• Type 2 DM especially in overweight patients
    • Immediate release: Initially 500 or 850mg OD;
      • Dose increased every 10-15 days on the basis of glycemic control and tolerability.
      • Not to exceed 2g/day in 2-3 divided doses.
    • Extended release: Initially 500mg OD; titrated with 500mg/day every week.
      • Not to exceed 2g/day
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome:
    • Immediate release: 500 mg TDS OR 850-1000 mg BD.
      • Maximum daily dose: 2550mg/day
    • Extended release: 1500-2000 mg per day in the evening.

 

Renal dosing

eGFR 45-59: consider decreasing usual dose

eGFR 30-44: avoid treatment initiation or decrease usual dose by 50%

eGFR <30: contraindicated

  • Immediate release tablet:
    • 500mg
    • 850mg
    • 1g
  • Extended release tablet:
    • 500mg
    • 750mg
    • 1g
  • To be taken with or after meals.
  • Discontinue 2-3 days before surgery.
  • Patients should be stabilized in hospital when combination therapy is used.

Biguanide antidiabetic.

It may act by reduction of hepatic glucose production by inhibiting gluconeogenesis. It may also delay the absorption of glucose from the GI tract and increase insulin sensitivity in the muscle thereby improving peripheral glucose uptake and utilization in cells.

  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain
  • Flatulence
  • Indigestion
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Metallic taste
  • Weight loss
  • Lactic acidosis
  • Impaired absorption of Vitamin B12.
  • Megaloblastic anemia
  • Hepatotoxicity
  • Ovulation induction
  • Hypersensitivity to components
  • Patients > 80 years
  • CHF
  • Severe renal impairment
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Acute alcohol intoxication
  • Hepatic failure
  • Dehydration
  • Sepsis
  • Hypoxemia
  • Acetazolamide
  • Alcohol
  • Iodinated contrast media
  • Loop diuretics
  • Cimetidine
  • Anticoagulants

                                   Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Category C; Contraindicated
Breastfeeding Contraindicated
Schedule Not controlled
BRAND NAME STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Biomet 850mg Tablet 100’s Sava Healthcare C/O Medox Pharma Medox Pharma
Biomet 500mg Tablet 100’s Sava Healthcare C/O Medox Pharma Medox Pharma
Comet 500mg Tablet 100’s Square Pharma Ace Pharma
Comet 850mg Tablet 100’s Square Pharma Ace Pharma
Dialon 850mg Tablet 30’s Gulf Pharma Goodman Agencies
Diamin 850mg Tablet 30’s Sandoz GMBH Sandoz GMBH
Diamin 1g Tablet 30’s Sandoz GMBH Sandoz GMBH
Diamin 500mg Tablet 30’s Sandoz GMBH Sandoz GMBH
Diaphage 850mg Tablet 30’s Universal Corporation Universal Corporation
Diaphage 500mg Tablet 30’s Universal Corporation Universal Corporation
Emformin 500mg Tablet 100’s Medopharm C/O Medox Medox Pharma
Exermet 1g Tablet 30’s Cipla Ltd Imperial Managed
Flomet 500mg Tablet 100’s Flamingo Harley’s Limited
Flomet 850mg Tablet 100’s Flamingo Harley’s Limited
Forminal 1000 SR 1000mg Tablet 30’s Alembic Pharma Europa Healthcare
Glucend 500mg Tablet 100’s Endurance Stallion Labs
Glucodeal 500mg Tablet 100’s Biodeal Labs Biodeal Labs
Glucodeal 850mg Tablet 100’s Biodeal Labs Biodeal Labs
Glucomet 500mg Tablet 28’s, 56’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Glucomet 850mg Tablet 28’s, 56’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Glucomet XR 500mg Tablet 28’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Glucomet XR 750mg Tablet 30’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Glucomet XR 1g Tablet 30’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Glucophage 500mg Tablet 90’s Merck Ltd Merck Ltd
Glucophage 850mg Tablet 60’s Merck Ltd Merck Ltd
Glucophage 1g Tablet 60’s Merck Ltd Merck Ltd
Glucophage XR 500mg Tablet 90’s, 120’S Merck Ltd Merck Ltd
Glucophage XR 750mg Tablet 30’s, 60’s Merck Ltd Merck Ltd
Glucophage XR 1g Tablet 60’s Merck Ltd Merck Ltd
Gludown 500mg Tablet 100’s Laboratory & Allied Laboratory & Allied
Glyformin 500mg Tablet 100’s Remedica Ltd Twokay Chemicals
Glyformin 850mg Tablet 100’s Remedica Ltd Twokay Chemicals
Lipimet 500mg Tablet 30’s Galaxy Pharma Galaxy Pharma
Lipimet 850mg Tablet 30’s Galaxy Pharma Galaxy Pharma
Lofin MR 850mg Tablet 30’s M.J. Biopharm Europa Healthcare
Lofin SR 500mg Tablet 30’s M.J. Biopharm Europa Healthcare
Melmet SR 1g Tablet 30’s Micro Labs Micro Labs
Melmet SR 500mg Tablet 30’s Micro Labs Micro Labs
Metchek 500mg Tablet 100’s Indoco Remedies Sai Pharma
Metchek 850mg Tablet 100’s Indoco Remedies Sai Pharma
Metfil 500mg Tablet 100’s Fourrts Labs Sai Pharma
Metforal 500mg Tablet 50’s Laboratori Guidotti Phillips Therapeutics
Metforal 850mg Tablet 30’s Laboratori Guidotti Phillips Therapeutics
Metformin 500mg Tablet 60’s Sandoz GMBH Novartis Kenya
Metformin 1g Tablet 60’s Sandoz GMBH Novartis Kenya
Metformin Denk 500mg Tablet 100’s Denk Pharma Laborex Kenya
Metformin Denk 850mg Tablet 120’s Denk Pharma Laborex Kenya
Metformin Denk 1g Tablet 30’s Denk Pharma Laborex Kenya
Metica 500mg Tablet 100’s Asence Pharma Medisel Kenya
Metlong 500mg Tablet 100’s Panacea Biotec Europa Healthcare
Metmin 500mg Tablet 100’s Dawa Ltd Dawa Ltd
Metsafe ER 1g Tablet 30’s MSN Labs Simba Pharma
Metsafe ER 500mg Tablet 30’s MSN Labs Simba Pharma
Metswift 500mg Tablet 28’s Ind-Swift Ltd Ind-Swift Ltd
Metswift 850mg Tablet 56’s Ind-Swift Ltd Ind-Swift Ltd
Mformin 850mg Tablet 100’s Questa Care C/O Surgilinks Ltd Surgilinks Ltd
Mformin 500mg Tablet 100’s Questa Care C/O Surgilinks Ltd Surgilinks Ltd
Panfor SR 1g Tablet 100’s Mega Lifesciences Kulal International
Panfor SR 500mg Tablet 100’s Mega Lifesciences Kulal International
Ranophage OD 1g Tablet 30’s Sun Pharma Sun Pharma
Sukarmin 500mg Tablet 100’s Biopharma Ltd Biopharma Ltd
Xmet 500mg Tablet 100’s Glenmark Pharma Glenmark Pharma