Metformin (Systemic)
Brand Names : Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Apo-Metformin, Gen-Metformin, Glycon, Novo-Metformin, Nu-Metformin
CategoryDescriptionMetformin (met-FOR-min) is used to treat a type
of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) called type 2 diabetes. With this type
of diabetes, insulin produced by the pancreas is not able to get sugar into
the cells of the body where it can work properly. Using metformin alone, with
a type of oral antidiabetic medicine called a sulfonylurea, or with insulin
will help to lower blood sugar when it is too high and help restore the way
you use food to make energy.
Many people can control type 2 diabetes with diet alone or diet and exercise.
Following a specially planned diet and exercising will always be important
when you have diabetes, even when you are taking medicines. To work properly,
the amount of metformin you take must be balanced against the amount and type
of food you eat and the amount of exercise you do. If you change your diet,
your exercise, or both, you will want to test your blood sugar to find out
if it is too low. Your health care professional will teach you what to do
if this happens.
At some point, this medicine may stop working as well and your blood glucose
will increase. You will need to know if this happens and what to do. Instead
of taking more of this medicine, your doctor may want you to change to another
antidiabetic medicine. If that does not lower your blood sugar, your doctor
may have you stop taking the medicine and begin receiving insulin injections
instead.
Metformin does not help patients who have insulin-dependent or type 1
diabetes because they cannot produce insulin from their pancreas gland. Their
blood glucose is best controlled by insulin injections.
Metformin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following
dosage form:
Oral
-
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Brand NamesSome commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S. -
In Canada -
- Apo-Metformin
- Gen-Metformin
- Glucophage
- Glycon
- Novo-Metformin
- Nu-Metformin
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