Metformin plus Glyburide causes 20% weight loss in diabetics

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Friday, November 21, 2003 5:50 am Email this article
SOME STUDIES HAVE SHOWN that type II diabetics lose small amounts of weight using the drug metformin (Glucophage). However combining metformin with glyburide (Micronase) worked significantly better than either one alone according to a recent study.

For two months type II diabetics who were previously on insulin were given either metformin (850 mg three times per day) or glyburide (5 mg three times per day) or a combination of both drugs (500 mg metformin plus 2.5 mg glyburide three times per day). Patients also ate a reduced calorie diet of 1200 to 1800 calories per day. Those taking either drug alone did not lose a significant amount of weight, but those taking both drugs lost 20% of their body weight. There was also a reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides by 29% and 60%, respectively.

There is no evidence that this combination would work in non-diabetics and could potentially cause severe and even fatal hypoglycemia. Metformin works by improving insulin sensitivity which reduces the body’s need for insulin. While glyburide works by initially increasing insulin production followed by a decrease in glucose production by the liver and an increase in insulin sensitivity.

REFERENCE

Gentile S, Turco S. An alternative treatment with glibenclamide-metformin in obese type 2 diabetic patients on abusive. International Journal of Obesity, May 1996, 20(Supplement 4):152 (abstract 20-503-FP3).

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