Metformin 500 mg Immediate Release Tablets — Ascend Pharma — Generic for Glucophage

Medication Summary

Medication Summary: This section summarizes DailyMed drug label information to make the label easier to understand. It is not a substitute for the official label, pharmacist counseling, prescriber instructions, or medical advice.

Overview

Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets USP are an oral medicine used with diet and exercise to help improve blood sugar control in adults and children with type 2 diabetes. The label says metformin improves glucose tolerance and lowers both fasting and after-meal blood glucose.

Metformin works differently from some other diabetes medicines. It decreases glucose made by the liver, decreases glucose absorption from the intestine, and improves the body’s use of insulin.

The label warns about a rare but serious problem called lactic acidosis. This risk is higher in people with kidney problems, older age, dehydration, hypoxemia, sepsis, liver disease, or heavy alcohol use. The medicine should be stopped before certain contrast imaging studies and some surgeries, as directed in the label.

Storage Information

Storage Store at 20°–25° C (68°–77° F); excursions permitted to 15°–30° C (59°–86° F).

Key Counseling Points

• Take metformin with diet and exercise as part of diabetes management, as directed.
• Swallow tablets exactly as prescribed; do not change your dose unless instructed.
• Common stomach side effects can happen when treatment starts.
• Tell a healthcare professional right away if you have unusual weakness, muscle pain, trouble breathing, sleepiness, or stomach discomfort, since these may be warning signs of lactic acidosis.
• Do not use this medicine if you have kidney disease or kidney dysfunction listed in the label contraindications.
• Tell your healthcare professional about any history of metabolic acidosis or diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Tell your healthcare professional before radiologic studies that use iodinated contrast materials.
• The label says to temporarily stop metformin for some surgery procedures and restart only after oral intake has resumed and kidney function is normal.
• Avoid excessive alcohol intake while taking this medicine.
• Kidney function should be checked before treatment and at least yearly, or more often if needed.
• Metformin is indicated for type 2 diabetes and is not described in the label as a treatment for type 1 diabetes.

Helpful Patient Education

Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets USP are oral antihyperglycemic tablets used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and children with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The label describes metformin as a medicine that lowers blood glucose by reducing glucose production in the liver, reducing intestinal glucose absorption, and improving insulin sensitivity.

This product page information is based on DailyMed label content for metformin hydrochloride tablets. The label also includes important safety information about renal function, lactic acidosis, use with iodinated contrast studies, alcohol use, and temporary interruption before some surgical procedures.

Medication Summary last generated: 2026-07-05 11:39:55