Metformin

Details

Stereochemistry	ACHIRAL
Molecular Formula	C4H11N5
Molecular Weight	129.1636
Optical Activity	NONE
Defined Stereocenters	0 / 0
E/Z Centers	0
Charge	0

SHOW SMILES / InChI

Structure Search

SMILES

CN(C)C(=N)NC(N)=N

InChI

InChIKey=XZWYZXLIPXDOLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

InChI=1S/C4H11N5/c1-9(2)4(7)8-3(5)6/h1-2H3,(H5,5,6,7,8)

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Molecular Formula	C4H11N5
Molecular Weight	129.1636
Charge	0
Count

Stereochemistry	ACHIRAL
Additional Stereochemistry	No
Defined Stereocenters	0 / 0
E/Z Centers	0
Optical Activity	NONE

Description
Sources: https://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_glucophage.pdf
Curator's Comment: Description was created based on several sources, including https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25333032 | http://www.rsc.org/images/eic_nov2011_metformin_tcm18-210010.pdf | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117616

Metformin is the most widely used drug to treat type 2 diabetes, and is one of only two oral antidiabetic drugs on the World Health Organization (WHO) list of essential medicines. Metformin is an antihyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose. Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. However, we still do not completely understand its mechanisms of action. The main effect of this drug from the biguanide family is to acutely decrease hepatic glucose production, mostly through a mild and transient inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. In addition, the resulting decrease in hepatic energy status activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), a cellular metabolic sensor, providing a generally accepted mechanism for the action of metformin on hepatic gluconeogenesis. The use of metformin, the most commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, was repeatedly associated with the decreased risk of the occurrence of various types of cancers, especially of pancreas and colon and hepatocellular carcinoma.

CNS Activity

Originator

Approval Year

Targets

Primary Target	Pharmacology	Condition	Potency
gluconeogenesis 4 Target ID: GO:0006094 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117616 \| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20577053	Inhibitor 8504
Mitochondrial complex I (NADH dehydrogenase) 11 Target ID: CHEMBL2363065 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117616	Inhibitor 8504
AMP-activated protein kinase, AMPK 17 Target ID: CHEMBL2096907 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117616	Activator 1447

Conditions

Condition	Modality	Targets	Highest Phase	Product
Type 2 diabetes mellitus 262 Sources: https://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_glucophage.pdf	Primary		Approved 8583	GLUCOPHAGE Approved Use Metformin hydrochloride tablets, USP is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and children with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets, USP is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Launch Date 1995
Cancer 609 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22117616 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4200668/	Primary		Phase III 665	Unknown Approved Use Unknown

C_max

Value	Dose	Co-administered	Analyte	Population
815.39 ng/mL DRUG LABEL https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/212595s000lbl.pdf	750 mg single, oral dose: 750 mg route of administration: Oral experiment type: SINGLE co-administered:		METFORMIN plasma	Homo sapiens population: HEALTHY age: ADULT sex: MALE food status: HIGH-FAT

AUC

Value	Dose	Co-administered	Analyte	Population
7694.78 ng × h/mL DRUG LABEL https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/212595s000lbl.pdf	750 mg single, oral dose: 750 mg route of administration: Oral experiment type: SINGLE co-administered:		METFORMIN plasma	Homo sapiens population: HEALTHY age: ADULT sex: MALE food status: HIGH-FAT

T_1/2

Value	Dose	Co-administered	Analyte	Population
4.19 h DRUG LABEL https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/212595s000lbl.pdf	750 mg single, oral dose: 750 mg route of administration: Oral experiment type: SINGLE co-administered:		METFORMIN plasma	Homo sapiens population: HEALTHY age: ADULT sex: MALE food status: HIGH-FAT

Overview

CYP3A4	CYP2C9	CYP2D6	hERG
substrate 1946

OverviewOther

Other Inhibitor	Other Substrate	Other Inducer
	OCT1 393 OCT2 434 MATE1 182 OCTN1 55

Drug as perpetrator

Target	Modality	Activity	Metabolite	Clinical evidence
PXR 51	supressor 160 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3205227/ Page: -	yes

Drug as victim

Target	Modality	Activity	Clinical evidence
CYP3A4 1946	substrate 4014 Sources: https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00913.x Page: -	yes
MATE1 182	substrate 4014 Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928098716300938#bb0050 Page: -	yes
OCT1 393	substrate 4014 Sources: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12272-014-0510-6 Page: -	yes
OCTN1 55	substrate 4014 Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002235491530945X Page: -	yes
OCT2 434	substrate 4014 Sources: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12272-014-0510-6 Page: -	yes	yes (co-administration study) Comment: Co-administration of cimetidine, pyrimethamine, trimethoprim, lansoprazole, dolutegravir and vandetanib with metformin has been shown to increase its AUC by 1.2 to 1.7-fold Sources: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12272-014-0510-6 Page: -

