Metformin, a Widely Available Diabetes Drug, Has COVID-Fighting Potential

Does Metformin help with COVID? Recent Clinical Trials Show Promising Results

Metformin is a medicine primarily prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. It is currently being used by over 150 million people worldwide and in 2020 was prescribed more than 92 million times in the U.S. alone. It is a relatively safe and inexpensive drug and has a number of mechanisms, including the ability to inhibit the development of cancer cells and reduce their proliferation.

FLCCC recently added metformin to its I-CARE: Early COVID Treatment guide. This was based on the positive results of a new study that showed an incrementing dose of metformin over 14 days reduced the rate of hospitalization for COVID.

It looks like metformin could reduce the risk of long COVID as well. The researchers followed study participants over time and found that patients who received metformin were less likely to develop long COVID. 

Along with drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, metformin shows tremendous promise for COVID treatment and prevention of long COVID. Check our COVID early treatment guide for more details and be sure to talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment regimen.

How Does Metformin Protect Against COVID?

In an episode of Long Story Short, Dr. Been reviewed the study’s findings in more detail and noted that metformin works for COVID-19 because it reduces the production of spike protein. He also noted that the study did not exclude pregnant women, which means we now have safety data to show that metformin can be used safely for COVID during pregnancy.

Studies Show Metformin Reduced Cancer Rates

What’s more, studies have examined the role of metformin in the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer. In Dr. Paul Marik’s recent review of the role of repurposed drugs in cancer care, metformin was among the top 10 treatments he recommends. Dr. Marik also found metformin can be effective in preventing cancer for people considered at high risk, whether their risk extends from diabetes, prediabetes, insulin resistance, chronic viral infection, smoking, or genetics.

Metformin has also been used to treat women with polycystic ovary disease and infertility or menstrual irregularities. Its anti-aging and lifespan extending abilities are hotly disputed by longevity experts and warrant further study.

Metformin is a remarkably safe drug with few side effects. The most common adverse effects include abdominal or stomach discomfort, cough, hoarseness, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. Prolonged use is associated with vitamin B12 deficiency; supplementation with a B complex vitamin is therefore suggested. 

Metformin may cause very low blood glucose when combined with berberine; hence blood glucose levels should be very closely monitored in patients taking this combination; if low glucose does occur, we would suggest alternating metformin and berberine (monthly). 

When using radiographic iodine for procedures, metformin should be stopped a couple of days prior to the procedure. Lactic acidosis is a rare but potentially fatal condition. Patients should not consume excessive amounts of alcohol, acutely or chronically, while taking metformin.

All this indicates that simple, inexpensive, repurposed drugs can have a major role to play not just in early outpatient COVID-19 treatment but also in the prevention and management of many other chronic conditions, like long COVID.