Metformin is used by 50 million Americans for diabetes. The drug has been in use for over 20 years. Its major side-effect is diarrhea. A year's supply can be obtained for $50.
It is safer than aspirin.
Safer than ibuprofen.
BUT, it is a "prescription" drug.
That means that if the average doctor takes just 5 minutes to write a prescription, if the average patient requires an hour for the doctor's visit to get the prescription, if the doctor's office visit costs $150:
Doctors waste 2083 YEARS of their time just writing the prescriptions.
Patients waste 25,000 man-years just going to the doctor's office for the prescription.
Patients spend $7,500,000,000 on unneeded doctors visits.
For a drug that's safer than aspirin.
REMOVE THIS DRUG FROM THE FDA PRESCRIPTION-ONLY LIST!