“Metformin 500 mg: Complete Guide to Uses, Dosage & Side Effects”

✅ What Is Metformin 500 mg?

Metformin 500 mg is an oral prescription medication used primarily for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. It is the lowest available standard dose of Metformin and is often used as a starting dose to minimize side effects and assess tolerance.

✅ Indications & Uses

Metformin 500 mg is commonly prescribed for:

Condition	Purpose
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus	First-line treatment to control blood glucose
Prediabetes	To delay or prevent progression to Type 2 diabetes
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)	Off-label use to improve insulin sensitivity and ovulation
Metabolic Syndrome	Reduce insulin resistance and improve lipid profile
Weight Loss (Off-label)	May aid in modest weight loss in insulin-resistant individuals

✅  How Metformin Works (Mechanism of Action)

Metformin 500 mg helps lower blood glucose through:

• Decreasing liver glucose production
• Increasing insulin sensitivity in muscle and fat
• Decreasing intestinal absorption of glucose

💡 Unlike insulin or sulfonylureas, metformin does not cause hypoglycemia when used alone.

✅ Dosage and Administration

🔹 Typical Adult Dosage:

Use	Dose
Initial Dose	500 mg once or twice daily with meals
Maintenance Dose	1500–2000 mg daily (divided doses)
Maximum Dose	Up to 2550 mg/day (IR) or 2000 mg/day (ER)

• Extended-release (XR): Often taken once daily in the evening with food
• Immediate-release (IR): Taken once or twice daily with meals

Dose increases are typically made in 500 mg increments every 1–2 weeks to reduce GI side effects.

✅ Benefits of Metformin 500 mg

• Improves blood sugar control
• Weight-neutral or promotes modest weight loss
• Lowers insulin resistance
• Reduces cardiovascular risks
• Helps restore ovulation in PCOS patients
• Low cost and widely available

✅ Side Effects

🔹 Common Side Effects:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Metallic taste
• Bloating or gas

These often resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.

🔹 Serious Side Effect (Rare):

• Lactic Acidosis: A rare but life-threatening condition more likely in patients with:
  • Kidney or liver impairment
  • Dehydration
  • Excessive alcohol intake
  • Heart failure or severe infections

Signs include: rapid breathing, muscle cramps, fatigue, and stomach pain. Seek medical attention immediately.

✅ Contraindications

Do not use Metformin 500 mg if the patient has:

• Severe kidney impairment (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m²)
• Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis
• Unstable heart failure
• Liver disease
• Severe dehydration
• Recent use of contrast dye (pause Metformin temporarily)

✅ Drug Interactions

Drug/Class	Effect
Alcohol	Increases risk of lactic acidosis
Contrast dyes	Can impair kidney function—pause Metformin
Cimetidine	May raise metformin levels
Other diabetes medications	May increase hypoglycemia risk
Diuretics and ACE inhibitors	May affect kidney function and metformin levels