Metformin
Metformin is an FDA-approved prescription medication for type 2 diabetes. It is not FDA approved for weight loss. A licensed provider may prescribe it as part of a medically supervised weight program after an evaluation.
Compounded drugs are not FDA approved. FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.
See it before your first visit
Photographs of the medication as dispensed.
What it is
Metformin is a prescription medication in the biguanide class. The FDA has approved it to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes.
Metformin is not FDA approved for weight loss. Some licensed providers prescribe it as part of a medically supervised weight program when they decide it is appropriate for a specific patient. That decision is made by your provider after a medical evaluation, and it is not right for everyone.
How it works
Metformin lowers the amount of glucose the liver releases and helps the body respond better to insulin. It can also change appetite and how the gut handles sugar in some people. Your provider can explain what to expect based on your health history, your labs, and the other medications you take.
What to expect
Prescribers often start at a low dose and increase it slowly to reduce stomach upset. Taking it with meals can help. Your provider will tell you which form to use and how to take it. They may check kidney function and vitamin B12 levels before you start and during treatment.
Results vary from person to person, and no outcome is guaranteed. Metformin is not a substitute for nutrition, activity, and follow-up care.
Who it is for
Metformin is prescribed only after an evaluation by a licensed provider. Tell your provider if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart failure, a history of lactic acidosis, or heavy alcohol use, or if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Also tell them about every medication you take, including insulin, sulfonylureas, and any medicine for weight management.
Side effects
Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and a metallic taste. These often ease over time, especially when the dose is increased slowly.
Long-term use can lower vitamin B12 levels. Rare but serious effects include lactic acidosis. Seek medical care right away for muscle pain, trouble breathing, unusual sleepiness, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, a slow or irregular heartbeat, or feeling cold or weak.
Read this before you start
Compounded drugs are not FDA approved. FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.
Medication availability, formulation, packaging and pharmacy fulfillment vary based on the patient's prescription and location.
FDA status. Metformin is FDA approved to treat type 2 diabetes. It is not FDA approved for weight loss. Any use for weight management is a prescriber's clinical decision.
Boxed warning, lactic acidosis. Metformin carries a boxed warning for lactic acidosis, a rare but serious condition. Risk is higher with kidney problems, liver problems, heavy alcohol use, certain procedures, and serious illness or dehydration.
Do not use if you have severe kidney impairment, metabolic acidosis, or an allergy to metformin.
Procedures and contrast dye. Tell your provider before any surgery or imaging test that uses iodinated contrast. You may need to pause metformin.
Low blood sugar. Metformin alone rarely causes low blood sugar, but the risk rises when it is combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.
Vitamin B12. Long-term use can reduce B12 levels. Your provider may monitor this.
This page is for general information and is not medical advice. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without talking to your provider.
Common questions
Is metformin FDA approved for weight loss?
No. The FDA has approved metformin to treat type 2 diabetes. It is not approved for weight loss. A licensed provider decides whether prescribing it as part of a weight program is appropriate for you.
Do I need to have diabetes to be prescribed metformin?
That is up to your provider. They will review your health history, labs, and goals before deciding on any treatment.
What are the most common side effects?
Nausea, diarrhea, gas, and stomach upset are the most common. Starting at a low dose and taking it with food can help. Your provider will guide you.
Can metformin cause vitamin B12 deficiency?
Long-term use can lower B12 levels. Your provider may check your levels and recommend a supplement if needed.
Can I take metformin with other weight management medications?
Only your provider can tell you. Share a full list of everything you take so they can check for interactions.
How is metformin taken?
It is taken by mouth, usually with meals, as directed by your prescriber. Do not crush or split extended-release tablets unless your provider or pharmacist says it is safe.
%20(1)%20(1)%20(1).png)