Does Metformin Help In Treating Acanthosis Nigricans And PCOS?

Posted on Wed, 1 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 1 Apr 2015 Answered on

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have pcos & Acanthosis Nigricans. My dr wants to put me on metformin (A1C is4.2). Will the acanthosis go away if i take the Met

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Weight loss, Exercise + Metformin

Detailed Answer:
Good day,

Acanthosis nigricans is a marker of insulin resistance. Exercise and Weight loss are the main mode of treatment. Metformin is a wonderful drug to reduce Insulin resistance and if you lose weight while on Metformin, the acanthosis may partially regress. However, it may not fully go.
Regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (5 hours later)

I was recently put on 100mg of seroquel for anxiety/sleep following divorce. Prior to that I was dx w pcos. Will the seroquel stop the metformin from working?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Metformin

Detailed Answer:
Not really. You may take both of them together. Noted that yoyr HbA1c is good. In this cae, Metformin is an offlabel treatment. But it helps. I use it and many of my patients have excellent results if they combine Metformin + Exercise+ reduuce calorie intake.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar