How long does glucophage/Metformin stay in your system?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 1, 2024.
Metformin (brand name: Glucophage) will be in your system for 96.8 hours which is approximately 4 days.
Metformin has an elimination half-life of approximately 17.6 hours.
It takes approximately 5.5 x elimination half-life for a medicine to be cleared from your body which is
5.5 x 17.6 hours = 96.8 hours for metformin.
However other factors to consider include:
1. How much and how often you have taken the drug.
2. Your metabolic rate – a slower metabolism will increase the time a drug remains in your system.
3. Your age and health – older age and poor health will generally increase the time the drug stays in your system.
4. Body mass – generally the bigger you are the longer a drug will remain in your system.
For more information see:
https://www.drugs.com/pro/metformin.html
Read next
How long does metformin take to work?
Metformin will usually start lowering your blood sugar (glucose) levels in the first week of treatment, but it may take 2 to 3 months to see its full effect. Metformin is a preferred initial oral treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, and is usually taken on a long-term basis. It may be combined with other blood glucose-lowering treatments, if needed. Continue reading
When is the best time to take metformin?
Metformin should be taken after having a meal or eating food, especially when you are first starting treatment. This can help reduce any stomach side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or gas. These side effects generally go away within a few weeks after starting treatment. Continue reading
What is the safest diabetes medication?
Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe. Metformin is recommended as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
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