Metformin

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (met for' min)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Metformin is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Metformin is in a class of drugs called biguanides. Metformin helps to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. Metformin also increases your body's response to insulin, a natural substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Metformin is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood).

Over time, people who have diabetes and high blood sugar can develop serious or life-threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems. Taking medication(s), making lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise, quitting smoking), and regularly checking your blood sugar may help to manage your diabetes and improve your health. This therapy may also decrease your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes-related complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage (numb, cold legs or feet; decreased sexual ability in men and women), eye problems, including changes or loss of vision, or gum disease. Your doctor and other healthcare providers will talk to you about the best way to manage your diabetes.


How should this medicine be used?

Metformin comes as a liquid, a tablet, and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. The liquid is usually taken with meals one or two times a day. The regular tablet is usually taken with meals two or three times a day. The extended-release tablet is usually taken once daily with the evening meal. To help you remember to take metformin, take it around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take metformin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow metformin extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of metformin and gradually increase your dose not more often than once every 1?2 weeks. You will need to monitor your blood sugar carefully so your doctor will be able to tell how well metformin is working.

Metformin controls diabetes but does not cure it. Continue to take metformin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking metformin without talking to your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking metformin,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to metformin, any of the ingredients of metformin liquid or tablets, or any other medications. Ask your pharmacist or check the manufacturer's patient information for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetazolamide(Diamox); amiloride (Midamor, in Moduretic); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik); beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan); cimetidine (Tagamet); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics ('water pills'); furosemide (Lasix); hormone replacement therapy; insulin or other medications for diabetes; isoniazid; medications for asthma and colds; medications for mental illness and nausea; medications for thyroid disease; morphine (MS Contin, others); niacin; oral contraceptives ('birth control pills'); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); procainamide (Procanbid); quinidine; quinine; ranitidine (Zantac); topiramate (Topamax); triamterene (Dyazide, Maxzide, others); trimethoprim (Primsol); vancomycin (Vancocin); or zonisamide (Zonegran). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any medical condition, especially those mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking metformin, call your doctor.
  • tell your doctor if you eat less or exercise more than usual. This can affect your blood sugar. Your doctor will give you instructions if this happens.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms.
Metformin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe, do not go away, go away and come back, or do not begin for some time after you begin taking metformin:
  • diarrhea
  • bloating
  • stomach pain
  • gas
  • indigestion
  • constipation
  • unpleasant metallic taste in mouth
  • heartburn
  • headache
  • flushing of the skin
  • nail changes
  • muscle pain
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency treatment:
  • chest pain
  • rash

Some female laboratory animals given high doses of metformin developed non-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths of tissue) in the uterus (womb). It is not known if metformin increases the risk of polyps in humans. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.

Metformin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat, and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Drugs Used in Diabetes
  • Blood Glucose Lowering Drugs, Excl. Insulins
  • Biguanides
  • Alimentary Tract and Metabolism
  • Biguanides
  • Combinations of oral blood glucose lowering drugs
Prescribed For use as an adjunct to diet and exercise in adult patients (18 years and older) with NIDDM. May also be used for the management of metabolic and ...
Weight :129.1636
Structure Metformin
Generic Drug Metformin prescribed For use as an adjunct to diet and exercise in adult patients (18 years and older) with NIDDM. May also be used for the management of metabolic and ...
Formula

