Metformin for weight loss: price, reviews, scheme, how to take

In an effort to lose weight, people resort to the help of not only diets, sports, but also special drugs. And recently, the use of drugs that are not intended for these purposes has become popular due to their effectiveness. One of these is Metformin, which is often mistakenly called Metamorphine.

Composition and form of release

The drug is available in the form of tablets, which are oblong and pink in color. Its main active ingredient is metformin hydrochloride - one tablet contains 500 mg, 750 mg, 800 mg or 1000 mg.

As additional components, most often, the following are presented:

• Calcium stearate.
• Microcrystalline cellulose.
• Povidone and Crospovidone.
• Silica.

The shell contains dye, titanium dioxide, lactose, hypromellose and polysorbate. It should be noted that metformin is the international name for a substance from the biguanide group (the only representative of this group). In the original, the medicine is produced in France and has the name Glucophage. Therefore, the metformin preparations on the market are its generics.

They have the same pharmacological effect and contain the same active ingredient as the original drug. It should be noted that these medicines may be inferior to the original in quality. Also, manufacturers are allowed to include additional components in the composition to reduce the cost of medicine.

Therefore, generics are a more affordable option. But at the same time there is a risk that the additional substances included in the composition can negatively affect the well-being (due to the small study of their effect on health). Therefore, when buying drugs, you should study the composition in detail and select the drug as close as possible in content to the original drug.

Terms of sale, prices

This drug is commercially available and does not require a prescription.

Its cost depends on several factors:

• The content of the active substance in one tablet.
• Company manufacturer.
• The number of tablets in the package.

The table below shows the approximate cost of Metformin in various dosages and the number of tablets in a package.

Dosage	Price
500 mg	30 tablets - about 150 rubles
60 tablets - from 200 rubles.
850 mg	30 tablets - from 70 rubles.
60 tablets - from 150 rubles.
1000 mg	30 tablets - from 80 rubles.
60 tablets - from 350 rubles.

Pharmacological properties

Metformin is a blood sugar lowering drug. Its action is based on the so-called "awakening" of the body's cells to recognize insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its main task is to convert incoming sugar from food into energy. If too many carbohydrates enter the body, then a large amount of glucose is formed and overweight occurs.

With this option, the sensitivity to insulin decreases in the cells of the body - they cease to recognize it. This signals the pancreas to produce more insulin, which leads to an increase in insulin levels in the blood. As a result, the body has to store unused calories in fat stores. In other words, the drug affects the speed and intensity of the process of carbohydrate metabolism in the cells and tissues of the body.

And this, in turn, contributes to:

• Suppression of the process of glucose production as a result of metabolic processes.
• Formation of free fatty acids.
• Oxidation of fats.
• Excretion of glucose by the cells of the body.
• Inhibition of the absorption of glucose in the intestine.
• Preventing the formation of blood clots and blood clots.

Indications for use

The drug is indicated for use when:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent).
• Fatty degeneration of the liver.
• With obesity in case of ineffectiveness of physical activity and diet therapy.

Currently, Metformin is being tested with a view to its possible use in the treatment of cancer.

Metformin is the only oral drug approved for the treatment of children aged 10 years and older. This is due to the manufacture of drugs from natural raw materials.

Contraindications

Metformin for weight loss should not be taken without first consulting your doctor. It is recommended to conduct an examination of the body for the presence of diseases for which the medication is prohibited.

These include:

• Type 2 diabetes (in the absence of insulin in the blood).
• Type 1 diabetes.
• Heart failure.
• Anemia.
• Liver dysfunction.
• Renal failure and impaired renal function.
• Acute and chronic diseases leading to tissue hypoxia.
• Chronic alcoholism.

You should also refuse to take the drug when:

• dehydration of the body;
• poisoning with lactic acid and alcohol;
• pregnancy (if there is no medical indication for admission);
• breastfeeding;
• intolerance to the components of the drug;
• following a strict diet;
• decreased appetite;
• pre-stroke and pre-infarction conditions;
• recovery after surgery.

Efficiency

Many people use metformin for weight loss because of its ability not only to lower blood glucose levels, but also to reduce appetite. However, this does not happen in all cases and to a small extent. Therefore, it is not worth hoping for weight loss only due to the consumption of the medicine. To increase the effectiveness of its use, you can use a special diet. Its peculiarity is the permission to use salt.

In this case, a number of other products should be excluded from the diet:

• Vegetables and fruits containing large amounts of sugar and starch (bananas, grapes, potatoes, beets and others).
• Flour and sweet products.
• Fatty types of meat.
• Instant cereals and white rice.

When drawing up the menu, it is important to monitor the calorie content - no more than 1200 kcal can be consumed per day.

An important component is maintaining the water balance, therefore, it is necessary to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day in the form of green or herbal tea without sugar, still water. Liquid should be consumed no later than 20 minutes before a meal or 40 minutes after a meal. The addition of fluid intake will prevent digestive tract disorders, which is one of the side effects of the medication.

Maintaining an active lifestyle will also help to increase the effectiveness of taking the drug. This can be a simple workout in the gym, jogging for 15-20 minutes, dancing exercises, and even walking in the fresh air.

With such an integrated approach, you can lose about 1 kg in a week. This figure may vary depending on the individual characteristics of the organism.

