Find patient medical information for Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, and others) on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings, and user ratings Easy-to-read patient tips for metformin covering how it works, benefits, risks, and best practices. Just been prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes? Dr Sultan covers the first 4 weeks — how to start safely, what side effects to expect, and the best time to take it. Metformin Metformin is a medicine that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and the hormone condition polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). It’s only available with a prescription. Learn how metformin treats type 2 diabetes, including dosage, side effects, warnings, and its off-label use for weight loss and PCOS. Reviewed drug info Description Metformin is used together with proper diet and exercise to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. This medicine reduces the absorption of sugar from the intestines, reduces the release of stored sugar from the liver, and helps your body use sugar better. Many people can control type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise. Following a specially planned diet and. Learn about side effects, how it's taken, and more of metformin. It's a generic prescription drug that's used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults and some children with type 2 diabetes. Get the facts on metformin’s dosages. You can also learn how to take the drug, which forms it comes in, and more. Learn more about how metformin works, its side effects, and what to expect when taking this medication. Metformin is a common treatment for diabetes. But it can cause digestive problems and other side effects. Learn more about the uses and side effects here.