Metformin (INNAn International Nonproprietary Name (INN; also known as rINN, for recommended International Nonproprietary Name) is the official non-proprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance, as designated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The plethora of named proprietary preparations containing a given ...INN; trade names Glucophage, Diabex, Diaformin, Fortamet, Riomet, Glumetza and others) is an anti-diabetic drugAn anti-diabetic drug or oral hypoglycemic agent is used to treat diabetes mellitus. They usually work by lowering the glucose levels in the blood. There are different types of anti-diabetic drugs, and their use depends on the nature of the diabetes, age and situation of the person, as well as other factors. Insulin, exenatide, and pramlintide are the only non-oral ...anti-diabetic drug from the biguanideBiguanides (ATC A10 BA) form a class of oral hypoglycemic drugs used for diabetes mellitus or prediabetes treatment.biguanide class of oral antihyperglycemic agents. Other biguanides include the withdrawn agents phenforminPhenformin is an anti-diabetic drug from the biguanide class. It is no longer widely available because it is known to induce lactic acidosis. Like metformin, phenformin leads to weight loss, something often desirable in type 2 diabetics, and it is for this reason that there is still some interest in it.. Free Full Textphenformin and buforminBuformin is an anti-diabetic drug of the biguanide class, chemically related to metformin and phenformin. It was withdrawn from the market in most countries due to a high risk of causing lactic acidosis.buformin. Metformin is the most popular anti-diabetic drug in the United States and one of the most prescribed drugs overall, with nearly 35 million prescriptions filled in 2006 for generic metformin alone.