C4H11N5

Metformin has 272 Brands listed


Ali M (500 mg)Asoformin (500 mg)
Asoformin SR (500 mg)Atformin (500 mg)
Avimet (500 mg)Axformin (1000 mg)
Axformin (500 mg)B Form (500 mg)
Baymet (500 mg)Bemet (500 mg)
Biciphase (1000 mg)Bidiab SR (500 mg)
Bidiab SR (850 mg)Bigesens (1000 mg)
Bigesens (500 mg)Bigomet (250 mg)
Bigomet (500 mg)Bigomet (850 mg)
Bigomet SR (1000 mg)Bigomet SR (250 mg)
Bigomet SR (500 mg)Bigsens XR (1000 mg)
Bigsens XR (500 mg)Carbophage SR (1000 mg)
Carbophage SR (500 mg)Cetapin (500 mg)
Cetapin XR (1000 mg)Cetapin XR (500 mg)
Conformin (500 mg)Conformin SR (1000 mg)
D Bay (500 mg)D Bay (850 mg)
D Met (250 mg)D Met (500 mg)
D Met SR (1000 mg)D Met SR (500 mg)
Daomet SR (1000 mg)Daomet SR (500 mg)
Dia MF (1000 mg)Dia MF (500 mg)
Diafer (500 mg)Diafer ER (500 mg)
Diafer Forte (850 mg)Diaformin (500 mg)
Diaformin (850 mg)Diamet (500 mg)
Diamet (850 mg)Diamet SR (1000 mg)
Diamet SR (500 mg)Diamin (500 mg)
Dibeta SR (1000 mg)Dibeta SR (500 mg)
Dibimet (500 mg)Diform (500 mg)
Diform (850mg)Dior (500 mg)
Dior SR (1000 mg)Doket SR (1000 mg)
Dokmet SR (500 mg)Duomet ER (500 mg)
Emfor (500 mg)Emfor SR (1000 mg)
Emfor SR (500 mg)Emnorm (250 mg)
Emnorm (500 mg)Emnorm (850 mg)
Estimet SR (1000 mg)Estimet SR (500 mg)
Etformin (500 mg)Eumet (500 mg)
Eumet (850 mg)Exeed SR (1000 mg)
Exermet (1000 mg)Exermet (500 mg)
Exmet SRFormet (500 mg)
Formet (500 mg) (Chemech)Formet (850 mg)
Formet SR (1000 mg)Formin (500 mg)
Formin (500 mg) (Stadmed)Formin (850 mg)
Formin SRForminal (500 mg)
Forminal (850 mg)Forminal SR (1000 mg)
Forminal SR (500 mg)G Met (250 mg)
G Met (500 mg)G Met Forte (850 mg)
G Reg (250 mg)G Reg (500 mg)
G Reg (500 mg) (Diabetes)G Reg (850 mg)
G Reg SR (1000 mg)G Reg SR (1000 mg) (Diabetes)
G Reg SR (500 mg)G Reg SR (500 mg) (Diabetes)
Gamaze (500 mg)Genoformin 500
Getmet SR (500 mg)Gluconorm SR (1000 mg)
Gluconorm SR (500 mg)Gluformin (500 mg)
Gluformin (850 mg)Gluformin XL SR (1000 mg)
Gluformin XL SR (500 mg)Glumet (500 mg)
Glumet (850 mg)Glumet EXT (500 mg)
Glumet XR (500 mg)Glumin (500 mg)
Glyciphage (250 mg)Glyciphage (500 mg)
Glyciphage (850 mg)Glyciphage SR (1000 mg)
Glyciphage SR (500 mg)Glyciz (500 mg)
Glycomet (1000 mg)Glycomet (250 mg)
Glycomet (500 mg)Glycomet (850 mg)
Glycomet SR (1000 mg)Glycomet SR (500 mg)
Glycomet SR (850 mg)Glyformin (500 mg)
Glyrep (1000 mg)Glyrep (500 mg)
Glyrep XL (1000 mg)Glyrep XL (500 mg)
Gremet (500 mg)Insumet (500 mg)
Insumet (850 mg)Insumet SR (1000 mg)
Insumet SR (500 mg)Irmet (250 mg)
