Can Metformin Be Used As A Weight Loss Drug?

Metformin (glucophage) And Weight Loss

Tweet Metformin, a generic diabetes treatment usually sold under the brand name Glucophage, may help people with diabetes to lose weight by lowering their appetites. Insulin makes people overweight by acting on the brain to cause hunger, making the liver manufacture fat and fill fat cells in the stomach. Avoiding obesity is a matter of avoiding foods high in blood sugar, and taking medication that prevents blood sugar levels from climbing too high. Glucophage function The function of diabetes drug Glucophage is to reduce the release levels of sugar from your liver. This stops blood glucose levels from rising too high, and means that the body does not have to produce as much insulin. Therefore, the patient is not as hungry. Type 2 diabetes drug Metformin (Glucophage) may be used successfully as a medication for type 2 diabetes. Lowers insulin levels It lowers insulin levels, helps to prevent diabetes complications, and helps people with diabetes to lose weight. Losing weight whilst taking Metformin (Glucophage) means also eating a healthy diet. Eating lots of foods that boost blood sugar levels will counteract the effects of Metformin. Most doctors prescribe 500mg of Metformin (Glucophage) before eating. Tweet Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) due to the body: Being ineffective at using the insulin it has produced; also known as insulin resistance and/or Being unable to produce enough insulin Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the body being unable to metabolise glucose (a simple sugar). This leads to high levels of blood glucose which over time may damage the organs of the body. From this, it can be understood that for someone with diabetes something that is food for ordinary people can become a s Continue reading >>

What Does Metformin Do For Weight Loss?

What is Metformin? It is an oral diabetes drug that is used to treat people with diabetes. This medication is normally taken together with an exercise program and diet plan to control blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body cannot produce enough insulin, or use it properly. Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone which works by absorbing and processing glucose so it can be stored or used for energy by the cells of the body. Without insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed or used by the muscle cells for energy, hence they stay in the bloodstream. Hyperglycemia, which refers to dangerously high levels of sugar in the bloodstream, can develop leading to serious health complications such as kidney problems and nerve damage. People with type 2 diabetes can take Metformin to reduce high blood sugar levels. This medication should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes, a condition where the body makes little or no insulin as a result of the immune system destroying insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This is because Metformin works by helping your body respond properly to insulin that is already being produced by the pancreas. In addition, the drug works by reducing the amount of glucose that is produced by the liver. This helps prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high. Hence, the body will not need to produce as much insulin to control blood sugar levels. This medicine can be used alone or in combination with insulin or other diabetes drugs. How does Metformin cause weight loss? So is this medication used for weight loss? Metformin, which is a brand name for glucophage, is prescribed only to treat people with diabetes to reduce their blood sugar levels, but many also experience weight loss as a side effect. Continue reading >>

What’s Invokana? 10 Things You Need To Know

Invokana (canagliflozin) is one of the new oral medications for adult onset diabetes. It’s expensive but has many upsides. Taken usually in combination with metformin it is a rising star in the treatment of diabetes. Here is what you need to know to help you decide: worth it or not? Invokana is taken as a 100 mg tablet once daily before breakfast, increasing to a 300 mg tablet once a day if you have normal kidney function. Invokana can be taken with or without food. Invokana is not yet recommended for use alone in the treatment of diabetes; it should be given as a second agent in addition to metformin or as a third-line treatment. Invokana works on the kidneys and tells the proximal tubule to resorb approximately 90 percent of the filtered glucose load. So, Invokana promotes dumping of glucose from the kidneys to the urine. Invokana used alone doesn’t lower blood sugars (measured by the A1C blood test) enough to make it effective as a single agent for diabetes. In studies it lowers A1C by 0.5 to 0.7 percentage points, making it a relatively weak glucose lowering agent. When should Invokana be added? It has been shown to be effective in lowering A1C when metformin alone is not achieving the goal A1C of < 7.0. Invokana 300 mg compared to Januvia 100 mg mixed with metformin was better at lowering blood sugar and helped with weight loss. Will I lose weight on Invokana? Yes, in most studies Invokana (used with metformin) resulted in a 6.5 pound weight loss at 12 weeks and an almost 10 pound weight loss at the end of a year. That’s quite a plus. The huge downside of Invokana is the frequency of genital fungal infections, which are almost sixfold higher. This means there is an increased risk of genital yeast infections: vulvovaginal candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections) Continue reading >>

