Can I get it?
Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Metformin is authorised in the EU and can be prescribed after a medical review.
Metformin · Portugal
Metformin in Portugal.
Not in our consultation yet. We are continuously onboarding new specialists — leave your email and we'll notify you, or explore the areas we already cover, skin included.
NOTIFY ME WHEN AVAILABLE
Leave your email and we'll notify you when we add Metformin.
NOT AVAILABLE TODAY
Hi-Doctor does not prescribe Metformin yet.
Our licensed doctors currently cover hair growth, weight management, sexual health and skin — acne, rosacea, melasma and ageing skin. We extend the catalogue as specialists join and regulation allows. Metformin is outside it today.
Buying Metformin online without a valid prescription carries counterfeiting and toxicity risks. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional.
IN PLAIN TERMS
What Metformin is, and how to get treatment
Metformin is one of the oldest and most widely used medicines for type 2 diabetes, authorised for that across the EU. It lowers blood sugar mainly by reducing the glucose the liver releases and by helping the body respond to its own insulin. It is also taken off-label for weight loss and, more recently, for "longevity" — neither of those is an approved indication, and the evidence behind them is not the evidence that supports its diabetes licence. Hi-Doctor does not treat diabetes; if weight is what brought you here, our doctors assess EU-approved weight-management options in a consultation.
Metformin is an authorised medicine in the EU, so a licensed doctor can prescribe it when it is clinically appropriate for you.
What can I take instead?
Our doctors review every option and recommend what fits your history and goals.
What do the studies show?
Every trial behind Metformin is listed below with how many people took part and whether the results are peer-reviewed or a company announcement.
Jump to the studiesWHAT WE DO COVER
If your question is about hair, weight, sexual health or skin, a licensed doctor reviews it in less than 2 hours on average — €35, or €40 for a skin consultation.
TREATMENTS
Different needs, one process.
Choose what fits. The journey is identical.
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VERIFIED EVIDENCE
Metformin: evidence and regulatory guide.
WHAT IT IS
How it works
Lowers blood sugar mainly by reducing the amount of glucose the liver releases and by helping the body's tissues respond better to insulin.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
EU-authorised medicine
Trial register1 registered trials
Every NCT identifier links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record. A readout is not the same as peer-reviewed publication.
| TRIAL / NCT | POPULATION | PARTICIPANTS | STATUS | READOUT / COMPLETION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UKPDS 34 (metformin in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes) | Overweight adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (342 allocated metformin, 411 conventional treatment) | 753 | Read out | 1998-09-12 |
What the studies reported
Results are grouped by source and evidence grade so journal data and manufacturer announcements cannot be confused.
Peer-reviewed
UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). Lancet 1998;352(9131):854-865. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07037-8| DOSE OR GROUP | MEAN WEIGHT CHANGE | WEEKS |
|---|---|---|
| metformin, median 10.7 years' follow-up | 32% lower risk of any diabetes-related endpoint versus conventional treatment (95% CI 13–47; p=0.002) | — |
| metformin, median 10.7 years' follow-up | 36% lower all-cause mortality (95% CI 9–55; p=0.011) and 42% lower diabetes-related death (95% CI 9–63; p=0.017) | — |
| metformin, median 10.7 years' follow-up | Median HbA1c 7.4% versus 8.0% on conventional treatment | — |
UKPDS 34 studied overweight adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. It was not a weight-loss trial, and it did not study people without diabetes.
NAMED SAFETY SIGNALS
What has been reported with Metformin.
Digestive side effects
Nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort are very common when starting, and are the usual reason people stop.
Vitamin B12
Long-term use can lower vitamin B12 levels, so levels are monitored in people at risk.
Lactic acidosis
A rare but serious complication linked mainly to reduced kidney function. Following the EMA's Article 31 review completed in 2016, metformin is contraindicated below an eGFR of 30 mL/min, kidney function must be checked before starting and regularly afterwards (every 3–6 months in those at higher risk), and treatment must be paused around iodinated contrast imaging or dehydration.
Weight-loss and longevity uses are off-label
The EU authorisation is for type 2 diabetes. No EU regulator has authorised metformin for weight loss in people without diabetes, or for ageing or longevity; those uses sit outside its licence.
HOW IT WORKS · 5 STEPS
Five steps. No waiting room.
From the online consultation to ongoing follow-up — without leaving home.
- 5 minutes
Start your online visit
Answer a 5-minute health questionnaire from home.
- Less than 2 hours
A doctor reviews your case
A licensed doctor reviews your answers and replies personally.
- Refund guarantee
Review and payment
If not approved, we refund your €35 one-off in full.
- EU pharmacies
Collect treatment from the pharmacy
Collect it at any EU pharmacy with your e-prescription.
- 4-week check-in
Ongoing support
Private chat, 4-week check-in, simple prescription renewal.
NOTIFY ME
Leave your email and we'll notify you when Metformin becomes available.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS