Metformin seems like the wonder drug. Reduces long covid chance, protects muscles, used in every anti-agers supplement stack, and now can help with gums.
Seems like something non-diabetics may want to consider?
N = 1, but I’ve been taking 1700mg of metformin (in two split doses of 850mg) for five years.
I was able to get the prescription from my doctor by presenting evidence and the rationale and design for the TAME trial.
He was comfortable with this due to the strong safety history of the drug. Insurance covers it (though it’s very cheap anyway) and I pay nothing out of pocket. I live in Canada and also have private insurance through work.
I had some gastrointestinal issues initially, but they weren’t serious, and my body adapted fairly quickly as they want away. I tried taking metformin while doing an 18:6 intermittent fast and gastrointestinal symptoms returned, so I won’t be doing that again.
There is some debate about the benefits and risks of metformin, but so far I haven’t experienced negative side effects of concern to me. I’ve had various tests over the past five years—blood, urine, body composition, etc.
As for the TAME trial, while there have been positive developments, I’m now doubtful it will ever actually run. I have a prediction market on Manifold right now that shows a 25% chance it will be listed on clinicaltrials.gov by the end of the year.
It pisses me off that this cannot be brought without prescription. My doc would not give it to me for off label use. It should be able to take metformin and lower my health insurance premiums for being proactive.
FYI: There's a large clinical trial of Metformin taking place [1]. My understanding is one of the goals is to make Metformin more easily available if the trial pans out. In lots of countries (currently not the US or the EU), Metformin is available without a prescription.
I am on it for Type 2 for a few months and it sometimes is not very pleasant, but it beats the effects of having uncontrolled high blood sugar.
For me it really fucks up your gut biome on occasion - the running to the toilet incidents has reduced in the beginning since I changed my diet to low carb but there are still some odd days where I can't stray too from home.
[+] [-] thenerdhead|2 years ago|reply
Seems like something non-diabetics may want to consider?
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-metformin-a-wonder-dr...
https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2023/07/common-di...
[+] [-] simonmesmith|2 years ago|reply
I was able to get the prescription from my doctor by presenting evidence and the rationale and design for the TAME trial.
He was comfortable with this due to the strong safety history of the drug. Insurance covers it (though it’s very cheap anyway) and I pay nothing out of pocket. I live in Canada and also have private insurance through work.
I had some gastrointestinal issues initially, but they weren’t serious, and my body adapted fairly quickly as they want away. I tried taking metformin while doing an 18:6 intermittent fast and gastrointestinal symptoms returned, so I won’t be doing that again.
There is some debate about the benefits and risks of metformin, but so far I haven’t experienced negative side effects of concern to me. I’ve had various tests over the past five years—blood, urine, body composition, etc.
As for the TAME trial, while there have been positive developments, I’m now doubtful it will ever actually run. I have a prediction market on Manifold right now that shows a 25% chance it will be listed on clinicaltrials.gov by the end of the year.
I’m not trying to promote the market (the main benefit to me is more market participants hopefully means better forecasting), but if anyone’s interested, it’s here: https://manifold.markets/SimonSmith/will-the-targeting-aging...
[+] [-] mrtesthah|2 years ago|reply
Men’s use of diabetes drug just before conception is linked to a 40% increase in birth defects, study finds
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/28/health/paternal-metformin-use...
[+] [-] pstuart|2 years ago|reply
He's a reasonable doc is is interested in health and longevity but is rather conservative in his assessments.
Attia and Huberman appear to be cautious as well: https://podcastnotes.org/huberman-lab/journal-club-with-dr-p...
2/3 cited are practicing doctors, and Huberman is, well, Huberman.
[+] [-] wesapien|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] alwillis|2 years ago|reply
[1]: Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) Trial—https://www.afar.org/tame-trial
[+] [-] tibbydudeza|2 years ago|reply
For me it really fucks up your gut biome on occasion - the running to the toilet incidents has reduced in the beginning since I changed my diet to low carb but there are still some odd days where I can't stray too from home.
[+] [-] dv_dt|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] explodingman|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dur-randir|2 years ago|reply