Research
Hormonal
Drug repurposing using agents such as metformin (implied by insulin sensitizers), pioglitazone, empagliflozin, sitagliptin, liraglutide, statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin), and N-acetyl cysteine shows supporting data for managing PCOS by targeting insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and oxidative stress.
If lifestyle changes are insufficient, discuss repurposed medications with your doctor. Options include insulin sensitizers (like metformin or pioglitazone), SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin), GLP-1 agonists (liraglutide), statins, and N-acetyl cysteine. These target underlying metabolic and hormonal issues.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Medications, including 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-glutaryl-3-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, glucose-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, mucolytic agents, and some supplements have supporting data for being repurposed in PCOS.
Why this rating
The paper notes few completed clinical trials with low population sizes.
Source
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Pathogenesis, Management, and Drug Repurposing
Hosna Mohammad Sadeghi et al. · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2022
DOI 10.3390/ijms23020583
narrative_reviewCited 425×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Lifestyle modifications, specifically weight loss of 5-10% combined with regular exercise (150 min moderate or 75 min vigorous per week) and a diet rich in fiber/low in saturated fats and high-glycemic carbohydrates, are the preferred first-line therapy for managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) symptoms and restoring ovulation.Good
- Supplements including Vitamin D, Resveratrol, Alpha-lipoic acid, Omega-3, Berberine, Folic acid, Myoinositol (MI), and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are effective adjunctive therapies for PCOS, improving insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and ovulation.Moderate
Related findings · Hormonal
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- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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