Metformin is the most commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes worldwide, especially in patients who are overweight. It can also be used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome and has been shown in a few studies to prevent complications including cardiovascular disease and cancer in diabetics. This product is oral medication and does not cause weight gain.
What other uses does metformin have besides lowering blood sugar?
1. Improve blood lipids: Metformin can reduce "bad" blood lipids such as cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride while it has no significant effect on lowering "good" blood lipids -- high density lipoprotein cholesterol. To put it simply, metformin's role in blood lipid is to suppress the "bad" blood lipid and protect the "good" blood lipid.
2. Improve blood pressure: Metformin can slightly improve blood pressure, so it may be more suitable for diabetic patients with hypertension.
3. Reduce cardiovascular diseases: Patients with metformin can reduce the possibility of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and stroke.
Treatment of fatty liver: In the absence of significant liver damage (serum transaminase less than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal), metformin can improve liver inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis.
5 treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: Metformin can improve the hirsutism of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome through a variety of ways to balance a variety of hormones in the female body, so as to make menstruation regular and induce ovulation.
6. Anti-tumor: Metformin can cause many changes in the body and inhibit the occurrence and progression of tumor cells. The use of metformin can reduce the possibility of developing tumors. If the transaminase of hepatitis B and cirrhosis is not abnormal, metformin can also reduce the occurrence of liver cancer to a certain extent.
Metformin is a common side effect：
The symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach distension, fatigue, indigestion, abdominal discomfort and headache, most of which occur 10 weeks before treatment, and can be gradually tolerated or disappear with the extension of treatment time.
The minimum recommended dose for metformin to be effective is 500mg/d and the best effective dose is 2000mg/d. The maximum dose available for normal tablets for adults is 2550mg/d, and the maximum recommended dose for sustained-release forms is 2000mg/d.
It is an effective method to reduce the adverse reactions by gradually increasing the dose or changing to metformin sustained-release preparation.
Effects of metformin on vitamin B12 absorption:
Long-term use of metformin may cause a decrease in vitamin B12 levels.
Long-term users of metformin can have their vitamin B12 levels measured once a year. If deficient, vitamin B12 should be supplemented appropriately.
