Glucophage SR
Generic Glucophage SR is a slow-release metformin tablet for type 2 diabetes, sold as 500mg tablets that are swallowed whole, usually once a day with the evening meal.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg | 30 tablets | $31.50 | $1.05 |
| 500mg | 60 tablets | $57.00 | $0.95 |
| 500mg | 90 tablets | $76.50 | $0.85 |
| 500mg | 120 tablets | $92.40 | $0.77 |
| 500mg | 180 tablets | $133.20 | $0.74 |
- Category
- Diabetes Management
- Active ingredient
- Metformin
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet
- Strengths
- 500mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Glucophage
- Therapeutic Class
- Biguanide
- Pharmacological Class
- Antidiabetic
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, Stomach upset
- Moderate Side Effects
- Diarrhoea, Metallic taste
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Merck KGaA
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Cimetidine, Contrast media
- Age Restrictions
- Not for children under 10
What you will receive
Glucophage SR is the originator brand name, made by Merck KGaA. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Glucophage SR.
- The same active ingredient (Metformin) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What pack sizes does Glucophage SR 500mg come in?
Glucophage SR comes as 500mg tablets in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180. The pack contains generic metformin, not the original Glucophage SR. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
Can I cancel my Glucophage SR order before it ships?
Glucophage SR orders can be cancelled within 24 hours if they have not yet been dispatched. Support answers 24/7 in English and Cantonese by live chat. Tracking is on the tracking page once your parcel is on its way to Hong Kong.
Does Glucophage SR have other names?
Glucophage SR is a brand name of metformin, which is also sold as Fortamet, Glumetza, Glyciphage and Metabet. Here, metformin can be bought online as generic Glucophage SR, and also as Glycomet and metformin tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Glucophage SR the same as Glucophage XR?
Both are slow-release metformin tablets sold under different brand names. On PockDose the SR listing is 500mg and the Xr listing is 1000mg, so the strength is the quickest way to tell them apart.
Why do I see the tablet shell in my stool?
Slow-release metformin tablets can pass out as a soft, empty shell after the medicine has dissolved out of it. That is normal for this type of tablet and does not mean the dose was lost.
Why is Glucophage SR taken with the evening meal?
Taking it with food softens stomach upset, and an evening dose lets the slow release run through the night. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink rather than splitting it.
Can I take Glucophage SR 500 twice a day?
Slow-release metformin is mostly built around one dose with the evening meal, and amounts are raised a tablet at a time. Twice-daily dosing belongs more to standard tablets such as Glucophage.
About Glucophage SR
Glucophage SR 500mg: slow-release metformin
SR stands for sustained release. Each 500mg tablet gives up its metformin gradually instead of all at once, which many people find gentler on the stomach. The medicine is the same as in ordinary metformin tablets and is used for type 2 diabetes alongside diet and exercise: the liver releases less glucose, less sugar is taken in from food, and the body answers insulin better.
How it is taken
Slow-release metformin is normally taken once a day with the evening meal. Treatment commonly starts at one 500mg tablet and goes up a tablet at a time, after a week or two, if blood sugar calls for it, which makes this strength a natural starting size. Swallow the tablet whole, because crushing or chewing it lets the metformin out too fast. If an evening tablet is skipped, the next night's dose stays a single tablet.
Glucophage SR next to the other metformin tablets
Several tablets here carry the Glucophage or Glycomet names, and all of them are metformin, grouped on the metformin page:
- Glucophage: standard tablets in 500mg, 850mg and 1000mg, taken with meals through the day.
- Glucophage Xr: an extended-release tablet in 1000mg.
- Glycomet: 500mg tablets under another brand name.
Glucophage SR is the slow-release choice at 500mg, so it suits anyone who wants a once-a-day routine built from small steps. It is a poorer fit when the amount needs to be divided across the day, which standard tablets do better.
Side effects
Slow-release tablets are generally easier on the stomach, but nausea, loose stools, cramps and a metallic taste can still show up early on. Lactic acidosis is rare, and overwhelming tiredness with fast breathing and muscle or stomach pain would need urgent treatment; reduced kidney function, heavy drinking and dehydration make it likelier. Long use can lower vitamin B12. Taken alone, metformin seldom causes low blood sugar, though that changes once insulin joins it.
Sources
- Metformin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- A Guide for People with Type 2 Diabetes — American Diabetes Association