Met-A-Day Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Mechanism of Action: Metformin acts primarily by reducing hepatic glucose production and increasing peripheral glucose uptake. Insulin production is not affected and so hypoglycaemia as a side effect does not occur. Metformin does not cause weight gain and so is the treatment of choice for obese patients. Metformin HCl is equally in the non-effective. It induces comparable effects on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA) levels to the sulphonylureas. Metformin HCl has a favorable effect on plasma lipids and the homeostatic mechanism. Metformin HCl does not stimulate insulin release but does not require that some insulin be present for it to exert a hypoglycemic effect. Possible mechanisms of action include delay in the absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract, an increased in insulin sensitivity and inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Metformin HCl does not usually lower blood-glucose concentrations in non-diabetic subjects.
Pharmacokinetics: Metformin hydrochloride is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It has plasma half-life of about 3 hours and is not bound to plasma proteins. Metformin HCl is excreted unchanged in the urine. Its hypoglycemic action lasts 6-8 hours.