Medication guide · Updated 2026
Insulin-sensitizing medication commonly prescribed for insulin-resistant PCOS. Generic, inexpensive, well-studied.
Generic name
Metformin
Drug class
other
Brand names
Glucophage, Fortamet
Telehealth offering
0 brands
Metformin reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues. First-line for type 2 diabetes; widely prescribed off-label for PCOS-related insulin resistance.
4 variants of Metformin.
| Strength | Form | Price range / month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 mg/day | immediate-release tablet | — | — |
| 1000 mg/day | immediate-release tablet | — | — |
| 500 mg/day XR | extended-release tablet | — | — |
| 1500–2000 mg/day | tablet (split BID) | — | — |
Average cash-pay cost: $15/mo
Educational reference only. Not medical advice. Verify dose, indications, and interactions with a licensed prescriber.
Metformin is a prescription medication. Available branded formulations include Glucophage and Fortamet. Only FDA-approved formulations are available — no compounded equivalent is in widespread clinical use.
Metformin is typically prescribed for patients meeting the medication's clinical indications under supervision of a licensed prescriber. As with all prescription medications, suitability is determined by a licensed clinician based on individual medical history, current medications, and treatment goals.
Typical strengths include 500 mg/day, 1000 mg/day, 500 mg/day XR, and 1500–2000 mg/day.
Before starting Metformin, ask your prescribing clinician about: your full medication and supplement list (for interaction screening), recent labs that are relevant to the medication's mechanism, monitoring cadence after starting, and what specific outcome they expect to see in the first 4–12 weeks. Common side effects to watch for include , , , and undefined, among others. Most are dose-dependent and improve with time or dose adjustment.
Insulin-sensitizing medication commonly prescribed for insulin-resistant PCOS. Generic, inexpensive, well-studied.
Metformin is administered other. Doses depend on indication and patient response. See the brand pages above for program-specific dosing.
Coverage varies wildly by plan tier and indication. Many GLP-1 + HRT medications require prior authorization. Some compounded versions are not insurance-billable. See individual brand pages for coverage status.
Most common: , , . See full list above. Always report new symptoms to your provider.
Drug-drug interactions matter — especially for HRT + thyroid + GLP-1 combinations. Use our drug interaction checker, and always disclose your full medication list to the prescriber.
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