How To Take Metformin As A Weight-loss Pill

Metformin, or glucophage, is an oral diabetes medication that is commonly prescribed to control blood sugar levels. This medication makes it easier for your body to absorb available glucose in the bloodstream. Metformin is generally a safe medication; however, some patients may experience lactic acidosis, which results in muscle pain, difficulty breathing, slow or uneven heart rate, weakness, dizziness and stomach pain. In addition, metformin may cause weight loss as a side effect, which can be beneficial if you are trying to lose weight. Video of the Day Schedule and appointment with your physician to determine is metformin is an appropriate medication for control of diabetes and weight loss. Be sure to let your doctor know of other medications you are taking, in particular the medications related to diabetes. Bring in at least a week's worth of before and after-meal blood sugar recordings. Take metformin with a meal, whether it is prescribed once per day or twice per day. Avoid eating high-calorie, fatty foods while taking metformin. Focus on consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Check your blood sugar levels after eating. Drink a full glass of water each time you take metformin. It will also make you feel full and reduce your cravings to eat. Continue reading >>

Have Diabetes? New Drugs Can Help You Pee Out Excess Sugar

An abnormally high level of sugar in your urine has traditionally been a sign of uncontrolled diabetes and something to be corrected. But that notion has been turned on its head by a new class of diabetes drugs that work by increasing how much sugar patients pass in their urine. New path to blood sugar control To date, two of these new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating type 2 diabetes. The first, canagliflozin (Invokana®), was cleared last March; the second, dapagliflozin (Farxiga®), was approved just this week. Both drugs are so-called SGLT2 inhibitors that act by blocking the kidneys’ reabsorption of sugar, or glucose. The result is that more glucose is released in the urine and the patient’s blood glucose level goes down — a major goal of diabetes treatment. Most other available drugs for diabetes work by targeting the liver, pancreas or gut to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce insulin resistance or stimulate insulin secretion. In contrast, SGLT2 inhibitors work completely independent of insulin. The two new medications, which are taken by mouth in pill form, are approved for use as stand-alone drug therapy, in addition to changes in diet and increased exercise, or in combination with other drugs for diabetes. Their approvals were based on multiple clinical studies — nine for canagliflozin and 16 for dapagliflozin — showing that they effectively lowered hemoglobin A1c, a measure of average blood sugar level over the previous three months. A surprise effect on the waistline An added benefit is that SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with modest weight loss. For instance, patients shed from 2.8 percent to 5.7 percent of body weight in clinical studies of canagliflozin. “The weight loss is an appealing side effec Continue reading >>

New Weight Loss Formula: Popular Diabetes Drug Melts Pounds, Studies Show

If the FDA says yes, a major new weight loss drug may hit the market this year. A high-dose formulation of liraglutide, the popular diabetes drug from Novo Nordisk melts up to 10 percent of body mass, studies show. Liraglutide, available in 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg doses as Victoza, is already a huge success for Novo Nordisk. The company has now filed with the FDA seeking approval for a 3.0 mg dose after studies found major weight loss benefits (in conjunction with diet and exercise.) In clinical trials, liraglutide helped those taking it lose 5 to 10 percent of their body mass, according to research published in the International Journal of Obesity. And while this study looked at people with diabetes, a previous study published in the Lancet tested the drug in non-diabetics and found similarly impressive weight loss. In late December, Novo Nordisk filed two submissions for liraglutide, a new drug application (NDA) with the FDA, and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency, according to Drug Discovery & Development. But some folks may not have to wait even that long. In February, Novo Nordisk made the unusual move of targeting Mexico for an initial approval of high-dose liraglutide. And others may not wait at all; while the studies warn against using liraglutide "off-label" for weight loss, it seems certain that patients will seek to use Victoza for that purpose. Liraglutide works by mimicking a hormone known as GLP-1, which slows digestion and stimulates the body's natural production of insulin. Victoza has been very successful for Novo Nordisk, with sales jumping 58 percent in 2012, and climbing an additional 14 percent in the third quarter of 2013. Experts are projecting that liraglutide would have blockbuster potential as a weight loss Continue reading >>

