Thailand if you know what I mean and I think that you do.

I don't understand it. Presumably you are not a medical professional and you want to make you own medical decisions? Based on what? #rhetorical

1 minute ago, cjinchiangrai said:

200 years ago, the average lifespan was 35, now it is over 75. The difference is science, mostly antibiotics and vaccines.

Probably the biggest factor is hygiene such as running water.

Just now, WorriedNoodle said:

I don't understand it. Presumably you are not a medical professional and you want to make you own medical decisions? Based on what?

What a provocative question.

We all make medical decisions for ourselves.

If you have a bad headache do you pop a pill or run to the ER? 

I don't take your question seriously as it seems to be a troll bait tactic.

I used to take it but stopped. I understand the latest research indicates there are, in fact, no gold standard verified longevity benefits in humans, though it may affect heathspan. You also need regular (annual) blood tests to check your B12 levels, which I can't be arsed with. As an older guy, the kicker for me was that it lowers test. levels. Test. lowers as you age anyway, no need to give the natural process a helping hand.

20 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I wouldn't really be expecting any dramatic quick benefits. I'm most interested in the possibly true but unproven long term benefits mostly prevention for multiple things that I am not talking about here out of respect for not broadcasting "pop culture" medical news.

In other words day by day if something really bad DOESN'T happen, you're cool with that, but you dont really look for a reason something really bad DIDN'T happen. But when something really bad DOES happen ...

As I said the effect on weight loss might be not what you're expecting. 

I prescribed Metformin over many years. It worked for diabetics until Glibenclamid was first choice (diet first hand). The side effects of nausea and stomach ache was for many a reason to stop it. Life threatening cases I didn't see, but they are mentioned in some reports.

If you're overweight it's worth a try but cave: if you have to take other medication as I mentioned before please stay away and go for a strict diet regime because of interactions.

You might see a reduced crave for any food with metformin.

Questions?

Just now, cjinchiangrai said:

200 years ago, the average lifespan was 35, now it is over 75. The difference is science, mostly antibiotics and vaccines.

Try medical cleanliness, better diet, plumbing, waste disposal etc. Nothing to do with vaccines.

 

I suggested to the OP that diet might be considered before embarking on meds.

 

You come across as a pro-vaxxer. I say 'nature has the answers'. Go for a walk in the forest, Listen to the birds twittering. Sun on yer back. The grass beneath yer feet. Watch the snakes slither away. The squirrels in the trees. The beauty of clouds in the sky. Would do you good Sir.