# Metformin

11 Hacker News commenters recommended Metformin and 5 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Cheap, out-of-patent diabetes drug that people find works well and is very safe, though side effects like diarrhea are the common caveat.

## Why people recommend it

- Works well for many people (4 comments): "I was surprised to find that I got faster after I started taking metformin" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45825629)) "fortunately metformin actually seems to be doing the job" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46930687)) "its OTC, xtremelly safe and and it works" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49328698))
- Very safe with few side effects (3 comments): "Metformin being very safe with the exception of a few edge cases, while providing exceptional benefit" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46378688)) "Metformin's side effects are pretty minor, I find." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46061462)) "its OTC, xtremelly safe and and it works" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49328698))
- Cheap and out of patent (2 comments): "metformin is out of patent and super cheap, and I read that at least some people have had good success using it for weight loss" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50107521)) "Cheap, effective, legal. You get to pick 2 (in the US)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46844647))

## What people warn about

- Side effects, including diarrhea (3 comments): "the drawback of possible side effects outweighs the potential benefit" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46060567)) "If you ever miss having diarrhea then it is good for that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47907625)) "It has negative side effects in many people" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49331720))

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Metformin", https://hackerapproved.com/p/metformin/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).