Pros and Cons of Metformin - What are your experiences?

If you mean metformin, about half the adults I know are taking it (it seems), including me.

The only bad effect I had was that when I started on it, I had terrible upset stomachs. But after a few days, they went away.

It's cheap, been in use for decades, and is proven safe for most people.

That doesn't mean that it'll be right for you of course, but it's probably worth a try.

I was going to quit taking it - (my now deceased at age 71) holistic doc was fiercely against ALL prescription drugs including vitamins) but I was told that Metformin extended life span by 7 years and they were unsure why, but it was the BEST longevity drug that they have ever found. So while the research about why it works so well is still underway as far as I know, it is highly recommended. I take 500 AM and PM, so 1000 a day. My new anti-aging doc has recommended (and prescribed) 1000 AM and PM. That gave me loose bowels, so I backed off the higher dose. But he - and my docs at Mayo - highly recommend it. And at some point, I probably will try the high dose again and see if I can power through the side effects.

I was on Metformin and it did keep my sugar under control allowing me to eat a wider variety of foods. But it also gave me loose stools. I went to tradjenta which works very well but is very expensive. The latest government/Medicare for 2025 has reduced the cost by keeping ceiling on the cost. The best method is by exercise and diet. I am currently working on improving my diet.

@homesbyhughes welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We here at Mayo Clinic Connect are not doctors so we shouldn’t be diagnosing or prescribing. We mainly share our experiences to encourage one another. Metformin is commonly used by lots of diabetics to help control blood sugar. All medications have the potential to cause side effects, including Metformin. Most people can adjust to the side effects and find benefits from Metformin. Others cannot and need the provider to help find an alternative medication. There are usually pros and cons to any medication. Do you trust your prescribing provider? Can you work with him or her to find what best suits your needs?

I had been on Metformin for over 40 years. It did help with my A1C. About three years ago I started to have episodes of what I call explosive diarrhea, so my PCP took me off of it. I have been on the generic version of Tragenta (perhaps only avail through the VA) and that kept me stable as part of my regimen, but that is no longer available. My endocrinologist put me on the generic version of Jardiance 25mg, and started me on Ozempic about 6 months ago. I have lost some weight but what I was most happy to see is my A1C is now down to 6.5 and slowly decreasing.
I have done a lot of anecdotal research on this topic because of the Perpheral Neuropathy that I have acquired. One thing I have learned over these several years is that there are no magic bullets. What works for one may not work for anyone else and what works for everyone else may not work for you. Do your due diligence