People mainly take Metformin for performance, blood sugar, energy. Based on 109 first-hand reports and 1,367 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #553 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 26% are positive.
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: The choice of metformin or COCP treatment should be based on symptoms, noting some biochemical benefits from combination treatment targeting both major endocrine disturbances seen in PCOS (hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism).
PubMed 37554096 ↗Conclusion: In diabetic patients at low cardiovascular risk, no treatment differs from placebo for vascular outcomes. In patients at increased cardiovascular risk receiving metformin-based background therapy, specific GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 inhibitors have a favorable effect on certain cardiovascular outcomes.
PubMed 32598218 ↗Conclusion: The evidence supports metformin as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, given its relative safety and beneficial effects on hemoglobin A1c, weight, and cardiovascular mortality (compared with sulfonylureas). On the basis of less evidence, results for add-on therapies to metformin were similar to those for monotherapies.
PubMed 27088241 ↗Conclusion: Metformin may be associated with a decreased risk of many cancer types, but high heterogeneity and risk of publication bias limit confidence in these results. Additional studies in populations without diabetes are needed to better understand the utility of metformin in cancer prevention.
PubMed 38291943 ↗As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“metformin, rapamycin, caloric restriction, etc.”
“Metformin tends to give some pretty nasty diarrhea when you first start it, and with some people it doesn't go away”
“My ex used to take it (PCOS). It fucked her stomach up pretty badly so she stopped after a while.”
“Metformin”
“I ended up getting metformin by other means. Been on it for a year and a half now. My A1C and my fasting glucose has dropped dramatically”
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate