Metformin (
Glucophage®) is a prescription medicine used for controlling blood sugar levels in people with
type 2 diabetes. It comes in tablet form and is available in various strengths, including:
- 500 mg metformin tablets
- 625 mg metformin tablets
- 750 mg metformin tablets
- 850 mg metformin tablets
- 1000 mg metformin tablets.
The medication is also available in a long-acting form that comes in three strengths.
Children ages 10 to 16 typically start with a dosage of 500 mg (one tablet, twice a day). The recommended starting metformin dosage for people 17 years old and over is 500 mg twice daily or 850 mg once daily.
For the long-acting form (
metformin ER), the recommended starting dose is metformin ER 500 mg once daily, and the maximum dose is metformin ER 2550 mg once daily.
(Click Metformin Dosing to find out how dosing works for people who also take insulin and for more detailed dosing guidelines for those taking metformin by itself.)
