Publication Date: 5/6/2007
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
For the last few years, I have been taking Metformin ER (four 500 mg. tablets) once per day at dinner. I have recently moved, and the new physician I saw has prescribed one 500 mg. tablet four times per day. Is this normal? I was under the impression that Metformin ER is to be taken only once a day.Answer
You are correct, the ER (extended release) version of metformin is designed to be taken once daily, so taking all four tablets at once makes sense. I'm not at all sure why the new prescription indicated taking the tablets at four different times; you'll have to ask your physician why he/she advised you to do this. (The only thing I can think of is that the new prescription is not for the ER version. If you are now taking the immediate release version, it should be split up into multiple doses.)
