Metformin Weight Loss GenericMetformin Weight Loss

Two Types Metformin

Are There Two Types Metformin?

It’s kind of hard to answer the question if there are two different types of Metformin: it all depends on how you look at “Two Types Metformin“… You could differentiate between Metformin and Glucophage. There’s the standard type of Metformin and the “different” ER/XR version. And then there are the really different combinations of Metformin with another drug.

Two Types Metformin; Metformin vs Glucophage

Metformin is the generic name for brand name Glucophage. French diabetologist Jean Sterne came up with that name, it means for “Glucose Eater”.

While training at the Hôpital de la Pitié, French diabetologist Jean Sterne studied the antihyperglycemic properties of galegine, an alkaloid isolated from Galega officinalis (French lilac), which is related in structure to metformin and had seen brief use as an antidiabetic before tsynthalins were developed. Later, working at Laboratoires Aron in Paris, he was prompted by a 1950 report of Garcia to reinvestigate the blood sugar lowering activity of metformin and several biguanide analogs. Sterne was the first to try metformin on humans for the treatment of diabetes; he coined the name “Glucophage” (glucose eater) for the drug and published his results in 1957.

There is no real difference between brand name and generic brand Metformin. The package differs and the generic brand is definitely cheaper but effects are the same. In most cases, even the Metformin dosage is identical

Metformin vs Metformin ER/XR, two different types?

Metformin ER/XR are the so called extended or time release versions of standard Metformin. They were introduced in 2004 to lower the risk on the negative Metformin side effects. Basically they dissolve slower or “release” the active ingredient over a longer period of time than standard Metformin.

Metformin Combined with Other Drugs

Metformin is combined with another drug in the following products:

  • Glucovance which is a combination of Glyburide and Metformin
  • Glimet DS which is a combination of Glipizide and Metformin

two types metforminTwo Types Metformin: Glimet

 

Since these drugs contain another active ingredient apart from Metformin, they are completely different and should not be used as Metformin Weight Loss alternative. (For the people that came from that page and didn’t land on this “Two Types Metformin” page.)