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Metformin
Metformin · Biguanide
A biguanide medicine used as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes.
- Partner pharmacy
- Personal assistance
- Discreet delivery
- Active ingredientMetformin hydrochloride
- AdministrationOral
Shipping & Delivery
- Normally dispatched within 24 hours of payment confirmation.
- UPS Express · £12 · Approx. 7–9 business days
- Registered Mail · £8 · Approx. 14–20 business days
What Metformin is
Metformin is a biguanide that lowers blood glucose, mainly by reducing glucose production in the liver and improving insulin sensitivity. It is a first-line medicine for type 2 diabetes.
Suitability and dosing are decided by a prescriber on the basis of the approved product information.
Less glucose from the liver, better insulin action
Metformin lowers blood glucose mainly by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver. It also improves the body’s response to insulin and slows glucose absorption from the gut. Because it does not stimulate insulin release, on its own it rarely causes low blood sugar.
LiverLess glucose production.
Muscle and gutBetter insulin sensitivity; slower glucose absorption.
In UKPDS 34, overweight people with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin had fewer diabetes-related complications than those on conventional treatment.1
Side effects and warnings
Commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal, especially at the start:
- Nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite
- A metallic taste
- Lower vitamin B12 levels with long-term use
ImportantLactic acidosis is a rare but serious complication, more likely with reduced kidney function or dehydration: kidney function is checked regularly, and treatment may be paused around surgery or contrast X-ray examinations. Always read the patient information leaflet.
Product information
Patient information leafletSupplied by the partner pharmacy
Summary of Product CharacteristicsOfficial product information
Common questions
Do I need a prescription?
Metformin is a prescription-only medicine. After your request, the partner pharmacy verifies whether and how supply is possible, for example through an existing prescription or an assessment by an independent doctor where permitted.
Can it cause low blood sugar?
On its own, rarely. The risk increases when it is combined with insulin or medicines that stimulate insulin release, such as sulfonylureas.
Why is kidney function checked?
Metformin is cleared by the kidneys. Reduced kidney function increases the risk of lactic acidosis, so the dose is adjusted or treatment stopped as set out in the product information.
Do I pay when I send a request?
No. Payment is arranged individually with customer service once your request has been reviewed and can proceed.
Sources
- UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). Lancet. 1998;352:854–865.
- Metformin hydrochloride tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics.
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