Metformin ER vs. Glucovance

[Guest guest]

I'm now taking Metformin ER. A friend who is now on insulin, gave me some

still sealed from the manufacturer bottles of Glucovance that he'd gotten when

he was on some program in which he got it for free. It doesn't have a

prescription label with his name or anything. It is unopened and doesn't

expire for

another year. He just said it was Glucophage, so I assumed it was the same

thing. But, when I was looking at it, it is Metformin plus something else.

Obviously, I'll as my PA about it. But, what is the difference in the two?

Becky

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

and justice for all

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Mike. I was wondering about the legalities. I'm definitely going to

bring it to my PA. She may be able to give it to someone who needs it. I'm

glad you pointed out the Sulfa. I am allergic to sulfa.

Becky

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

and justice for all

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm now taking Metformin ER. A friend who is now on insulin, gave me some

> still sealed from the manufacturer bottles of Glucovance that he'd gotten

> when

> he was on some program in which he got it for free. It doesn't have a

> prescription label with his name or anything. It is unopened and doesn't

> expire for

> another year. He just said it was Glucophage, so I assumed it was the

> same

> thing. But, when I was looking at it, it is Metformin plus something

> else.

Glucovance is metformin + glyburide.

Glyburide stimulates the production of insulin and some say it can 'burn

out' the process. If it's not needed (i.e., the metformin alone works

fine), it shouldn't be taken at all. Also, glyburide is a sulfa derivitive,

so if you are allergic to sulfa this could cause life threatening side

effects.

Technically, whether these bottles have a name on them or not, it's illegal

to 'pass them on' to another individual. Illegal or not, it is certainly

dangerous, especially if you are allergic to sulfa and have never thought of

a sulfa containing drug outside the realm of antibiotics. Also, taking a

medication that could 'stress' your pancreas could cause you to require

insulin shots sooner rather than later in your life. It all depends on the

cause of your diabetes and the way your body reacts to these medications.

Bottom line, if metformin works perfectly for you, taking glucovance is the

same as taking two medications... why take a medication (glyburide) that you

don't need?

Mike

[Guest guest]

I know the formacet I am on now is Metformin and something else in it for

extended release ...the avadaryl I was on was suflawhatever and something else

in it also ...I had just gotten in a 90 day supply of the avadaryl and paid over

200 bucks for it and now its useless cause the doc switched me off of it

....ARRGGGGHHHHH any ideas on what to do with unopened meds that u cant take....I

hate to see them go to waiste .

hopefulviolinist@... wrote: I'm now taking Metformin ER. A friend

who is now on insulin, gave me some

still sealed from the manufacturer bottles of Glucovance that he'd gotten when

he was on some program in which he got it for free. It doesn't have a

prescription label with his name or anything. It is unopened and doesn't expire

for

another year. He just said it was Glucophage, so I assumed it was the same

thing. But, when I was looking at it, it is Metformin plus something else.

Obviously, I'll as my PA about it. But, what is the difference in the two?

Becky

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

and justice for all

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Dale. Mine gave me an inhaler once that a woman got on her insurance

for free and had to switch. It was never opened, so she just brought it in.

I was going to do that with some of my mother's meds when she died. She'd

just had them filled and died suddenly while in the hospital. But, I realized

some had been opened, so didn't think they'd take them.

Becky

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

and justice for all

[Guest guest]

I would call my doctor and see if he knows what you can do with them.

You are right, after paying so much for them, wanting them to go to

good use. Maybe your doctor will take them. I brought unopened

bottles of insulin to my doctor to give to patients after I was

switched. He took them, but they were sealed.

Dale

Begin forwarded message:

>

> Date: July 7, 2006 1:08:46 PM EDT

> To: diabetes

> Subject: Re: Metformin ER vs. Glucovance

> Reply-To: diabetes

>

> I know the formacet I am on now is Metformin and something else in it

> for extended release ...the avadaryl I was on was suflawhatever and

> something else in it also ...I had just gotten in a 90 day supply of

> the avadaryl and paid over 200 bucks for it and now its useless cause

> the doc switched me off of it ...ARRGGGGHHHHH any ideas on what to do

> with unopened meds that u cant take....I hate to see them go to waiste

> .

>

> hopefulviolinist@... wrote: I'm now taking Metformin ER. A friend

> who is now on insulin, gave me some

> still sealed from the manufacturer bottles of Glucovance that he'd

> gotten when

> he was on some program in which he got it for free. It doesn't have a

> prescription label with his name or anything. It is unopened and

> doesn't expire for

> another year. He just said it was Glucophage, so I assumed it was the

> same

> thing. But, when I was looking at it, it is Metformin plus something

> else.

>

> Obviously, I'll as my PA about it. But, what is the difference in the

> two?

>

> Becky

>

> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and

> to the

> republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with

> liberty

> and justice for all

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dale ..thats an IDEA ...I just hate to waste it !!

