PHENFORMIN Meaning and
Definition
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Phenformin is a pharmaceutical drug that belongs to the class of medications called biguanides. It is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the body's inability to properly utilize insulin.
As a biguanide, phenformin works by decreasing the production of glucose in the liver and improving the body's sensitivity to insulin, thereby enhancing its ability to transport glucose into the cells. This helps to lower and regulate blood sugar levels in individuals affected by type 2 diabetes.
Phenformin is typically taken orally in the form of tablets or capsules, and the dosage is usually tailored to the individual patient's needs, taking into consideration factors such as age, weight, and overall health condition. The medication is typically taken two to three times per day, with or after meals.
It is important to note that the use of phenformin has significantly declined in recent years due to the emergence of safer alternatives with fewer side effects. This is because phenformin has been associated with an increased risk of lactic acidosis, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when there is a buildup of lactate in the body. As a result, phenformin is no longer a commonly prescribed medication for diabetes management and has been largely replaced by other more widely accepted treatments.
Common Misspellings for PHENFORMIN
- ohenformin
- lhenformin
- -henformin
- 0henformin
- pgenformin
- pbenformin
- pnenformin
- pjenformin
- puenformin
- pyenformin
- phwnformin
- phsnformin
- phdnformin
- phrnformin
- ph4nformin
- ph3nformin
- phebformin
- phemformin
- phejformin
- phehformin
Etymology of PHENFORMIN
The word "Phenformin" is derived from two components: "phen" and "formin".
1. "Phen" is a combining form that originated from the Greek word "phaino", meaning "to appear" or "to show". In the context of pharmaceuticals, "phen" is often used to indicate properties related to stimulating or influencing the central nervous system.
2. "Formin" is derived from the chemical term "formic acid". "Formic acid" originated from the Latin word "formica", meaning "ant". Formic acid was first isolated from the distillation of ants in experiments conducted by English naturalist John Ray in the late 17th century. Thus, "formic acid" is associated with ants.
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