metformin(Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet)
Biguanide (oral antihyperglycemic)
Pronunciation
Pronunciation coming soon
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Say it aloud once — you will remember it forever.
At a glance
- Generic name
- metformin
- Brand names
- Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet
- Therapeutic class
- Biguanide (oral antihyperglycemic)
- Mechanism (summary)
- Lowers blood glucose primarily by decreasing hepatic glucose production (inhibits gluconeogenesis) and secondarily by improving peripheral insulin sensitivity and decreasing intestinal glucose absorption. Activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Does not stimulate insuli...
Clinical pearls
- Take with food (breakfast and dinner for BID dosing) to reduce
- nausea and diarrhea.
- GI side effects are common at first and usually fade within 1--2
- weeks; don\\'t stop the drug without calling your prescriber.
- Swallow extended-release tablets whole --- do not crush, chew, or
Sources
See how metformin appears in NAPLEX-style questions
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