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Dose

Authoring team

The incidence of gastrointestinal side effects with metformin is lower if a small initial dose is used. BNF recommendations now advise a step-wise introduction of metformin treatment (1)

  • an initial dose of 500mg with breakfast for one week; then 500mg with breakfast and evening meal for one week; then 500mg with breakfast, lunch and evening meals

  • most physicians limit to a maximum total dose of 2g daily

Reference:

  • (1) Prescribers' Journal (2000), 40 (1), 38-48.
  • (2) BNF 6.1

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