Updated May 17, 2006

Metformin

Since metformin is often prescribed together with other diabetes drugs, some manufacturers have started combining two drugs in a single pill for more convenient therapy. Glucovance, a single-pill combination of metformin and the sulfonylurea glyburide, became available in 1999. In 2002, the FDA approved a combination dose of metformin and the sulfonylurea glipizide, called Metaglip, as well as a combination pill of metformin and rosiglitazone (a thiazolidinedione) called Avandamet. In 2005, the FDA approved Actoplus Met, a combination dose of metformin and the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone. Anyone taking one of these pills should be alert to the symptoms of lactic acidosis.

This article was written by Robert S. Dinsmoor, a Contributing Editor of Diabetes Self-Management.

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