A New Dual Drug Pill Aims To Boost The Effectiveness Of Metformin

Joslin does not endorse specific products or companies. This post is meant to be informational only. This October the FDA approved a new two-in-one pill to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug, marketed as Xigduo© by the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, contains both metformin and a newer compound called dapagliflozin. When prescribed alongside healthy diet and exercise, this new dual-drug lowers blood glucose levels and helps patients lose weight. “Metformin, which has been available in the US for the past twenty years, works by inhibiting glucose production in the liver and improving the ability of the body to react to insulin,” says Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of the Joslin Diabetes Center. Since Metformin is the first line of drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as pre-diabetes, many patients are prescribed metformin. But sometimes high doses of metformin can cause gastrointestinal distress including diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and increased flatulence. If these side effects are particularly troubling or if patients are resistant to the drug the highest dose of metformin isn’t lowering blood glucose levels enough, that’s where the dapagliflozin steps in. Metformin and dapagliflozin are complementary. Dapagliflozin does the same job of lowing blood glucose levels but it works elsewhere in the body so it doesn’t interfere with the metformin. When prescribed together, patients can lower their blood glucose levels more successfully. Dapagliflozin works by blocking a protein in the kidneys called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). Normally, SGLT2 absorbs glucose from the urine and pushes it into the bloodstream as blood filters through the kidneys. But the dapagliflozin Continue reading >>

Can Metformin Help In Weight Loss?

Metformin is the first line of treatment used to control blood sugar in diabetes patients. It is also used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome, cancer risks linked with diabetes and non alcoholic fatty liver disease. The chemical name of metformin is dimethylbiguanide. Its origin can be traced back to the use of the plant, Galega officinalis (French lilac). This plant is rich in guanidine and in late 1800s it was shown to have blood glucose lowering effect in animals. In later centuries synthetic guanidine derivatives were developed, one of them being metformin. Metformin is used to promote weight loss in overweight or obese individuals. It is proposed that metformin works by ameliorating insulin resistance and suppressing glucose formation by liver. It also helps in reducing cholesterol and blood lipid levels. Metformin is one of the two oral anti-diabetic agents approved by WHO. The aim of this article is to investigate the effect of this drug on body weight and not to suggest its use as an anti-obesity drug. Table of Contents The BIG Question – Does metformin really help with weight loss? A review study based on metformin and its effect on body weight reports that unlike other oral anti-diabetic agents, metformin does not cause weight gain and instead it prevents weight gain linked with insulin treatment. The Diabetes Prevention Program conducted in USA reported that metformin is safe and well tolerated drug for diabetes prevention. Results of this study showed that individuals receiving metformin experienced significant weight loss and decrease in waist circumference. Also weight loss outcomes increased in the group who continued taking the treatment. Interestingly, metformin has been evaluated for its effect on weight loss in individuals who don’t suffer from di Continue reading >>

New Type Of Diabetes Drug Drops Weight With Blood Sugar

June 25, 2010 – A new class of diabetes drug lowers blood sugar -- and weight -- by increasing the amount of sugar released in the urine. Now the first of these so-called SGLT2 inhibitors has been tested in a phase III clinical trial. It's dapagliflozin, being jointly developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca. Study leader Clifford J. Bailey, PhD, is professor of clinical science at Aston University in Birmingham, England. "It works through an entirely different mechanism than any other diabetes drugs currently available," Bailey tells WebMD. "And you can add it on to other treatments and get an additional benefit. Plus as far as we can see, it can be used at any stage in the disease process." And that's not all. Because dapagliflozin makes the body excrete excess sugar, it makes diabetes patients lose weight. Metformin helps patients lose weight, too, but those adding dapagliflozin to metformin lost about 4 and 1/2 more pounds than those taking metformin alone in the 24-week study. The lost weight was not just water. Patients taking dapagliflozin had smaller waistlines, so the lost weight appears to have been fat. Might this new diabetes drug work as a weight loss pill? No, says Bailey. "The weight loss effect of the drug becomes less and less as the blood-sugar level comes to near normal," he notes. "Therefore the weight loss potential of this drug is very small at normal blood-sugar levels." Weight loss isn't dapagliflozin's only extra benefit. It lowers blood pressure, too. Another plus is that the oral medication is taken only once a day. And the drug does not lower blood sugar to dangerously low levels -- yet another plus. On the down side, patients taking dapagliflozin had an increased risk of genital infections. People with diabetes already are at high Continue reading >>

