{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"metformin","kind":"medication","name":"metformin","aliases":["Glucophage","Diabex"],"brands_sg":["Glucophage","Diabetmin","Glyformin","Glycomet","Glucomet"],"class":"biguanide","tags":["diabetes"],"use_for":"type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and pcos per nhs","use_after":"with food · nhs: most people take it 1 to 3 times a day","use_duration":null,"take_with":"food · healthhub: with or after food eases stomach upset","pros":["nhs: taken by most adults and children aged 10 and over","42 single-ingredient products registered in sg","healthhub: works alongside diet and exercise changes"],"cons":["prescription-only in sg — all 65 register rows","nausea, diarrhoea and tummy pain are common (nhs)","rare lactic acidosis; b12 can fall with long use"],"dose_note":"the us prescribing information for metformin hydrochloride tablets gives the adult ceiling as 'a maximum dose of 2550 mg per day, given in divided doses', and for the extended-release form 'a maximum of 2,000 mg once daily with the evening meal'; neither the nhs page nor the healthhub leaflet prints a number — nhs says only that 'how much you need to take depends on why you're taking it and your age'; singapore registrations run 250 mg, 500 mg, 850 mg and 1000 mg tablets plus 500/750/1000 mg prolonged-release, all prescription only; as directed on the label or by your doctor or pharmacist","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["liver or kidney problems, or heart failure — nhs says it may not suit","severe infection, or drinking a lot of alcohol — nhs lists both","a scan, x-ray or surgery coming up — healthhub says say so first","past diabetic ketoacidosis — healthhub says tell the professional"],"clashes":[{"src":["nhs_met_int"],"note":"nhs lists all three groups among medicines that may not mix well with metformin","with":"diuretics, nsaids (ibuprofen, diclofenac), some blood-pressure medicines"},{"src":["healthhub_met_int","nhs_met_int"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub links it to lactic acid building up; nhs says limit how much you drink","with":"alcohol"},{"src":["healthhub_met_warn"],"note":"healthhub says metformin may need to be stopped for a couple of days around it","with":"iodinated contrast for a scan or x-ray"}],"sources":[{"id":"nhs_met","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/","label":"NHS — Metformin, 'What metformin is for' (page last reviewed 5 August 2026)","quote":"Metformin is used as a treatment for: type 2 diabetes … diabetes that can develop during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) … symptoms of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), previously called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_met_how","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/","label":"NHS — Metformin, 'How to take metformin' (same page)","quote":"How much you need to take depends on why you're taking it and your age. Most people take it 1 to 3 times a day with food. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose to start with.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_met_who","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/","label":"NHS — Metformin, 'Who can and cannot take metformin' (same page)","quote":"Metformin can be taken by most adults and children aged 10 years old and over … it may not be suitable if: … you have liver and kidney problems … a severe infection … heart failure … you drink a lot of alcohol","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_met_se","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/","label":"NHS — Metformin, common side effects (same page)","quote":"Common side effects of metformin include: feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) … diarrhoea … tummy pain … loss of appetite … vitamin B12 deficiency, which can make you feel very tired","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_met_se_serious","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/","label":"NHS — Metformin, serious side effects (same page)","quote":"too much acid in your blood (lactic acidosis) – causing symptoms such as being sick (vomiting), stomach pain and muscle cramps, and breathing problems, it can also make you feel severely tired","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_met_int","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/","label":"NHS — Metformin, 'Taking metformin with other medicines, food and drink' (same page)","quote":"These include: medicines to treat fluid build-up in the body (diuretics) … anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and diclofenac … some medicines to treat high blood pressure … Try to limit how much alcohol you drink","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_met","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/metformin","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Metformin medication information leaflet, uses section (article last reviewed 27 July 2026)","quote":"Metformin controls diabetes by helping your body to use insulin better … It works together with lifestyle changes, such as having a healthy diet and regular exercise, to reduce blood sugar levels.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_met_how","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/metformin","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Metformin leaflet, administration section (same page)","quote":"You can take this medication with or after food. This lowers your chances of getting stomach discomfort, nausea or diarrhoea.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_met_warn","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/metformin","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Metformin leaflet, precautions section (same page)","quote":"Inform your healthcare professional if … Have a heart condition, kidney or liver problems … Drink alcohol often … Are going for a scan/ X-ray. You may need to stop taking metformin for a couple of days … Are going for a surgery","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_met_se","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/metformin","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Metformin leaflet, rare but serious side-effects section (same page)","quote":"Lactic acidosis (a condition in which there is a build-up of lactic acid in the body …) is a very rare but serious medical problem. The chances of this happening increase if your kidneys are not working properly.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_met_int","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/metformin","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Metformin leaflet, food and medication interactions section (same page)","quote":"Avoid taking alcohol with this medication as it increases the risk of lactic acid building up in your body.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_metformin_ir","url":"https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=011de1a5-1ac0-4831-9e8d-26ec79ba2205","label":"DailyMed / FDA prescribing information (SPL) — metformin hydrochloride tablets (immediate release), Dosage and Administration; label effective 21 Aug 2024, retrieved via the openFDA drug-label API","quote":"Increase the dose in increments of 500 mg weekly or 850 mg every 2 weeks on the basis of glycemic control and tolerability, up to a maximum dose of 2550 mg per day, given in divided doses.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_metformin_xr","url":"https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=014f2a32-8440-4d0c-8f5d-c4b3a49e0dec","label":"DailyMed / FDA prescribing information (SPL) — metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets, Dosage and Administration; label effective 5 May 2026, retrieved via the openFDA drug-label API","quote":"Increase the dose in increments of 500 mg weekly on the basis of glycemic control and tolerability, up to a maximum of 2,000 mg once daily with the evening meal.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_register_met","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084, full 5,511-row dump pulled 27 Aug 26 and filtered locally; 65 metformin-containing rows, 42 of them single-ingredient)","quote":"GLUCOPHAGE TABLET 500 mg · Prescription Only — DIABETMIN TABLET 500 mg · Prescription Only — GLYFORMIN 500 TABLET 500 mg · Prescription Only — GLYCOMET-850 TABLET 850 mg · Prescription Only — Glucomet Tablet 500mg · Prescription Only","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_reclass","url":"https://www.hsa.gov.sg/therapeutic-products/registration-of-therapeutic-products/variation-application/reclassification/list-of-reclassified-medicines/","label":"HSA — forensic classification definitions used by the register (Prescription Only Medicine / Pharmacy Only / General Sale List)","quote":"Prescription-Only Medicine (POM): … can only be obtained from a doctor or from a pharmacist with a valid prescription","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:24.715168+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}