Metformin

Glucophage

Prescription Only

The cheap diabetes drug that might slow aging. £2 per month and it's been around for 60 years.

LongevityEvidence: ★★★★☆

Educational content only. Not medical advice. This compound may be regulated in your jurisdiction. Consult a healthcare professional.

01 What is Metformin?

Metformin is boring. It's a 60-year-old diabetes medication that costs pennies. It doesn't have a cool name or a sexy mechanism. But it might be one of the most important longevity drugs ever discovered — and the TAME trial (Targeting Aging with Metformin) could make it the first drug ever approved specifically for aging. What got researchers excited: diabetics on metformin were living LONGER than non-diabetics who weren't taking it. That's not supposed to happen. Diabetics have shorter lifespans, yet metformin users were outliving healthy controls. Something interesting is clearly going on.

02 How Does It Work?

Metformin activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) — your cell's energy sensor. When AMPK is active, cells switch from growth mode to maintenance mode: enhanced autophagy, improved mitochondrial function, reduced inflammation, and better insulin sensitivity. It also inhibits mTOR (similar to rapamycin but less potently), reduces IGF-1 signalling, and modifies the gut microbiome in ways that appear metabolically beneficial.

03 What Does The Research Say?

Evidence Quality:★★★★☆

Strong clinical evidence from human trials.

Observational data is strong: metformin users have lower rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration compared to matched controls. The UK Biobank data showed metformin-treated diabetics had 15% lower all-cause mortality than non-diabetic controls. The TAME trial (largest anti-aging drug trial ever designed) is underway, studying metformin's effects on aging in 3,000 non-diabetic elderly adults. If successful, it could establish aging as a treatable condition. Caveat: Some evidence suggests metformin may blunt muscle gains from exercise (reduced mTORC1 activation). Athletes and people focused on muscle building may want to consider this trade-off.

04 Reported Dosages

Research literature dosages only. NOT medical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Diabetes dose: 500mg-2000mg daily. Longevity dose (off-label, reported): 500mg-1000mg daily, often taken with evening meal. Prescription only in UK. Available off-label from longevity-focused doctors.

05 Side Effects & Risks

GI issues are common initially: nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps (usually resolve within 2-4 weeks). Extended-release formulation reduces GI side effects. Very rare: lactic acidosis (mainly in people with kidney problems). B12 deficiency with long-term use — supplement B12.