Q: What is the drug G-Reg SR-500 taken for? I heard that it is taken to reduce the insulin levels, is this true? Is there any side effects, as my friend is facing some nausea problem and she has lost her appetite.

A:G-Reg Sr-500 is the brand name. It contains 500mg of metformin, which is actually meant for diabetics. However it is sometimes given to certain carefully selected cases of women suffering from infertility due to Polycystic Ovarian Disease if their blood insulin level is determined and documented to be high. Very frequently Metformin causes gastro-intestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. To avoid such side effects, the dose should be taken 2-3 times daily after meals. A slow increase in the dose is also helpful. One should be extremely careful in selecting brands since there are too many sub-standard medicines in the market.