Sourcing

Vendor/Aggregator	ID	URL
ChEBI	CHEBI:6801	https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chebi/searchId.do?chebiId=CHEBI:6801
ChemicalBook	CB0506294	https://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB0506294
eMolecules	10320221	https://www.emolecules.com/cgi-bin/more?vid=10320221
eMolecules	26219491	https://www.emolecules.com/cgi-bin/more?vid=26219491
eMolecules	661910	https://www.emolecules.com/cgi-bin/more?vid=661910
MolPort	MolPort-002-929-560	https://www.molport.com/shop/molecule-link/MolPort-002-929-560
MolPort	MolPort-005-767-418	https://www.molport.com/shop/molecule-link/MolPort-005-767-418
ZINC	ZINC000012859773	http://zinc15.docking.org/substances/ZINC000012859773

PubMed

Title	Date	PubMed
Pioglitazone.	2000 Aug	10983737
Association of metformin and pregnancy in the polycystic ovary syndrome. A report of three cases.	2000 Jun	10900588
The effect of metformin on glycemic control, serum lipids and lipoproteins in diet alone and sulfonylurea-treated type 2 diabetic patients with sub-optimal metabolic control.	2000 Nov	11126815
The short-term effect of a switch from glibenclamide to metformin on blood pressure and microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.	2000 Nov-Dec	11257323
[Marked creatine-phosphokinase elevation in myopathy after treatment with bezafibrate].	2000 Sep	11062950
Endocrine and metabolic effects of metformin versus ethinyl estradiol-cyproterone acetate in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized study.	2000 Sep	10999803
Increased intake of calcium reverses vitamin B12 malabsorption induced by metformin.	2000 Sep	10977010
[Prevention of lactic acidosis due to metformin intoxication in contrast media nephropathy].	2000 Sep 30	11045136
Metformin, the rebirth of a biguanide: mechanism of action and place in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance.	2001	11460576
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of hepatic glucose metabolism in humans.	2001	11237214
[Insulin sensitivity and polycystic ovarian syndrome].	2001 Apr	11452217
Homocysteine and cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus.	2001 Apr	11434188
Acute postoperative metabolic complications of diabetes.	2001 Apr	11376521
Clinical review of glimepiride.	2001 Apr	11336617
The effects of metformin on body mass index and glucose tolerance in obese adolescents with fasting hyperinsulinemia and a family history of type 2 diabetes.	2001 Apr	11335776
Additive glucose-lowering effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 and metformin in type 2 diabetes.	2001 Apr	11315837
Improved endothelial function with metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus.	2001 Apr	11300445
ION-pair liquid chromatography technique for the estimation of metformin in its multicomponent dosage forms.	2001 Apr	11274860
Metformin-associated lactic acidosis.	2001 Apr	11267815
[Metformin and intravascular contrast media. National guidelines 2001-03-16].	2001 Apr 18	11370412
Mechanism of fat-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis: effect of metformin.	2001 Aug	11440903
Effect of metformin on fatty acid and glucose metabolism in freshly isolated hepatocytes and on specific gene expression in cultured hepatocytes.	2001 Aug 15	11448453
Management of diabetes mellitus in three settings in Jamaica.	2001 Feb	11293831
Myositis, microvesicular hepatitis, and progression to cirrhosis from troglitazone added to simvastatin.	2001 Feb	11281188
Lactic acidosis update for critical care clinicians.	2001 Feb	11251027
Metformin increases the ovulatory rate and pregnancy rate from clomiphene citrate in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome who are resistant to clomiphene citrate alone.	2001 Feb	11172832
Combination therapy in type 2 diabetes: the role of repaglinide.	2001 Jan 25	11235608
Metformin reduces weight, centripetal obesity, insulin, leptin, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in nondiabetic, morbidly obese subjects with body mass index greater than 30.	2001 Jul	11436194
Re: Contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity: identification of patients at risk and algorithms for prevention.	2001 Jul	11435549
Nateglinide.	2001 Jul 1	11449877
Digestive hemorrhage caused by a Meckel's diverticulum in a metformin-treated patient: is there any connection?	2001 Jun	11468878
Pharmacokinetics of metformin gastric-retentive tablets in healthy volunteers.	2001 Jun	11402634
Use of urea containing dialysate to avoid disequilibrium syndrome, enabling intensive dialysis treatment of a diabetic patient with renal failure and severe metformin induced lactic acidosis.	2001 Jun	11390747
The effects of long-term metformin treatment on adrenal and ovarian steroidogenesis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.	2001 Jun	11375796
The synergistic effect of miglitol plus metformin combination therapy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.	2001 Jun	11375358
Comparison of the metabolic effects of metformin and troglitazone on fructose-induced insulin resistance in male Sprague-Dawley rats.	2001 Mar	11393112
Rosiglitazone.	2001 Mar	11336599
Insulin-lowering drugs in polycystic ovary syndrome.	2001 Mar	11293000
Improvement of glycemic control by 1 year of insulin therapy leads to a sustained decrease in sE-selectin concentrations in type 2 diabetes.	2001 Mar	11289483
[Role and modalities of insulin treatment in type 2 diabetics].	2001 Mar	11270269
Metformin and the polycystic ovary syndrome.	2001 Mar	11238551
[Current and future aspects of oral antidiabetic agents in type 2 diabetes].	2001 May	11395869
The oral insulin sensitizer, thiazolidinedione, increases plasma vascular endothelial growth factor in type 2 diabetic patients.	2001 May	11347762
Use of the ligand immunofunctional assay for human insulin-like growth factor ((IGF) binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) to analyze IGFBP-3 proteolysis and igf-i bioavailability in healthy adults, GH-deficient and acromegalic patients, and diabetics.	2001 May	11344189
Cardiomyocyte dysfunction in sucrose-fed rats is associated with insulin resistance.	2001 May	11334425
The effect of a thiazolidinedione drug, troglitazone, on glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus poorly controlled with sulfonylurea and metformin. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.	2001 May 1	11329231
[Metformin and anesthesia--how great is the risk of lactic acidosis].	2001 May 18	11402930
Thiazolidinediones but not metformin directly inhibit the steroidogenic enzymes P450c17 and 3beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.	2001 May 18	11278997
Effect of a series of novel sulphonylthioureas on glucose tolerance in the obese fa/fa Zucker rat.	2001 May-Jun	11380511

