metformin

noun met·for·min \ met-ˈfȯr-mən \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of metformin

: a drug used in the form of its hydrochloride C₄H₁₁N⁵·HCl especially to treat type 2 diabetes

Recent Examples of metformin from the Web

The Method: Pop metformin, a common treatment for type 2 diabetes.

— gregory barber, WIRED, "The Science Behind the Pursuit of Youth," 27 Mar. 2018
The company is giving away $1 million in metformin, glipizide and pioglitazone, used to treat Type 2 diabetes, at participating pharmacies including Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, Kroger and Kmart, among others.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Free diabetes medications for a year at area pharmacies from Blink Health," 9 Apr. 2018
The few clinical trials testing the concept in people have mostly used already approved compounds such as metformin.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "To treat some diseases, researchers are putting immune cells on a diet," 29 Mar. 2018
Diabetes patients treated with metformin live longer than those without—in one study, even outlasting nondiabetics.

— gregory barber, WIRED, "The Science Behind the Pursuit of Youth," 27 Mar. 2018
Patients typically take insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas or newer, more expensive medications, including SGLT2 inhibitors, to control their blood sugar.

— sumathi reddy, WSJ, "Diabetes Debate Leaves Little Consensus," 12 Mar. 2018
Those taking metformin for type II diabetes may have malabsorption of vitamin B12, though the evidence has been inconsistent on this.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Supplements are a $30 billion racket—here’s what experts actually recommend," 20 Feb. 2018
The first medicine often prescribed is metformin, but others are sometimes necessary, and some people must inject themselves with insulin.

— lenny bernstein, Washington Post, "Many Type 2 diabetics can relax their blood sugar control, doctors group says," 5 Mar. 2018
The food was better than the common drug metformin.

— james hamblin, The Atlantic, "New Nutrition Study Changes Nothing," 1 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'metformin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of metformin

methyl + -formin (as in phenformin, an earlier antidiabetic drug)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1961

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

metformin

noun met·for·min \ met-ˈfȯr-mən \

medical Definition of metformin

: an antidiabetic drug used in the form of its hydrochloride C₄H₁₁N₅·HCl especially to treat type 2 diabetes in patients unresponsive to or intolerant of approved sulfonylurea drugs

Note: Trademarks for preparations containing metformin include Glucophage, Glucovance, Invokamet, Janumet, Jentadueto, and Kombiglyze.