Metformin Osmotic

what is the osm type of metformin er can't find anything on it and my NP can't either except it costs very much ## OSM is used to designate it as being osmotic, it's used to make sure that you get a maximum extended/time released formulation of the medication. That's why it costs more, it's not a typical generic, because it doesn't have the usual leeway that they are allowed to have, it is tested more rigorously and adheres to much stricter release requirements. Is there anything else I can help with?

1 REPLY

I took the generic version, did not agree with me (muscle pain). I switched to fortament recently but the 2 pills look exactly the same. What is the visual difference between these 2 meds? I know metformin is generic & fortamet is a brand name. I would like to know the difference in what they look like, please. ## Hello, Elle! How are you? What are the markings on them? I bet that if you look, they are different between the generic and name brand. Visually, what they look like means nothing, what tells them apart are the markings on them and the formulation of them. Can you please post back with ore details? Thanks!

1 REPLY

Dr ordered Metformin HCL ER 24hr 500mG (OSM) and the mail order pharmacy is sending Fortamet.500mG Is there a difference between what the Dr ordered and the generic Metformin HCL ER 24 ?.......I know that Fortamet is a brand and costs much more than the generic.Metformin HCL ER 24 hrs.......Waht does the (OSM) indicate? ## The Fortamet is the same as what your doctor prescribed, it is just a name brand, rather than a generic. Learn more Metformin details here. From what I can find, the OSM stands for Osmotic, it is used to stress that you get a maximized extended release version, which is what the Fortamet is. Are there any other questions or comments?

1 REPLY

I regularly take Fortamet 500 mg ER and about 3 years ago tried the lesser expensive Metformin 500 mg ER. The Metformin did not work nearly as well as Fortamet. 1) Why would that be? 2) Are there assistance programs to help offset the high cost of the brand Fortamet? Thank you! ## Hello, Lindy! How are you? There are some generics that are osmotic, this means that precise testing and formulating is done to ensure that they match very closely with the name brand, but that does not apply to all of them. Basically the cheaper a generic gets, the more leeway is taken, thus you may have gotten one that was still time released, but had enough differences to keep it from working well for you, especially if your body was used to the name brand. And unfortunately, I am not finding any assistance...

1 REPLY

Metformin 500 mg.--not the osmotic form..used in type 2 diabetes..is there a pharmacy in Milwaukee, Wi. or mail order co. that carries the Metformin--500 mg. from Watson Lab? ## I'm sorry, but there's no central database of which pharmacy anywhere, whether brick&mortar or mail order, carries any given medication by any certain manufacturer. Such information would be dynamic and very hard to keep updated, anyway. Have you tried asking your pharmacy if they can order it in for you? Do you have a problem taking the other ones?

1 REPLY