Can Metformin Be Gradually Discontinued While On Insulin?

Posted on Sat, 28 Apr 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 Answered on

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : I want my husband off metformin....he was taking one tab in am and one at pm...Dr let us cut it in half one half in am and one half at pm...he is taking insulin injection in am besides. Will there be some concerns if we do a forth of a cap in am and one at pm and then off of medication. Not all at one time but over time because of side affects. He is taking a zillion pills. I want to retire but meds cost a lot and we do not have that much to retire on. $600.00 plus goes to medical insurance and next year I was informed by insurance co insulin will not be covered...that is 400.00 where my part now is 100.00. I am 76 yr and don't know how much longer I will be able to work

Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
About Metformin and insulin:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I can understand your concern.

You should know that Metformin will help in lowering the need for insulin in the long run.
By virtue of the medications, if he stops Metformin he will then need larger insulin doses that may cause further weight gain. Gaining weight makes Diabetes management more difficult.

If the renal an liver function is normal, I do not understand why you want to take it off? Feel free to discuss and let me know your thoughts. Please note that it's a cheap medication with a great contribution to the glucose levels. Regarding side effects, you should not fear as far as liver and renal function is normal.

However, you may try to taper it, but for sure the insulin dose requirement will be higher in that scenario.

Hope the information will help. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Kind regards,
Dt.Mirjeta

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee