User:Mr. Ibrahem/Metformin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Template:Good article is only for Wikipedia:Good articles.
![]() | |
![]() | |
Clinical data | |
---|---|
Pronunciation | /mɛtˈfɔːrmɪn/, met-FOR-min |
Trade names | Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumetza, others |
Other names | N,N-dimethylbiguanide[1] |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a696005 |
License data | |
Pregnancy category |
|
Routes of administration | By mouth |
Drug class | Biguanide[3] |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 50–60%[4][5] |
Protein binding | Minimal[4] |
Metabolism | Not by liver[4] |
Elimination half-life | 4–8.7 hours[4] |
Excretion | Urine (90%)[4] |
Identifiers | |
| |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C4H11N5 |
Molar mass | 129.167 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
Density | 1.3±0.1[6] g/cm3 |
| |
|
Metformin, marketed under the trade name Glucophage among others, is the first-line medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes,[3][7] particularly in people who are overweight.[8] It is also used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.[3] It is not associated with weight gain.[9] It is taken by mouth.[3]
Metformin is generally well tolerated.[10] Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain.[3] It has a low risk of causing low blood sugar.[3] High blood lactic acid level is a concern if the medication is used in overly large doses or prescribed in persons with severe kidney problems.[11][12] It is not recommended in those with significant liver disease.[3] While no clear harm comes from use during pregnancy, insulin is generally preferred for gestational diabetes.[3][13] Metformin is a biguanide antihyperglycemic agent.[3] It works by decreasing glucose production by the liver and increasing the insulin sensitivity of body tissues.[3]
Metformin was discovered in 1922.[14] French physician Jean Sterne began study in humans in the 1950s.[14] It was introduced as a medication in France in 1957 and the United States in 1995.[3][15] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[16] Metformin is the most widely used medication for diabetes taken by mouth.[14] It is available as a generic medication.[3] The wholesale price in the developed world was between US$0.20 and $6 per month as of 2014[update].[17] In the United States, it costs 5 to 25 USD per month.[3] In the UK, a standard 500 mg tablet costs around £0.03, with other forms being more expensive.[18] In 2017, it was the fourth-most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 78 million prescriptions.[19][20]