K Met SR (1000 mg)K Met SR (500 mg)
M Forlin (500 mg)M Forlin (850 mg)
Matce (500 mg)Matee (500 mg)
Matee (850 mg)Matee SR (500 mg)
Medformin (500 mg)Mefinda (500 mg)
Mefnor (250 mg)Mefomin SR (1000 mg)
Mefomin SR (500 mg)Melmet (500 mg)
Melmet (850 mg)Melmet SR (1000 mg)
Melmet SR (500 mg)Mesite XR (1000 mg)
Mesite XR (500 mg)Met (500 mg)
Metaday (1000 mg)Metaday (500 mg)
Metadoze IPR (500 mg)Metadoze IPR (850 mg)
Metafor (500 mg)Metafort SR (1000 mg)
Metafort SR (500 mg)Metagla (500 mg)
Metal (500 mg)Metanorm (1000 mg)
Metanorm (500 mg)Metatime (500 mg)
Metatime XR (500 mg)Metcalf SR (500 mg)
Metchek (500 mg)Metchek (850 mg)
Metco SR (500 mg)Metcom (500 mg)
Metcom (850 mg)Metfor (500 mg)
Metformin Hydrochloride (500 mg)Metformin Hydrochloride 1000 mg SR (Jan Aushadhi)
Metformin Hydrochloride 500 mg (Jan Aushadhi)Metglib (500 mg)
Metica (500 mg)Metica (850 mg)
Metix (500 mg)Metix SR (850 nmg)
Metkap (500 mg)Metlead SR (500 mg)
Metlife (500 mg)Metlife XR (1000 mg)
Metlong (500 mg)Metlong DS (1000 mg)
Metlong DS (500 mg)Metme (500 mg)
Metme SR (500 mg)Metmin (500 mg)
Metneed (500 mg)Metneed (850 mg)
Metsafe (1000 mg)Metsafe (500 mg)
Metsar SR (1000 mg)Metsar SR (500 mg)
Metwa (500 mg)MF SR (1000 mg)
MF SR (500 mg)Minimet (500 mg)
Minimet SR (1000 mg)Minimet SR (500 mg)
MR Met (1000 mg)MR Met (500 mg)
MR MET IPR (1000 mg)MR Met IPR (500 mg)
Mthl (500 mg)N Met (500 mg)
Nilconorm SR (1000 mg)Nilconorm SR (500 mg)
Obimet (500 mg)Obimet SR (1000 mg)
Obimet SR (500 mg)Okamet (500 mg)
Omet (500 mg)Omet (850 mg)
Oriphage SR (500 mg)Ozomet (500 mg)
Ozomet DS (1000 mg)Q Met (250 mg)
Q Met (500 mg)Q Met (850 mg)
Q Met XL (1000 mg)Q Met XL (500 mg)
Redidrop (500 mg)Redidrop SR (1000 mg)
Redidrop SR (500 mg)Redumet (500 mg)
Riomet (100 ml)Riomet OD (1000 mg)
Riomet OD (500 mg)Riomet OD (850 mg)
Rismet (1000 mg)Rismet 500
Roftem SR (1000 mg)Roftem SR (500 mg)
Serformin (500 mg)Solomet SR (1000 mg)
Sugamet SR (1000 mg)Sugamet SR (500 mg)
Sumet ER (1000 mg)Sumet ER (500 mg)
Tgmet SR (1000 mg)Tgmet SR (500 mg)
Tgmet SR (500 mg) (RSM Kilitch)TGMT (500 mg)
Theraformin (500 mg)Tormin (500 mg)
Walaphage (500 mg)Walaphage (850 mg)
Walaphage SR (1000 mg)Walaphage SR (500 mg)
Wymet (500 mg)Xmet (250 mg)
Xmet (500 mg)Xmet (850 mg)
Xmet SR (1000 mg)Xmet SR (500 mg)
Zetfor (500 mg)Zetfor (850 mg)
Zinimet XL (1000 mg)Zinimet XL (500 mg)
Zoform SR (1000 mg)Zoform SR (500 mg)
Zomet (500 mg)Zomet (850 mg)
Zomet SR (1000 mg)Zomet SR (500 mg)

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