Metformin
Unchecked
From Pharmacopedia
More actions
Metformin
Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet
Experience
No personal reports yet
No clinical reports yet
Log in to add your own experience.
Problems
No problems yet. Be the first to suggest one.
+ Add a problemTitration strategies
No titration strategies yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Effects
No effects listed yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Relevant anecdote
No anecdotes yet. Share a relevant one.
Relevant Literature
No literature entries yet.
Log in to submit relevant literature.
Summary
Classes
Common uses
Type 2 diabetes mellitus0, Prediabetes0, Polycystic ovary syndrome0
Pharmacy
Starting dose
500 mg PO once or twice daily with meals; titrate weekly to limit GI effects
Preparations
500 mg, 850 mg, 1000 mg IR tablets; 500 mg, 750 mg, 1000 mg ER tablets; 500 mg/5 mL oral solution
US FDA Max
2550 mg/d (IR); 2000 mg/d (ER)
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral
Onset
Glucose lowering within days; HbA1c effect at 8-12 weeks
Duration
~12 hours (IR); 24 hours (ER)
Half-life
6.2 hours (plasma); ~17 hours in erythrocytes[1]
Bioavailability
50-60% (oral; decreased with food, but food given anyway for GI tolerance)[1]
Pregnancy
Generally considered safe; widely used in PCOS and gestational diabetes; placental transfer occurs.[citation needed]
Legal status
Rx-only in US
Purported mechanism
Metformin activates AMPK and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, with secondary effects on intestinal glucose absorption and the gut microbiome.0 Does not stimulate insulin secretion; minimal hypoglycemia risk as monotherapy. Cleared renally unchanged; dose-adjust by eGFR[1]. Rare lactic acidosis primarily in renal failure or acute illness.
References
edit- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 FDA Prescribing Information, Glucophage (metformin HCl), Bristol-Myers Squibb, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020357s037s039,021202s021s023lbl.pdf