====== Metformin ======

//Metformin,// sold under the brand names of //Bolamyn, Diagemet, Glucient, Glucophage, Metabet, Obimet, Gluformin, Dianben, Diabex, Diaformin, Metsol, Siofor, Metfogamma// (and many others) is a prescription-only medication used in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

It's been in use worldwide since 1957, and the prescription rates are now around 78 million in the US alone. It can reduce a diabetic person's (excess) blood glucose by 30%.

It was originally derived from the //French lilac// or //Goat's rue// (//Galega officinalis//) which has been used in herbal remedies for several centuries.

Its mechanism of action is unknown. There are multiple proposals as to how it might operate - including as an appetite suppressant. See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metformin#Mechanism_of_action|Wikipedia]]

Metformin is currently being investigated, with promising results, as a treatment for :\\  [[content:medicine:diseases:a-f:alzheimers]] ([[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320521012868|ref.]])\\  [[content:medicine:diseases:m-q:parkinsons]] ([[https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/1/398|ref.]])\\  [[content:medicine:diseases:g-l:lupus]] ([[https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ars.2021.0070|ref.]])\\  [[content:medicine:diseases:a-f:covid19|Long Covid]] ([[https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1306|ref.]])\\ // There is no explanation for its apparent efficacy in treating any of these conditions.//