The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a generic form of the widely used diabetes drug metformin, which has been sold only as the brand-named Glucophage until now.

Metformin helped to revolutionize the treatment of diabetes when it was introduced. It helps regulate blood sugar levels by curbing production of glucose by the liver.

As many as 11 generic drug manufacturers are expected to market their own metformin product, according to a report by Reuters Health. When a brand-name drug becomes available as a generic, it is not unusual to see the price of the drug drop by as much as 80 percent.

Check with your doctor and your pharmacist to determine whether the generic form of metformin is a good choice for you.

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Source:  Twersky O. FDA approves generic versions of diabetes drug. Reuters Health, Jan. 25, 2002.