Dosage and administration, dosage regimen

For weight loss, an adult needs to take Metformin no more than 1000 mg per day. This dosage is safe and rarely causes side effects.

The reception scheme is as follows:

1. With or after breakfast, take 500 mg.
2. Take 500 mg of the drug after dinner.

The tablets are recommended to be taken whole with a sufficient amount of water. If it is hard to swallow the pill, it can be broken into 2 parts.

To obtain the best effect, the daily dosage can be increased to 1500 mg, provided that the drug is well tolerated. Then the 2nd intake of 500 mg of the drug is carried out during lunch, and the 3rd after dinner.

The course of taking pills should not exceed 20 days. After it, a break must be made for at least 1, and preferably 2 months - this will help avoid getting used to Metformin. During the break, you must adhere to a diet and do not forget about physical activity.

The dosage and dosage regimen for treatment depends on the age of the person:

• Children over the age of 13 begin treatment with a dosage of 500 mg.
• For adults, a dosage of 850 mg is indicated.

To minimize the development of side effects, a gradual increase in dosage will allow. For example, it can be increased by 500-850 mg every week. The recommended amount of the drug for adults is 1500 mg per day. It is divided into 2 or 3 receptions. And the maximum daily dosage is 1700-2000 mg, also divided into 2-3 doses.

Metformin is also used to prevent the development of diabetes. In this case, the daily dosage is 200 mg.

Side effects

When using the drug during the first 3 days, a feeling of nausea and dizziness may occur. Such symptoms are associated with a sharp drop in blood glucose. But gradually their manifestation decreases.

Metformin can cause other side reactions:

• Lowering blood sugar levels.
• Poor absorption of vitamin B12.
• Skin rashes.
• Temperature increase.

If these symptoms persist for more than 3 days or their manifestation becomes more pronounced, you should stop taking the medication and seek medical help.

Overdose

The most dangerous sign of drug overdose is the development of lactic acidosis. This is a disease in which the body accumulates large amounts of lactic acid against the background of insulin deficiency.

As a result, a person may experience the following symptoms:

• Pain in the abdomen.
• Feeling nauseous and vomiting.
• General weakness of the body and drowsiness.
• Decrease in body temperature and blood pressure.
• Muscle pain.
• Indigestion.

In more severe cases, breathing becomes more rapid, dizziness appears, consciousness is impaired, and it is also possible to lose it up to the development of a coma.

If these symptoms are found, it is necessary to urgently seek help from a doctor and temporarily stop taking the drug. It is worth noting that lactic acidosis can occur not only in case of an overdose - it often manifests itself as a side effect of taking Metformin.

special instructions

When using the drug, a number of recommendations should be followed:

• If it is necessary to conduct radiological studies using X-ray contrast agents, the drug should be stopped for 2 days before the study.
• If a person has chronic diseases, the admission must necessarily be monitored by a doctor - the drug can lead to their exacerbation.
• When taken simultaneously with drugs containing sulfonylurea and insulin, an increase in the process of lowering blood sugar levels may be observed.
• The use of the elderly and people who constantly perform heavy physical activity increases the risk of developing lactic acidosis.
• Ensure that carbohydrates are consumed evenly throughout the day.
• It is not recommended to consume alcoholic beverages and medications containing alcohol in order to avoid the development of lactic acidosis.
• Simultaneous use with some hormonal drugs leads to a weakening of the effects of metformin.
• Cationic drugs increase the maximum renal metformin concentration.

Analogs

Metformin has several analogs that are also used to lose weight. In such preparations, metformin is also the active ingredient. They differ in the content of additional components, price, manufacturer and dosage of the drug. The most famous analogs are presented in the table below.

Drug name	Composition	Features of reception
Glucophage (France)	Metformin and excipients (sodium carmellose, magnesium stearate and hypromellose).	The maximum dose should not exceed 3000 mg per day (however, it is recommended to take no more than 2000 mg). It is not used to treat children.
Metfogamma (Germany)	Metformin hydrolphoride and additional substances in the form of macrogol, titanium dioxide, hypromellose, magnesium stearate and povidone.	Approved for use for the treatment of children over 10 years old. The maximum dose should not exceed 3000 mg - this amount is divided into 2-3 doses.
Siofor (Italy)	Metformin, titanium dioxide, povidone, polyethylene glycol and hypromellose.	Approved for the treatment of children over the age of 10. The maximum daily dosage is 2 g, divided into 2-3 doses.
Diaformin (Ukraine)	In addition to metformin, the composition includes stearic acid, silicon dioxide, povidone, shellac, cellulose, talc, titanium dioxide, macrogol, magnesium stearate and propylene glycol.	It is not used to treat children. The initial dose of the drug is 500 mg, and the maximum daily dose is 2000 mg. If necessary, the dosage is increased to 3000 mg.

Storage conditions

The drug, like all medicines, is prohibited from using after the expiration date. This period is 2-3 g, depending on the manufacturer (the exact information is provided in the instructions).

In order for the product to retain its properties, it is stored under the following conditions:

• Temperature regime - not lower than 0 ⁰From and not more than +25 ⁰WITH.
• Lack of moisture.
• No sunlight.
• Inaccessible place for children.

Metformin or Metamorphine (as many call it) is not a weight loss drug. However, it is used for this purpose due to its effect on fat metabolism and other processes in the body. The use of the drug is possible only after consulting a doctor.

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