Glucophage (Metformin): Your Ally in Diabetes Management

Generic Glucophage (Metformin 500 mg) Medication guide:

More facts about Generic Glucophage (Metformin 500 mg):

What are the tablets sold as Glucophage?

The brand name of the preparation Glucophage is registered for a well-known medication Metformin. Metformin is not a new medication. Its main component was first discovered in 1922 as a part of a plant. After many years of studies and tests, it became widely available and prescribed for individuals diagnosed with diabetes type II in the late 1950s. Currently, it is still the first choice medicine for diabetes type II which is available both under the brand names, i.e. trade names that are widely promoted and advertised and are owned by large international drug company, and generic forms, i.e. the same medicine with less advertised and less known names. If you wish to save when you are prescribed to buy Glucophage, you can acquire a generic version of the tablets as they are usually priced lower.

The tablets lower the degree of glucose in the blood both taken before a meal and after a food intake, the concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin, and raises the tolerability of glucose. It diminishes both intestinal uptake of glucose and its production in the liver; enhances the response to insulin of peripheral tissues thus improving the absorption of glucose and its metabolism.

Unlike sulfonylureas, it does not promote insulin production and does not render glucose lowering action in healthy people. It does not change the production of insulin in the pancreas; normalizes the lipid profile of blood plasma in patients with insulin-independent diabetes: diminishes triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density cholesterol and does not change the levels of lipoproteins of other densities. It also normalizes or lowers the body weight in obese patients.

The medication doesn’t cause mutations and isn’t carcinogenic.  It is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and its bioavailability on an empty stomach is 50-60%. The maximal concentration of the medication in the blood plasma is observed within 2 hours after the pills intake. The food intake before the pills reduces the max concentration by 40% and delays its achievement by 35 minutes.

The active substance of Glucophage insignificantly binds to plasma proteins and is able to accumulate in salivary glands, liver, and kidneys. It is washed out from the body by the kidneys in changeless form (90%).

Is it safe to purchase and use Generic Glucophage instead of the branded medicine?

It is absolutely safe to use a generic version of the preparation upon condition that the active substance and its amount per pill correspond to your doctor's prescriptions. At our online medstore, you can buy Generic Glucophage in two dosages per pill – 500 mg and 850 mg. The producer of these medications is an internationally well-known generic manufacturing company Cipla. It is a reputable pharmaceutical company that makes the medication identical to the branded ones but prices them cheaper. You don’t need to worry that the cheap price indicates the lower quality. It is lower because the trademarks owned by generics makers are less advertised and because they use the formula developed many years ago without the need to invest in the new research. All generics are properly tested and approved to be sold only if they correspond to the stated formula and properties.

Still, you can run into a substandard generic medication if you opt for an unreliable seller or fall for the lowest price. Our prices are average on the market and the significantly lower prices of other sellers can indicate the inferior quality of the medicines, their counterfeit nature or that they are expired. Please be wise when you try to save on the medications and check the reputation of an online store you opt for before you place an order.

When is Metformin prescribed to be taken?

The preparation can be appointed for diabetes mellitus type II in ineffective curative diet, primarily in patients with obesity. It can be a single-medication therapy with Metformin or a multimodality therapy with other oral antidiabetic medicines or insulin for adults. In children older than ten years, the medication can be used alone or combined with insulin but not other hypoglycemic medicines.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes type II, you can buy Metformin and start using it without your doctor giving you a prescription as we sell the medication over-the-counter. But we highly recommend you not to do so and consult your doctor first to be sure that you can take this medication and know how to take it precisely.

Whom Metformin tablets are prohibited to be used?

You must not purchase and use the pills if you are hypersensitive to Metformin or additional substances contained in the pills. It must not be used also in diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic coma, moderately to severely violated renal function, high probability of kidney function impairment due to various health conditions, dehydration, serious bacterial or viral infections, acute and severe chronic conditions which can lead to the onset of hypoxia, i.e. cardiac or respiratory failure, heart attack, liver insufficiency, and others.