Patents

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide

Recommended Dosing Schedule Adults The usual starting dose of GLUCOPHAGE Tablets is 500 mg twice a day or 850 mg once a day, given with meals. In general, clinically significant responses are not seen at doses below 1500 mg per day. Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500 mg weekly or 850 mg every 2 weeks, up to a total of 2000 mg per day, given in divided doses. The dosage of GLUCOPHAGE must be individualized on the basis of both effectiveness and tolerability. Patients can also be titrated from 500 mg twice a day to 850 mg twice a day after 2 weeks. For those patients requiring additional glycemic control, GLUCOPHAGE may be given to a maximum daily dose of 2550 mg per day. Doses above 2000 mg may be better tolerated given 3 times a day with meals. The usual starting dose of GLUCOPHAGE XR (metformin hydrochloride) Extended-Release Tablets is 500 mg once daily with the evening meal. In general, clinically significant responses are not seen at doses below 1500 mg per day. Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500 mg weekly, up to a maximum of 2000 mg once daily with the evening meal. The dosage of GLUCOPHAGE XR must be individualized on the basis of both effectiveness and tolerability. If glycemic control is not achieved on GLUCOPHAGE XR 2000 mg once daily, a trial of GLUCOPHAGE XR 1000 mg twice daily should be considered. If higher doses of metformin are required, GLUCOPHAGE should be used at total daily doses up to 2550 mg administered in divided daily doses, as described above. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Clinical Studies.) Patients receiving GLUCOPHAGE treatment may be safely switched to GLUCOPHAGE XR once daily at the same total daily dose, up to 2000 mg once daily. Following a switch from GLUCOPHAGE to GLUCOPHAGE XR, glycemic control should be closely monitored and dosage adjustments made accordingly (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Clinical Studies). Pediatrics The usual starting dose of GLUCOPHAGE is 500 mg twice a day, given with meals. Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500 mg weekly up to a maximum of 2000 mg per day, given in divided doses. The dosage of GLUCOPHAGE must be individualized on the basis of both effectiveness and tolerability. Safety and effectiveness of GLUCOPHAGE XR in pediatric patients have not been established.

Route of Administration: Oral

In Vitro Use Guide

Herein, our aim was to examine whether micromolar concentrations of metformin alone could bring about cancer cell death and whether micromolar metformin could increase the cytotoxic effect of commonly used chemotherapies in A2780 and SKOV3 cell lines and primary cultured cancer cells isolated from the peritoneal fluid of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Our results in cell lines demonstrate that no significant loss of viability or change in cell cycle was observed with micromolar metformin alone; however, we observed cytotoxicity with micromolar metformin in combination with chemotherapy at concentrations where the chemotherapy alone produced no loss in viability.

Substance Class	Chemical Created by `admin` on `Mon Mar 31 17:52:21 GMT 2025` Edited by `admin` on `Mon Mar 31 17:52:21 GMT 2025`
Record UNII	9100L32L2N
Record Status	`Validated (UNII)`
Record Version

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Name

Type

Language

Metformin

Official Name

English

METFORMIN EXTENDED RELEASE

Preferred Name

English

METFORMIN [VANDF]

Common Name

English

METFORMIN [MI]

Common Name

English

METFORMIN [USAN]

Common Name

English

1,1-Dimethylbiguanide

Systematic Name

English

Metformin [WHO-DD]

Common Name

English

IMIDODICARBONIMIDIC DIAMIDE, N,N-DIMETHYL-

Systematic Name

English

metformin [INN]

Common Name

English

Classification Tree Code System Code

WHO-VATC

QA10BD15