glucophage xr

How long does Metformin Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of metformin hydrochloride is about 6.2 hours (plasma elimination half-life in adults with normal kidney function) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. Metformin is not metabolized and has no active metabolites, so 6.2 hours reflects the parent drug. The often-cited ~17.6-hour "blood" half-life reflects the drug lingering in red blood cells (distribution), not parent-drug elimination. The half-life is prolonged when kidney function is reduced.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, USP — DailyMed (Clinical Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics).

Frequently asked questions

What does Glucophage XR treat?

Glucophage XR (Metformin Hydrochloride) may be used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How is Glucophage XR rated?

pharmaranks gives Glucophage XR a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Glucophage XR cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.74 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Glucophage XR?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Glucophage XR. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Glucophage XR?

Glucophage XR is marketed by Emd Serono. You can see Emd Serono's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Glucophage XR a brand-name or generic drug?

Glucophage XR is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Metformin Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Metformin Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Glucophage XR available over the counter?

No. Glucophage XR is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Glucophage XR come in?

Glucophage XR is currently marketed as tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Glucophage XR?

Glucophage XR is classified as biguanide, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Glucophage XR FDA-registered?

Glucophage XR is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021202. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Glucophage XR been recalled by the FDA?

Glucophage XR has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Glucophage XR safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Glucophage XR a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.