Introduced in the 1950s to treat type 2 diabetes, Biguanides class drugs at the time included Phenformin and Buformin, but both were taken off the market in most countries due to the elevated risk of lactic acidosis (Buformin was never sold in the U.S., but is still available in Hungary, Taiwan and Japan). Metformin, to which these other drugs are related, is the drug of choice for treating diabetes. Biguanides class of drugs also includes Proguanil, used to treat malaria. Metformin is used to reduce blood sugar in type 2 diabetics, and is also in cases of prediabetes, especially with people who are overweight, to help prevent full-blown diabetes. It can also help with weight loss and high cholesterol. It works by decreasing the liver’s sugar production, increasing absorption of sugar by cells in the muscles, and also decreases the body’s insulin needs. It does not have any effect on …