Advandia versus Metformin

Advandia is a well-known medication for diabetes. A lot of people have the misconception that metformin can take the place of advandia, thinking that metformin is the generic for advandia and it costs a lot less. The big question is, do they work the same way?

The anwer is NO! These diabetes medications belong to two different classes of drugs and, because of this, each addresses different defects known to be present in type 2 diabetes. Advandia, generic name rosiglitazone, is part of a group of compounds called thiazolidinediones. The mechanism of action of this class of drugs is to improve target cell sensitivity to insulin — in other words, muscle and fat cells are more responsive to insulin. Metformin, brand name Glucophage, is part of a group of compounds called biguanides. The mechanism of action of this class of drugs is to decrease liver production of glucose, decrease intestinal glucose absorption, and increase glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells.