What Is Actually Known About Metformin for Longevity
If you follow research on healthy aging, you have probably seen metformin come up again and again. Metformin is a prescription tablet used to treat type 2 diabetes,[1] and doctors have used it for more than 60 years.[2] Interest in metformin for longevity grew from three things. There are studies of people with diabetes and studies in animals. And researchers have designed a large human trial to test the idea.
The early signs are interesting enough that serious researchers want to test them. But metformin is not approved to slow aging,[3] and the evidence that it extends lifespan is still unsettled.[5] Taking it for longevity is an off-label use. Through Starfish.com, a licensed clinician can review whether metformin is a reasonable choice for you and, if it is, send a prescription to your pharmacy.
Why People Take Metformin for Longevity
A long track record. Metformin has treated diabetes for decades. Researchers chose it for an aging trial partly because it is safe and costs little.[2]
A striking result in people with diabetes. A large UK study followed about 78,000 people with type 2 diabetes who started on metformin. It compared them with matched people without diabetes. The metformin group lived longer, on average, than the matched group without diabetes. The authors suggested that metformin might also benefit people who do not have diabetes.[4]
Longer lives in some animals. Metformin has extended lifespan in worms and in some studies of mice.[5]
A trial designed to answer the question. The TAME trial (Targeting Aging with Metformin) has been designed to enroll more than 3,000 people aged 65 to 79 at 14 research centers. It would test whether metformin delays age-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer and dementia.[2]
The Evidence at a Glance
| Type of evidence | What it found | What it cannot tell us |
|---|---|---|
| People with type 2 diabetes | Those who started on metformin lived longer, on average, than matched people without diabetes[4] | It was observational, not a randomized trial, and the authors note that differences between the groups they could not measure may explain some of the result[4] |
| Worms and mice | Longer lifespan in worms and in some mouse studies[5] | In a large lifespan testing program for mice, metformin alone did not extend lifespan. In one study, a much higher dose shortened it[5] |
| A human aging trial (TAME) | Designed to test whether metformin delays age-related diseases in older adults[2] | It has not yet launched, so there are no results[2] |
The Honest Limits
Metformin is approved by the FDA to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise.[3] Aging is not an approved use. The researchers behind TAME hope the FDA will one day accept aging itself as something a medicine can treat.[2] Today, it does not.
Scientists also disagree about how strong the case is. One critical review found that the evidence that metformin extends life is still debated.[5] So while the reasons people take it are real, it would be wrong to call metformin a proven anti-aging drug.
Find Out Whether Metformin Suits You
Answer a short questionnaire about your health and goals. A licensed clinician reviews it and decides whether metformin is appropriate for you.
Side Effects and Safety
Stomach side effects are the most common. Diarrhea, nausea, stomach discomfort and gas are the side effects people notice most.[1]
Vitamin B12 can drop. In the label’s trials, about 7% of people had a fall in vitamin B12 to below normal levels.[3] If you have had low B12 before, mention it in your questionnaire.[1]
Lactic acidosis is rare but serious. Metformin’s label has a boxed warning about lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of acid in the blood, and it can be fatal.[3] The risk is higher with kidney disease and with heavy drinking.[1] Signs include extreme tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. If they appear, stop taking metformin and get medical help right away.[1]
Some people should not take it. Metformin should not be used by people with severe kidney disease.[3] You may also need to stop it for a while before an x-ray or scan that uses an injected dye.[1] We do not treat anyone who is pregnant.
In your questionnaire, list any kidney problems, how much alcohol you drink, any history of low B12, the medicines you take and any upcoming scans.
How Getting Metformin Online Works
You answer a questionnaire about your health, your medicines and why you are interested in metformin. A licensed clinician then reviews your written answers. To learn more about how this works, see what an asynchronous online visit is.
If the clinician decides metformin is appropriate, the prescription goes to the pharmacy you chose, usually within 1 to 2 hours. You pay for the medication at the pharmacy, the same way you would with a prescription from your own doctor. If metformin is not a good fit, the clinician will not prescribe it. Our wellness and longevity page lists the other treatments we offer.
FAQ
Is metformin approved for anti-aging?
Not officially. Metformin is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, so using it for healthy aging is off-label.[3] Even so, a growing body of research suggests its benefits may reach beyond blood sugar. People with type 2 diabetes who started on metformin lived longer, on average, than matched people without diabetes,[4] and it has extended lifespan in worms and some studies of mice.[5] Those results are why researchers chose metformin for TAME, a large trial designed to test whether it delays age-related diseases in older adults.[2]
Which doctors prescribe metformin for anti-aging online?
Some telehealth services have licensed clinicians who will consider metformin off-label for healthy aging. Our clinicians include board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners and other licensed healthcare professionals. They review your questionnaire and prescribe metformin only if it is appropriate for you.
How long does metformin take to work for longevity?
No one knows yet, because no completed human trial has measured it.[2] What the research does show is that it is studied as a long-term, daily medicine. In the large UK study, people were followed while they stayed on metformin,[4] and TAME is planned as a six-year trial.[2] Any benefit for healthy aging is being studied with continued use over years, not a short course.
Does metformin extend lifespan in people without diabetes?
That is what researchers want to find out. The human survival data so far come from people with type 2 diabetes,[4] and the TAME trial, designed to test older adults without diabetes, has not yet launched.[2]
Request Metformin Online
A licensed clinician reviews your answers and, if metformin is right for you, sends the prescription to your pharmacy within 1 to 2 hours.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. “Metformin.” Drug information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a696005.html
- American Federation for Aging Research. “The TAME Trial.” https://www.afar.org/research/TAME/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Glucophage (metformin hydrochloride) tablets and Glucophage XR extended-release tablets.” Prescribing information, 2017. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020357s037s039,021202s021s023lbl.pdf
- Bannister CA, Holden SE, Jenkins-Jones S, et al. “Can people with type 2 diabetes live longer than those without? A comparison of mortality in people initiated with metformin or sulphonylurea monotherapy and matched, non-diabetic controls.” Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2014. Accepted manuscript, Swansea University. https://cronfa.swansea.ac.uk/Record/cronfa27264
- Mohammed I, Hollenberg MD, Ding H, Triggle CR. “A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan.” Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8374068/