You can buy Generic Metformin and use it when you are expecting a baby only if your healthcare provider believes that the expected benefit is higher than the risk and prescribes you the therapy with this drug.

How Glucophage interrelates with other compounds and tablets?

The action of the medical product is lowered by the diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, estrogens, incl. birth control pills, phenytoin, calcium antagonists, and some other medicines. In order to see the full list please refer to the official instruction.

The glucose-lowering action is enhanced by insulin, sulfonylureas, acarbose, oxytetracycline, ACE inhibitors, clofibrate derivatives, cyclophosphamide, beta blockers, and other medicines.

Cimetidine slows down the washing out of the active substance away from the organism, which heightens the risk of lactic acidosis. The preparation is incompatible with alcohol (heightened risk of onset of dairy acidosis).

If you take any medications, you must tell your healthcare provider about them before you order Glucophage as here we list not all negative combinations.

Adverse effects Glucophage can provoke

The use of the medication is frequently associated with nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, lowered appetite, flatulence, and other adverse symptoms associated with the violation of the gastrointestinal tract function. Most often, these negative symptoms manifest at the start of treatment and, usually, they quite quickly disappear. To prevent the occurrence these negative symptoms, a slow increase in dosage and split of the daily dosage into 2-3 intakes during or after a meal is recommended.

You can also develop other negative reactions. If you have any, inform your healthcare provider.

What should you do if you overdose?

The risk of hypoglycemia (extremely low glucose) is low even in the overdose of the medication. However, the dosages around 85 grams greatly elevate the risk of lactic acidosis, an extremely rare, very dangerous complication caused by some pathological conditions (diseases or syndromes). In case it develops, you must stop using the medication and seek emergency help. The symptoms of the acidosis are nausea, vomiting, fainting, muscle pain, irregular heartbeat, and others.

The most effective therapy is hemodialysis and symptomatic treatment.

How to use Generic Glucophage tablets?

If you order Generic Glucophage from our online pharmacy in the correct dosage per pill prescribed by your doctor, you should follow his or her instructions without any changes. It is crucial to get the instructions on how to take the pills in your case from a specialist who treats you. However, here we still provide general recommendations that can help you in see the whole picture how the medication is used.

Since the medication is excreted by kidneys, before and during the therapy with it, it is important to monitor the level of creatinine in the blood plasma especially in patients with violated kidney function and senior patients. Besides, it is especially important to pay attention to the kidney function if additionally hypotensive medicines, diuretics, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are used.

During the therapy with Metformin-based medicines, patients need to follow a special diet and make control tests.

For the therapy of diabetes with Metformin solely or along with other medicines, the initial dosage is usually 500 mg or 850 mg taken two-three times a day during or after a meal. After ten-fifteen days, the dosages must be adjusted in accordance with the glucose indicators. The initial low doses and gradual increase of the dosages are effective to lower the likelihood of adverse reactions from the part of the digestive system.

The maximal daily dosage is 3000 mg a day split into three intakes. If the high dose is prescribed, usually, 1000 mg pills are taken.

The dosages of other medicines for combination therapy are selected individually by a doctor.

If you plan to order Metformin for elderly patients, you should know that the dosages for senior patients are selected based on the kidney function.

The use of the medication in children older than ten years (it is prohibited to be given to younger children) is possible as a monotherapy or along with insulin. The initial recommended dosage is 500 mg or 850 mg of the medication once a day. After ten-fifteen days, the dosages must be adjusted in accordance with the glucose indicators. The initial low doses and gradual increase of the dosages are effective to lower the likelihood of adverse reactions from the part of the digestive system.

The maximal daily dosage for children is 2000 mg a day split into three intakes.

Where to buy Glucophage?

At our online pharmacy, you can order Generic Metformin which is identical to the branded medication but costs several times less money. We also sell the medication without Rx which can help you save on the visits to your doctor for refill prescriptions.

Glucophage shipping

Rxshop ships worldwide via standard and express mail. The standard delivery can take up to 30 days so if you need the medication sooner make sure to order express delivery.