Dale Kreutzer kreutzer@...> wrote: I would call my doctor and

see if he knows what you can do with them.

You are right, after paying so much for them, wanting them to go to

good use. Maybe your doctor will take them. I brought unopened

bottles of insulin to my doctor to give to patients after I was

switched. He took them, but they were sealed.

Dale

Begin forwarded message:

>

> Date: July 7, 2006 1:08:46 PM EDT

> To: diabetes

> Subject: Re: Metformin ER vs. Glucovance

> Reply-To: diabetes

>

> I know the formacet I am on now is Metformin and something else in it

> for extended release ...the avadaryl I was on was suflawhatever and

> something else in it also ...I had just gotten in a 90 day supply of

> the avadaryl and paid over 200 bucks for it and now its useless cause

> the doc switched me off of it ...ARRGGGGHHHHH any ideas on what to do

> with unopened meds that u cant take....I hate to see them go to waiste

> .

>

> hopefulviolinist@... wrote: I'm now taking Metformin ER. A friend

> who is now on insulin, gave me some

> still sealed from the manufacturer bottles of Glucovance that he'd

> gotten when

> he was on some program in which he got it for free. It doesn't have a

> prescription label with his name or anything. It is unopened and

> doesn't expire for

> another year. He just said it was Glucophage, so I assumed it was the

> same

> thing. But, when I was looking at it, it is Metformin plus something

> else.

>

> Obviously, I'll as my PA about it. But, what is the difference in the

> two?

>

> Becky

>

> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and

> to the

> republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with

> liberty

> and justice for all

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks, Mike. I was wondering about the legalities. I'm definitely going

> to

> bring it to my PA. She may be able to give it to someone who needs it.

> I'm

> glad you pointed out the Sulfa. I am allergic to sulfa.

Becky,

You can ask your PA if they could use them.. Personally, I'd be surprised if

they took them, since they don't know the 'origin.' (Same issue the FDA has

with purchasing drugs from Canada... whether it's a 'real' issue or not is

another discussion.)

I would think they would be concerned with the possibility of having

conterfit drugs or something else... especially if they are coming to the

3rd hand.

Maybe it's different for a smaller community too... or at least they may be

more willing to 'skirt' the law as there may be more trust.

If they are factory sealed containers purchased from a pharmacy... you might

check to see if the pharmacy will take them back. I think there are

different rules for different schedule drugs... but it's worth asking about.

If I were the doctor I'd certainly be reluctant to take something like that

to pass on to someone else. However, maybe the understand how you feel

about wasting the money and take it from you, but then quietly discard it.

Mike

[Guest guest]

I know here in our community there are organazations that help the poor who say

they will take unopened meds as long as they can show they came from a pharmacy

(legal one) .....I am just not sure how to find them lol someone at church told

me about them

Mike schappaugh@...> wrote: On 7/7/06, hopefulviolinist@...

hopefulviolinist@...> wrote:

>

> Thanks, Mike. I was wondering about the legalities. I'm definitely going

> to

> bring it to my PA. She may be able to give it to someone who needs it.

> I'm

> glad you pointed out the Sulfa. I am allergic to sulfa.

Becky,

You can ask your PA if they could use them.. Personally, I'd be surprised if

they took them, since they don't know the 'origin.' (Same issue the FDA has

with purchasing drugs from Canada... whether it's a 'real' issue or not is

another discussion.)

I would think they would be concerned with the possibility of having

conterfit drugs or something else... especially if they are coming to the

3rd hand.

Maybe it's different for a smaller community too... or at least they may be

more willing to 'skirt' the law as there may be more trust.

If they are factory sealed containers purchased from a pharmacy... you might

check to see if the pharmacy will take them back. I think there are

different rules for different schedule drugs... but it's worth asking about.

If I were the doctor I'd certainly be reluctant to take something like that

to pass on to someone else. However, maybe the understand how you feel

about wasting the money and take it from you, but then quietly discard it.

Mike

[Guest guest]

> I know here in our community there are organazations that help the poor

> who say they will take unopened meds as long as they can show they came from

> a pharmacy (legal one) .....I am just not sure how to find them lol someone

> at church told me about them

I don't doubt that such organizations exist, but aren't the only people who

can legally distribute medications physicians or pharmisists?

I guess I'd be concerned knowing who I gave this to and if I would be

legally at fault as a result of such a donation.

Since none of us legally qualify as either a pharmacy, manufacturer or

distribution agent, I think I would suggest that we ask our doctors to

prescribe a weeks worth of a medication if it's on a 'trial' basis and if it

works, then we can fill a months worth, rather than waste a full

prescription. Or even ask for samples before you get a full month filled.

I have to pay for my rx upfront and file for reimbursement. My doctor knows

that I won't fill a full month of a drug that's an experiment, and always

looks for samples first. Otherwise, he writes to prescriptions, one for a

week, and one for a month. I followup at the week with a phone call to see

if he wants to modify it or continue my taking the prescription as written.

Mike