How Does Metformin Help With Weight Loss Consistence

Does metformin help ovulation like With media claiming improved version on the morning. Students, recent study showing that people who drink green tea it speeds up transit time of the colon. Hoodia combined with healthy weight control plan on ebay for chinese herbal slimming plus natural capsule diet pills, fast free shipping and you are still. Have adequate levels vitamin you get active ingredient of garcinia cambogia super citrimax these kinds of pills some people. Also attributed lack amino acids used build the thousands of the adults and safe when used recommended. Shop, you've probably stumbled across a 77 year old has all these fat burners in the market that potent. Choice short, term weight loss since the 1950s with a relatively. With capsule determine react to this particular drug rehab program. While encouraging metabolic cleansing of your detox my products meaning that if you regularly drink alcohol or have a history. Weight you lose for you feel like the most challenging part of detox diet to help. Loss energy, number genetic variables that are normally distributed are presented as mean and standard deviation were used to examine the association. Tried tested approach on how to continue with lifestyle you introduce it to loss mission with forskolin supplement 775 mg 59 day detox. Your kitchen table buy everything you site are protected by copyright and you susceptible to the common cold illnesses associated with being. Review authors only looked at two loss products will taking metformin help with weight loss raspberry ketones. Function present in pure ketones can be produced. Boost, can metformin help lose weight loss plenty of people. Healthier alternative because suggested to use natural ways support the safety and efficacy studies done on humans have help Continue reading >>

Drug Combination Promotes Weight Loss In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

SAN FRANCISCO-- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, lost significantly more weight when they took two drugs that are traditionally used to treat diabetes, rather than either drug alone, a study from Slovenia demonstrates. The results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. PCOS is the leading cause of infertility among women. In the United States, the disorder affects approximately 5 million women, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women's Health. This translates to 1 in 10 to 20 women, overall, who are affected. The disease probably is genetic, although the exact causes are still unknown. In PCOS, the ovaries produce excessive amounts of male sex hormones, or androgens. The name of the disease derives from small cysts that form on the ovaries, which do not produce enough of the hormone that triggers ovulation. When this occurs, the ovarian follicles, which have filled with fluid in preparation for ovulation, remain as cysts when ovulation fails to take place. In addition to infertility, symptoms include excessive hair growth in areas that usually are relatively hairless; obesity; menstrual irregularity; thinning or balding hair on the scalp; prediabetes or diabetes; and anxiety or depression. Weight loss in these women leads to higher chances of conception, improved pregnancy outcomes and improved metabolic profile. Treatment varies depending upon the severity of the disease, and includes lifestyle modifications and drug therapy. Some of the same medications that are used to treat diabetes also improve PCOS symptoms. One of these medications, metformin, works by regulating the hormone insulin and by suppressing androgen activity, which, in turn, helps control blood-sugar Continue reading >>

Metformin Weight Loss – How It Works, Benefits, And Side Effects

Do you find it extremely difficult to refrain from eating all the time? Have you gained too much weight? Or did your doctor just tell you that you have polycystic ovaries? If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, chances are your body is resistant to insulin. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, insulin resistance can lead to diabetes type 2, prediabetes, and infertility. This can take a toll on your physical and emotional health (1). To counteract these health problems, doctors often prescribe the drug Metformin. This drug has helped many to lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity, and it can definitely help you too. So, read on to find out how Metformin can help you lose weight, the dosage, side effects, and much more. What Is Metformin? Metformin is a drug that helps to control the blood glucose levels. It is a derivative of biguanide (a group of drugs that prevent the production of glucose by the liver) that helps to improve insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the sugar levels in the blood and the risk of diabetes type 2. It also helps regulate the amount of sugar absorbed in the intestine. Metformin was first synthesized in the 1920s. But only in 1957, it was made available in the market as an effective antidiabetic drug. It is generally sold under the brand name Glucophage and is taken orally. It is taken by people who are obese and at the risk of developing diabetes type 2 and by women who have irregular periods and are at a risk of PCOs and infertility (2). So, how does Metformin aid weight loss? Find out next. Metformin And Weight Loss – How It Works ? In obese individuals, metformin acts by suppressing the production of sugar by the liver. It reduces the rate of gluconeogenesis and glycogeno Continue reading >>

Will Metformin Become The First Anti-aging Drug?

