Glucophage

Manufacturer: Merck
Substance: Metformin
Packing: 100 tabs. (850 mg/tab)

Substance:  Metformin, Metformine, Glucophage, Metformin Hydrachloride, Metformin, Glucophage, Riomet, Fortamet, Glumetza, Obimet, Dianben, Diabex, Diaformin


Glucophage, Mellitron is a brand name for metformin which is an oral hypoglycemic drug. Glucophage normally was made to be used to control adult onset diabetes. This drug increases the body's ability to transport glucose into the muscle cells much better by increasing insulin sensitivity. This substance will also inhibit the body's formation of sugar by the liver whereby lowering insulin secretion in the body. This substance is very similar to phenformin, that is also an oral hypoglycemic except that phenformin is considered the harsher of the two compounds.  Glucophage has been used as a bodybuilding drug for short time.  As far as bodybuilders are concerned, this product is used as an oral form of insulin. It will cause greater glycogen supercompensation during carb-ups as well as lowering blood glucose for those that are using the BodyOpus or Atkins diet to induce ketosis more easily.

The result of this product will probably not be as dramatic as when using insulin, but a notable anabolic effect can be achieved nonetheless. Most athletes opt to use this drug for a limited duration, cycles of Glucophage usually lasting only a couple of months. This would be followed by an equally long break at a minimum. While Glucophage is considered much safer than insulin, it is not without its own unique risks. The most serious complication is the possible development of lactic acidosis. This is an often-fatal metabolic disorder involving  an increase in lactate levels (lactic) and a pronounced decrease in blood pH. The package insert displays the additional warning: the administration of oral hypoglycemics may be associated with increased cardiovascular mortality as compared to treatment with diet alone or diet with insulin. The risk for severe side effects are increased in people suffering from liver dysfunction or who drink excessive alcohol. Or those with renal dysfunction, noting impaired creatine clearance. A number of other "minor" side effects may include, but are not limited to, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, metallic taste, fatigue, weakness and malabsorbtion of vitamin B12. Quite often these effects will subside if the dosage is lowered, stubborn cases requiring the drug to be discontinued. If vomiting occurs, the athlete will usually discontinue the drug immediately for fear this may be an early symptom of lacticacidosis.

    Common side effects of Glucophage include diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach. These side effects generally go away after you take the medicine for a while. Taking your medicine with meals can help reduce these side effects. Tell your doctor if the side effects bother you a lot, last for more than a few weeks, come back after they've gone away, or start later in therapy. You may need a lower dose or need to stop taking the medicine for a short period or for good.