Metformin Stella Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Metformin hydrochloride is an anti-hyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type-2 diabetes, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose. Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and increases peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin does not produce hypoglycemia in either patients with type-2 diabetes or normal subjects and does not cause hyper-insulinemia. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged while fasting insulin levels and day-long plasma insulin response may actually decreases.
Pharmacokinetics: Metformin hydrochloride is slowly and incompletely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; the absolute bioavailability of a single 500 mg dose is reported to be about 50 to 60%, although this is reduced somewhat if taken with food. Once absorbed, protein binding in plasma is negligible; the drug is excreted unchanged in the urine. The plasma elimination half-life is reported to range from about 2 to 6 hours after oral doses. Metformin crosses the placenta and is distributed into breast milk in small amounts.