Why do doctors no longer prescribe metformin?

Asked by: Dr. Germaine Kilback  |  Last update: September 21, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (25 votes)

More severe side effects are possible in certain situations In the past, some doctors avoided prescribing metformin because of the risk of lactic acidosis, a serious condition that can occur if metformin builds up in your body and disrupts your pH balance.

What medication is replacing metformin?

Several metformin alternatives for Type 2 diabetes are available. SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance (empagliflozin), GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic (semaglutide), and GIP/GLP-1 agonists like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are all preferred options.

Why is metformin not recommended?

The current drug labeling strongly recommends against metformin use in some patients whose kidneys do not work normally because use of metformin in these patients can increase the risk of developing a serious and potentially deadly condition called lactic acidosis, in which too much lactic acid builds up in the blood.

Why has metformin been taken off the market?

1 People with type 2 diabetes use metformin to control their blood sugar alongside a healthy diet and exercise. Concerns over higher-than-acceptable levels of the probable cancer-causing contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) prompted the recall.

What is the downfall of taking metformin?

Taking metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency if you take it for a long time. This can make you feel very tired, breathless and faint, so your doctor may check the vitamin B12 level in your blood. If your vitamin B12 levels become too low, vitamin B12 supplements will help.

Should You Take Metformin?

31 related questions found

What organ is metformin hard on?

Conclusions. Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.

What is a better choice than metformin?

Key takeaways

Metformin is a first-line treatment for Type 2 diabetes, but alternatives like Precose, Januvia, Victoza, Glucotrol XL, and Actos are available for those who cannot tolerate it or have contraindications.

What A1C level requires metformin?

Rather, individuals at the highest risk for developing diabetes-i.e., those with FPG concentrations of 110-125 mg/dL (6.1-6.9 mmol/L) or A1C levels of 6.0-6.4% (42-46 mmol/mol) or women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus-should be followed closely and metformin immediately introduced only when they are ...

Is Ozempic better than metformin?

While metformin is a more common first-choice medication for Type 2 diabetes, weight loss is more likely with Ozempic. Ozempic can also lower your risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death) if you have diabetes and heart disease.

What is the drug of choice after metformin?

The most commonly used oral drug in treating type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after metformin are sufonylureas (SUs) based on the confidence gained over the several decades and because of its cheaper cost.

Why does metformin have a bad reputation?

"Another concern about metformin is the potential for lactic acidosis. Metformin use started in France in 1957, but it was not introduced in the United States until 1995, nearly 20 years after the biguanide phenformin was taken off the market because of its risk of lactic acidosis, which was often fatal."

Does metformin reduce belly fat?

Metformin treatment brought about a significant reduction of visceral fat mass compared to controls accompanied by an up-regulation of fat oxidation-related enzyme in the liver, UCP-1 in the brown adipose tissue and UCP-3 in the skeletal muscle.

What cancels out metformin?

Examples of medications that may cause hyperglycemia when combined with metformin include:
  • Thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
  • Antipsychotic medications like olanzapine (Zyprexa)
  • Beta blockers like metoprolol (Lopressor)
  • Statins like simvastatin (Zocor)
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
  • Isoniazid.

What is the safest diabetic medication?

Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe. Metformin is recommended as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Will I feel better after stopping metformin?

In some instances, people may feel better after stopping metformin. This may be the case if you're stopping metformin due to unpleasant side effects. But in general, you should expect metformin to be cleared from your body after about four days of stopping the drug.

What is the best drink to lower blood sugar?

Connect with a primary care physician
  1. Water. Water indirectly lowers our blood sugar by giving us the sensation of feeling full. ...
  2. Unsweetened teas. Unsweetened teas contain antioxidants that reduce inflammation and lower our overall blood sugars. ...
  3. Black coffee.

Why is metformin banned in the US?

American Diabetes Association® Echoes FDA Statement on Metformin Recall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a recall on extended-release (ER) metformin drugs from five manufacturers due to testing results showing N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) above the acceptable intake limit in certain lots ...

Can I lose 20 pounds on metformin?

In a study of over 150 people with obesity, several interesting findings emerged (20): Metformin resulted in an average weight loss of 13 pounds (6 kg) over 6 months. There was a wide range of results. At the extremes, one patient lost 77 pounds (35 kg), another one gained 29 pounds (13 kg).

Why take B12 with metformin?

metformin can commonly reduce vitamin B12 levels in patients, which may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. the risk of low vitamin B12 levels increases with higher metformin dose, longer treatment duration, and in patients with risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Is cinnamon as good as metformin?

Conclusion. Our findings suggest that in women with PCOS, cinnamon supplementation causes similar reductions in insulin resistance and testosterone level to that of metformin. Ginger supplementation decreased FSH and LH, hormonal effects not seen following metformin consumption.

What foods are high in berberine?

Do Any Foods Contain Berberine? Berberine is not found in any common food sources. As mentioned, it's derived from the roots, stems, and bark of plants such as barberry, Chinese goldthread, goldenseal, tree turmeric, and Oregon grape. Therefore, if you try berberine, it's best to get it from a supplement.

What over the counter medicine is comparable to metformin?

There are no exact OTC substitutes for metformin, and there aren't any FDA-approved OTC medications for diabetes. However, if you're looking for a metformin alternative for weight loss, there is one OTC weight-loss medication available called Alli (orlistat).