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Questions About Buying Metformin Online? We Have Answers.

Yes, you need a prescription. No, you don’t need to have diabetes

a hand holding metformin pills

30-Second Takeaway

  • Metformin is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, but it can help with weight loss, inflammation, and better aging.
  • You can’t buy metformin over the counter, but buying metformin online is possible.
  • You do need a prescription to buy metformin online (Hone can help).
  • You’ll also want to work with a company that partners with accredited pharmacies.

The list of medications that have earned “wonder drug” status is short. There are statins, which have prevented millions of heart attacks and strokes. Penicillin, the OG antibiotic. And aspirin, for its ability to do everything from curbing headaches and post-workout soreness to reducing heart attack risk.

The latest med to earn a nomination to the list: metformin.

Doctors have been using metformin to treat diabetes since the 1950s. It’s also been prescribed to help prevent cancer and obesity and to ease the side effects of stopping testosterone replacement therapy (1, 2, 3).

The most exciting research suggests that even healthy people might benefit from the drug. A recent spate of studies suggests metformin can help dial down inflammation, ward off diabetes, help with weight loss, and may even extend your life (4).

Sounds pretty good.

The best part: If you’re interested in these newly identified metformin benefits, you don’t even need to trek to a healthcare provider’s office. You can buy metformin online.

Let us be clear: you can’t buy metformin over the counter, but you can get a metformin prescription without diabetes.

Here’s how.

How Metformin Works

When you eat, your body breaks down food into glucose, which is shuttled into the bloodstream. In response, your pancreas pumps out a hormone called insulin, which transports glucose into your cells where it’s used for energy.

Metformin works in a few ways to improve this process, which is what makes it a go-to drug for treating diabetes, where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or it has stopped responding properly to it, a condition called insulin resistance.

Metformin:

Beyond blood sugar regulation, studies have shown that metformin may also:

It’s these combined powers that make metformin attractive if you’re looking to keep a healthy body weight, sidestep age-related illnesses, and live longer.

Let’s dig into a few reasons you might want to get a metformin prescription if you don’t have diabetes, 

Benefits of Metformin for Non-Diabetics

It can help you avoid prediabetes

More than 1 in 3 Americans has prediabetes—blood sugar levels that are elevated, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. For many people, prediabetes turns into diabetes in time; metformin can help prevent this progression.

It may prevent cancer

Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how metformin reduces the risk for certain types of cancer, including liver, pancreatic, and colon.

What they know so far: Like other cells, cancer cells require glucose for energy. If your glucose is managed, your risk for certain cancers may go down. Beyond lowering blood sugar, metformin appears to have other powerful anti-tumor effects (7).

It may lower your heart disease risk

Having uncontrolled blood sugar increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. By keeping blood sugar in check, taking metformin may help keep cardiovascular disease at bay.

It might help you drop pounds

Studies show that metformin can help weight loss (8). Scientists think the drug may make your body more sensitive to hormones that suppress your appetite (9).

It may extend your life

Metformin may help you live longer (10) by improving your body’s insulin response, fighting oxidative stress, and curbing your risk of age-related conditions like heart disease and cancer.

Buying Metformin Online

Can I get a prescription for Metformin online? 

If you’re interested in buying metformin online to reap these benefits, Hone can help.

Hone works with licensed medical providers who can prescribe metformin if they think it’s right for you. And our pharmacy partners are certified and accredited, ensuring that the metformin you get is legitimate.

You can work with Hone to discuss metformin in two ways:

Option 1: Consult with a doctor asynchronously

If you’re interested in buying metformin online, the easiest way is to have an asynchronous consult with a doctor who works with Hone.

Here’s how that works:

Step 1. Create an account

Signing up takes just a few minutes.

Step 2. Complete an online intake form

Tell the doctor why you’re interested in metformin and provide some basic health information that will help them determine whether you’re a good candidate for metformin.

Mention any other medications you take, since some drugs can interact with metformin.

