Glucophage (Metformin), is an oral anti-diabetic medication used to treat type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes (formerly "adult-onset"). Glucophage (Metformin) is not used to treat type 1 (insulin- dependent) diabetes (formerly "juvenile-onset").
Diabetes develops when the body proves unable to burn sugar and the unused sugar builds up in the bloodstream. Glucophage (Metformin) lowers the amount of sugar in your blood by decreasing sugar production and absorption and helping your body respond better to its own insulin, which promotes the burning of sugar. It does not, however, increase the body's production of insulin. Glucophage is sometimes prescribed along with insulin or certain other oral antidiabetic drugs such as Micronase or Glucotrol. This is because Glucophage (Metformin) by itself does not help in or increase production of Insulin, so the patient may be prescribed other drugs which help in increasing insulin production. Glucophage is also used alone as a stand alone medication when only lowering og sugar is required.
Standard Glucophage tablets are taken two or three times daily. An extended-release form (Glucophage XR) is available for once-daily dosing. Glucophage, Metformin is used on an experimental basis in the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition of multiple cysts in the ovaries that can lead to infertility in women.
Glucophage XR /Metformin helps your body to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood.
Unlike glucose-lowering drugs of the sulfonylurea class, e.g. glyburide (Micronase; Diabeta) or glipizide (Glucotrol), Glucophage XR (metformin) does not increase the concentration of insulin in the blood and, therefore, does not cause excessively low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) when used alone.
In scientific studies, Glucophage XR (metformin) reduced the complications of diabetes such as heart disease, blindness and kidney disease.
Metformin was approved by the FDA in December of 1994.
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