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Metformin is a medicine used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and sometimes in women with polycstic ovary syndrome. It may also be referred to by its brand names Bolamyn®, Diagemet®, Glucient®, Glucophage® or Metabet®.
Although metformin is used to reduce blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes, it does not lower glucose levels in the brain.
NICE do not recommend metformin as a treatment for brain tumours. It is important to speak to your healthcare team before taking any new medications or making changes to your current brain tumour treatment.
Research has shown that metformin is able to help cells in the hippocampus regenerate in a study of children who had received radiotherapy for treatment of a brain tumour. This is the part of the brain involved in forming, storing and processing memory, the results of the study showed an improvement in memory.
Metformin is not a treatment for brain tumours but may help to improve quality of life. Further clinical trials are needed.
If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
0808 800 0004 (free from landlines and mobiles)
support@thebraintumourcharity.org
Phone lines open Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
clinicaltrials@thebraintumourcharity.org
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If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, we offer a wide range of inclusive and accessible support services for everyone affected by a brain tumour.