1. Metformin is a medicine which is commonly used in diabetes mellitus (type 2).
2. Metformin is also prescribed in treating polycystic ovary syndrome.
3. Metformin decreases glucose prodution in the liver (hepatic gluconeogenesis) and increases utilisation of glucose at the peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle and fat cells (adipocytes). Thereby reduces the amount of glucose present in the blood.
4. Metformin is the drug of first choice in overweight patients in whom strict dieting has failed to control diabetes.
5. Metformin usually does not reduces blood sugar level than normal range. (low risk of Hypoglycaemia)
6. It does not exert a hypoglycaemic action in non-diabetic subjects unless given in overdose.
7. Poor appetite (anorexia), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain / fullness are initially common with metformin.
8. Along with Metformin, usaully those patients are given vitamin B complex supplements as Metformin decreases vitamin-B12 absorption.
9. Metformin can be used in pregnancy for both those who already having diabetes and those who newly have during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
10. Metformin may be used during breast-feeding.
Dr. Yapa Wijeratne