Which drug is a biguanide?

Which drug is a biguanide?

• A. Metformin
• B. Atorvastatin
• C. Sitagliptin
• D. Glipizide

Answer: (A)

Biguanides lower blood sugar mainly by reducing the liver’s glucose production and by improving how the body uses insulin, especially in muscles. Metformin is the drug in this class and is used as a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes for this reason. It works by inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis and increasing peripheral glucose uptake, helping to lower fasting and postprandial glucose without typically causing hypoglycemia when used alone. The other drugs are from different classes: atorvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering statin; sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that enhances incretin-induced insulin release; glipizide is a sulfonylurea that increases insulin secretion and can cause hypoglycemia. So metformin is the biguanide.

Biguanides lower blood sugar mainly by reducing the liver’s glucose production and by improving how the body uses insulin, especially in muscles. Metformin is the drug in this class and is used as a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes for this reason. It works by inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis and increasing peripheral glucose uptake, helping to lower fasting and postprandial glucose without typically causing hypoglycemia when used alone. The other drugs are from different classes: atorvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering statin; sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that enhances incretin-induced insulin release; glipizide is a sulfonylurea that increases insulin secretion and can cause hypoglycemia. So metformin is the biguanide.