Question:
What is Metformin taken for? What is Gluchphage?

   — kathi T. (posted on August 5, 2004)

August 5, 2004
metformin and gluchphage are used for sugar diabetes.
   — Brandi A.

August 5, 2004
I took them both for type II diabetes. I think the correct spelling for Gluchphage is Glucophage, it is the brand name of the drug. Metformin is the generic.
   — ChristineB

August 5, 2004
Both are for 9 diabetics and is used in treating high blood sugars metformin is the generic brand, but they both work the same. YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE IT IF IT IS NOT PRESCRIBED FOR YOU BY A DOCTOR! It can do more damage to your organs than good if you don't need it.
   — Angel C.

August 5, 2004
Glucophage (or generic metformin) is also used to treat insulin resistance. It does NOT work by lowering blood sugar, but rather by making cells more receptive to the insulin you produce..(Or the insulin that gets injected) This drug is also used in the treatment fo PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). I took Glucophage XL 2000mg for INSULIN RESISTANCE for quite a while before I had WLS. It was prescribed by an endocrinologist. Here is what would happen to me: I would eat a normal meal, then about two hours after I ate, my blood sugar would spike up to the 180's. And hour after that, it would be in the 60's. The reason - I would eat, causing insulin to be released. But, because my cells were resistant to insulin, my blood sugar would spike becasue the insulin wasn't being used, so I overproduced insulin to compensate. Later, after I had overproduced insulin to take care of the blood sugar, I would dip down, as the insulin was then utilized by the cells. By taking Glucophage, the cells became more sensitized to the insulin, and the peaks and vallies went away. I also had a fasting INSULIN (not blood sugar) level tested. It was near the top of normal, but the endocrinologict said that when I ate, my insulin levels probably soared well above that out of control. So, this drug can be taken by diabetics and non-diabetics (who happen to be insulin resistant)!
   — koogy

August 7, 2004
Glucophage is also taken for treatment of polycystic ovarian disease, it helps to control not only the diabetic symptoms that go with this but to control the increase in testrone levels that women with polycystic ovarian disease have. I was told by my endricronologist and gynoclogist that the dose I was on for the treatment of type II diabetes was considered a low dose for my polycystic problem that has lead to all my health problems and weight gain before surgery since surgery I am losing and some of the symptoms of POD have disappeared but not totally and I may have to go back on glucophage we are just waiting now to see. Nancy
   — nefish