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Tolerability of prolonged-release metformin (Glucophage® SR) in individuals intolerant to standard metformin — results from four UK centres

Beta Cell Diabetes Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK, m.feher{at}chelwest.nhs.uk

Ma'en Al-Mrayat

Diabetes Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK

Julie Brake

Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK

King Sun Leong

Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Clatterbridge General Hospital, Wirral NHS Trust, Bebington, UK

Advances in drug formulation have improved the tolerability of many commonly used agents. Metformin is recommended as initial drug therapy for type 2 diabetes and has proven long-term efficacy and safety. However, gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects of standard, immediate-release (IR) metformin often reduce medication adherence and limit dose titration. A prolonged-release metformin formulation may improve tolerability over its IR counterpart. We report the results of two prospective and two retrospective clinic-based evaluations of the tolerability of metformin in a total of 95 patients intolerant to standard IR metformin assessed over three to six months following a switch from IR to prolonged-release metformin (Glucophage® SR). Between 62% and 100% of patients from the centres tolerated the prolonged-release formulation. Glycaemia following the switch was improved or unchanged. Prolonged-release metformin represents a useful option for patients intolerant of standard IR metformin due to GI side-effects. This improved tolerance of prolonged-release metformin may improve medication adherence and thereby enhance treatment outcomes.

Key Words: metformin • prolonged-release metformin • tolerability • type 2 diabetes.

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The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, Vol. 7, No. 5, 225-228 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/14746514070070050501


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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Feher, M. D Articles by Leong, K. S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?