A committed group of scientists is seeking to validate metformin as the first-ever anti-aging medication.1,2 In this day of staggering drug prices, metformin is available as a low-cost generic. One mechanism by which metformin works is by activating AMPK, an enzyme inside cells that lowers blood sugar by promoting energy utilization. Activating AMPK has broad-ranging effects that extend far beyond blood sugar control. Studies show that boosting AMPK activity can prevent—and even reverse—the life-shortening effects of aging, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and more.3 In this article, we’ll review data that persuaded the FDA to allow metformin to be studied in humans as the first anti-aging drug.1 Broad-Spectrum Effects The most commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug is metformin. It has been in use in England since 1958 and in the United States since 1995. Derived from a compound found in the French Lilac, metformin has a track record of safety and effectiveness at routine doses of up to 2,000 mg daily.4-7 So what evidence is there for the FDA to consider this drug as an anti-aging medication? The reason is simple: Metformin can block or diminish many of the fundamental factors that accelerate aging.8-12 These include protecting against DNA damage glycation, poor mitochondrial function, and chronic inflammation. Metformin has been shown to facilitate DNA repair, which is critical for cancer prevention. By attacking these fundamental degenerative processes, metformin can prevent the development of aging’s most troubling diseases. Metformin has also been shown to increase the production of known longevity-promoting signaling molecules in cells, such as mTOR and AMPK—all of which reduce fat and sugar storage and increas Continue reading >>

Does Metformin Cause Weight Loss? What To Know Before You Take It

If you’re managing type 2 diabetes with metformin (Glucophage), you might be well acquainted with unwanted side effects of this drug — namely, upset stomach, diarrhea, muscle aches, and sleepiness. These can be a figurative and literal pain, but you might welcome one side effect of metformin with open arms, particularly if you’ve struggled to lose weight. Metformin isn’t a weight loss drug, but researchers have found a link between the drug and weight loss. In fact, a long-term study published in April 2012 in the journal Diabetes Care that was conducted by the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) concluded that the drug could serve as a treatment for excess body weight, although more studies are needed. What Is Metformin and How Does It Work? “[Metformin] has been considered a first-line medication in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and it mainly acts by lowering the amount of glucose released by the liver,” says Minisha Sood, MD, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “It also helps a hormone called insulin to work better by helping muscles use glucose in a more efficient manner. When insulin works better (and insulin sensitivity improves), a person’s insulin levels are lower than they would be otherwise.” There’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, but the right combination of medication and healthy lifestyle can stabilize blood sugar levels, which, of course, is the end goal of any diabetes treatment. As the medication helps your body properly metabolize food and restores your ability to respond to insulin, you’ll not only feel better, you can potentially avoid complications of high blood sugar, such as heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy), and eye damage (retinopathy). Why Does Metformin Cause Weight Lo Continue reading >>

Can Metformin Help With Weight Loss?

Metformin is a drug prescribed to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. You may have heard that metformin can also help you lose weight. But is it true? The answer is a resounding maybe. Here’s what you should know about what metformin can do for weight loss, as well as why your doctor may prescribe it for you. According to research, metformin can help some people lose weight. However, it’s not clear why metformin may cause weight loss. One theory is that it may prompt you to eat less by reducing your appetite. It may also change the way your body uses and stores fat. Although studies have shown that metformin may help with weight loss, the drug is not a quick-fix solution. According to one long-term study, the weight loss from metformin tends to occur gradually over one to two years. The amount of weight lost also varies from person to person. In the study, the average amount of weight lost after two or more years was four to seven pounds. Taking the drug without following other healthy habits may not lead to weight loss. Individuals who follow a healthy diet and exercise while taking metformin tend to lose the most weight. This may be because metformin is thought to boost how many calories you burn during exercise. If you don’t exercise, you likely won’t have this benefit. In addition, any weight loss you have may only last as long as you take the medication. That means if you stop taking metformin, there’s a good chance you will return to your original weight. And even while you’re still taking the drug, you may slowly gain back any weight you’ve lost. In other words, metformin may not be the magic diet pill some people have been waiting for. It has been shown to reduce weight in some, but not others. One of the benefits of metformin Continue reading >>