Metformin 500 mg: uses, price & cheaper substitutes
Prescription required (Schedule H)
Common uses: Type 2 diabetes – the first-choice tablet to lower blood sugar, along with diet and exercise; Prediabetes, when a doctor decides medicine is needed to prevent diabetes.
Listed MRPs range from ₹0.62 to ₹2.13 per tablet across 8 listings. Use only on a doctor's prescription.
Price comparison
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | MRP | ₹ / tablet | As on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets IP 500mgJan Aushadhi | Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) | 10 | ₹6.19 | ₹0.62 | 19 October 2026 |
| Bigomet 500 | Aristo Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd | 10 | ₹12.98 | ₹1.30 | 19 October 2026 |
| Okamet 500 | Cipla Ltd | 20 | ₹26.49 | ₹1.32 | 19 October 2026 |
| Glycomet 500 | USV Private Limited | 10 | ₹19.59 | ₹1.96 | 19 October 2026 |
| Glyciphage 500 | Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd | 20 | ₹39.70 | ₹1.99 | 19 October 2026 |
| Gluformin 500 | Abbott Healthcare Private Limited | 10 | ₹19.88 | ₹1.99 | 19 October 2026 |
| Glycomet 500 SR | USV Private Limited | 20 | ₹42.24 | ₹2.11 | 19 October 2026 |
| Obimet 500 | Corona Remedies Pvt Ltd | 15 | ₹32.00 | ₹2.13 | 19 October 2026 |
MRPs as printed/listed on the date shown; actual price may vary.
Uses
- Type 2 diabetes – the first-choice tablet to lower blood sugar, along with diet and exercise.
- Prediabetes, when a doctor decides medicine is needed to prevent diabetes.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – used by some doctors to help insulin resistance and periods.
- Along with insulin or other diabetes tablets when one medicine is not enough.
How to take it
Take it with or just after meals to reduce stomach upset, usually once or twice a day to start, as your doctor prescribes. Swallow with water. Sustained-release (SR) tablets are taken once a day with dinner and must be swallowed whole. Your doctor will increase the dose slowly over weeks based on your blood sugar; do not change the dose yourself.
Side effects
Common
- Nausea, loss of appetite.
- Diarrhoea, stomach pain, bloating – usually settle in a few weeks.
- Metallic taste.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency with long-term use.
Serious
Stop and get medical help urgently if you notice any of these.
- Lactic acidosis (rare but dangerous) – fast breathing, severe tiredness, muscle pain, stomach pain, feeling cold. Seek emergency help. More likely if kidneys are weak, you are dehydrated, or drink heavily.
- Low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas – sweating, shaking, confusion.
- Severe allergic reaction.
Safety information
Alcohol
Limit alcohol strictly. Heavy or binge drinking with metformin raises the risk of lactic acidosis and low blood sugar.
Pregnancy
Metformin is used in pregnancy and PCOS under medical supervision; tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be. It passes into breast milk in small amounts.
Kidney problems
Your doctor must check kidney function (eGFR) before and during treatment. The dose is lowered if eGFR is 30 to 45 and metformin is stopped below 30.
Liver problems
Avoid in severe liver disease because of lactic acidosis risk.
Children
Can be used in children 10 years and above with type 2 diabetes, only under a doctor's care.
Missed dose
Take it with your next meal if you remember soon; if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not double the dose.
Interactions
- Iodine contrast dye for CT scans or angiography – metformin is usually paused on the day of the scan and for 48 hours after.
- Alcohol – lactic acidosis risk.
- Steroids, diuretics (water pills) and some BP medicines – can raise blood sugar or affect kidney function.
- Insulin, glimepiride and other sugar-lowering drugs – higher chance of low sugar.
- Cimetidine, ranolazine, dolutegravir – can raise metformin levels.
Frequently asked questions
Glycomet 500 before or after food?
With or just after food. Taking metformin on an empty stomach causes nausea and loose motions. SR tablets are taken once daily with the evening meal.
Can I take Glycomet 500 with alcohol?
Keep alcohol to a minimum and never binge. Alcohol with metformin increases the risk of low blood sugar and the rare but serious lactic acidosis.
Glycomet 500 vs Glycomet 500 SR – what is the difference?
Both contain metformin 500 mg. The SR (sustained release) tablet releases the medicine slowly, is taken once a day and usually causes less stomach upset. Do not crush or split SR tablets.
Does metformin cause weight loss?
Metformin does not cause major weight loss, but unlike some diabetes medicines it does not cause weight gain and may lead to a small reduction in weight. It should not be taken just for weight loss without a doctor.
Can metformin be taken for PCOS?
Yes, doctors often use metformin in PCOS to improve insulin resistance and regularise periods. It is still a prescription (Schedule H) medicine and needs monitoring.
What happens if I stop Glycomet suddenly?
Your blood sugar will rise again. Metformin controls diabetes; it does not cure it. Never stop without talking to your doctor.
Does metformin damage the kidneys?
Metformin does not damage kidneys, but it can build up if the kidneys are already weak. That is why your doctor checks kidney function regularly and adjusts the dose.
Is Glycomet 500 safe in pregnancy?
Metformin is used in pregnancy, including for gestational diabetes and PCOS, under a doctor's supervision. Tell your doctor as soon as you know you are pregnant.
Why do I need vitamin B12 tests on metformin?
Long-term metformin can lower vitamin B12 absorption, leading to tiredness, numbness or anaemia. Doctors usually check B12 every year or two.
Sources
- NHS – Metformin (19 October 2026)
- MedlinePlus – Metformin (19 October 2026)
- NPPA Pharma Sahi Daam (ceiling prices) (19 October 2026)
- PMBI Jan Aushadhi Product & MRP List (19 October 2026)
Medyzen Editorial Team · Last updated
This page is general information, not medical advice. Do not start, stop or change a medicine without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Terms