Glucophage

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Glucophage (generic name: metformin; brand names include: Phage / Riomet / Fortamet / Glumetza / Obimet / Dianben / Diabex / Diaformin) is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.

It is the most popular anti-diabetic drug in the United States and one of the most prescribed drugs in the country overall, with nearly 35 million prescriptions filled in 2006 for generic metformin alone.

Glucophage lowers blood glucose by helping your body make better use of the insulin produced by your pancreas.

Glucophage is indicated for:

Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults, particularly in overweight patients, when dietary management and exercise alone does not result in adequate glycaemic control.

It is also used in combination therapy in insulin dependent diabetes especially if overweight.

When prescribed appropriately, Glucophage causes few adverse effects and, unlike many other anti-diabetic drugs, does not cause hypoglycemia if used alone.

Glucophage is the only anti-diabetic drug that has been proven to protect against the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. It also does not cause weight gain, and may indeed produce minor weight loss. Glucophage also modestly reduces LDL and triglyceride levels.

Glucophage is non-addictive.

As of 2008, Glucophage (Metformin) is one of only two oral anti-diabetics in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines.

Recommendations

Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Glucophage exactly as directed.

Take tablets during or immediately after food. Swallow the tablets with a glass of water. Take the tablet at about the same time of each day. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Glucophage can be taken by children with diabetes that cannot be controlled with insulin and who is being treated in hospital. Your child's doctor will decide the dose.

Keep taking Glucophage for as long as your doctor recommends. Do not stop taking Glucophage or change the dose without checking with your doctor. Treatment is usually combined with a balanced diet and exercise.

If you forget to take Glucophage, take the missed dose as soon as you remember (with food), and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

Keep your tablets at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.

Precautions

Before taking Glucophage, tell your doctor if:

you are allergic Glucophage or other medicines;
you have diabetic ketoacidosis;
you have severe kidney disease or severe liver disease, or severe heart failure;
you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you are breast-feeding or wish to breast-feed.