A medical provider who is licensed in your state will review your intake form answers. They’ll either approve your request and send your prescription to the pharmacy, or ask you for some additional information to help them determine whether metformin is right for you.

If they write a script for metformin, you’ll be given information about when to take it, common side effects, and any changes you might need to make to your lifestyle (like cutting out certain foods).

They may also suggest that you start taking a vitamin B12 supplement since metformin can decrease B12 absorption and lead to anemia in some people.

Step 3. Subscribe to your treatment plan

A few days after the pharmacy receives your prescription, they’ll send your first shipment of metformin. After that, your prescription will arrive monthly.

Step 4. Let your doctor know how you’re doing

After three months, your doctor will check in to see if you have any questions or concerns. If everything is going well, they’ll check in again after another six months. Each check-in will include follow-up labs to ensure it is safe for you to keep taking metformin. 

If you have any questions outside of those check-ins, you can message your doctor any time through your Hone account.

Option 2: Start with an at-home blood test

If you’re interested in metformin as well as other treatments offered by Hone, like testosterone replacement therapy, the steps are a bit different.

Step 1: Order an at-home test

Hone’s hormone test measures 8 biomarkers including testosterone.

These biomarkers aren’t specifically used to determine whether metformin is right for you. But your doctor will use them to identify hormone deficiencies and to get a better picture of your overall health.

When the test comes in the mail, collect a blood sample (just a finger prick!) and mail it to Hone’s CLIA and CAP-accredited lab partner.

Step 2: Have a telehealth consult with a Hone doctor

When your lab tests are back, you’ll schedule a telehealth video appointment with an online doctor to review the results.

If your testosterone levels are clinically low, the doctor will go over the different types of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) available from Hone, along with the benefits and any potential side effects of each.

He or she will also answer any questions you have about treatment to make sure you feel fully comfortable with the plan. 

During this visit you can also discuss your medical history and if you’re a good candidate for metformin.

Step 3: Subscribe to your personalized treatment plan

After your doctor prescribes metformin, TRT, or a combination of the two, you’ll subscribe to a personalized treatment plan and wait for your monthly delivery of medications.

Step 4: Follow up with your doctor

Depending on which medications you are taking, you’ll have follow-up lab tests (typically every 90 days) and review the results with your doctor. Your doctor may adjust your treatment plan based on these lab results and how you are doing.

How Much Does Metformin Cost Online?

Metformin through Hone costs just $25 per month.

You’ll also pay a monthly membership fee, which varies depending on how many and which medications you’re buying from Hone.

If you only take metformin, your monthly membership fee is $25. If you’re on TRT as well and need periodic lab testing, your monthly membership fee is $129.

Do I Need a Prescription to Buy Metformin?

You do need a prescription, yes. But you don’t need to go to a doctor’s office. 

You can easily complete an online evaluation with a licensed doctor who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.

If you have questions about buying metformin through Hone, please feel free to contact us at support@honehealth.com.

FAQs

Can I get over-the-counter metformin?

OTC drugs are things that you can buy online or at a pharmacy without a prescription. There is no over-the-counter version of metformin. 

Why do I need a prescription for metformin?

Potential side effects of metformin include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscle pain, and more. The drug can also interact with other medications, and it isn’t recommended for people with certain conditions like liver disease, advanced kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. 

A doctor can decide if the benefits of taking metformin outweigh the risks for you. 

Is it Ok to take Metformin if you don’t have diabetes?

If a doctor determines that based on your overall health metformin can benefit you, then yes, it’s absolutely safe for you to get a prescription and take metformin.

pill capsule of metformin

A Longer Life? Sounds Pretty Good.

Metformin, now available from Hone, may help you ward off age-related illnesses. Connect with a doctor and get treatment delivered—without leaving home.

YES PLEASE

About the author

Tracy Middleton is a health and wellness journalist with more than 20 years’ experience. She is the former Editor in Chief and Brand Director of Yoga Journal and former Health Director of Women’s Health.