🌟 DRUG OF THE DAY: METFORMIN

(The Most Common Anti-Diabetic Drug!)

If you’re a pharmacy student, today’s Drug of the Day will strengthen your therapeutics + viva + exam preparation.
Let’s learn Metformin in a clean, crisp, high-yield format 👇

🔬 Introduction

Metformin is the first-line oral anti-diabetic drug used mainly in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
It belongs to the class Biguanides and is known for controlling blood sugar without causing weight gain.

💊 Category

Anti-Diabetic Drug (Biguanide)

🧪 Chemical Structure

(Simple representation for students)

C₄H₁₁N₅
— Contains: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen

⚙️ Mechanism of Action (MOA)

Metformin works through three key mechanisms:

1️⃣ Decreases hepatic glucose production (↓ gluconeogenesis)
2️⃣ Increases insulin sensitivity in muscles
3️⃣ Reduces intestinal glucose absorption

👉 Overall: It lowers blood sugar without affecting insulin secretion.

💉 Therapeutic Uses

✔ Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
✔ Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
✔ Insulin resistance
✔ Helps with weight reduction in obese diabetic patients

📌 Dose (General)

500–2000 mg/day, divided doses
(Dose varies based on patient—this is basic student-level info)

⚠️ Side Effects

🔹 Nausea
🔹 Metallic taste
🔹 Diarrhea
🔹 Vitamin B12 deficiency (long-term)
🔹 Rare: Lactic acidosis

🚫 Contraindications

✖ Renal failure
✖ Severe liver disease
✖ Alcoholism
✖ Hypoxia conditions

🎯 Why It’s Important for Students

Metformin is a must-know drug for B.Pharm & D.Pharm because it covers:
✔ Pharmacology
✔ Pharmaceutics (Sustained release forms)
✔ Drug interactions
✔ Viva questions
✔ Case studies

📝 Quick Revision Points (1-Minute Notes)

• First-line in T2DM

• No hypoglycemia

• Causes weight loss

• Biguanide class

• Risk: lactic acidosis

• Improves insulin sensitivity

💬 Today’s Question:
Which drug should be the next “Drug of the Day”?
👉 Aspirin
👉 Metronidazole
👉 Atorvastatin
👉 Omeprazole

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