Metformin — what it treats, what it costs

What it should cost to fill

Strength	Cash price	With a discount card
500 mg tablet	$4 – $35	$3 – $13
1000 mg tablet	$5 – $40	$4 – $15
500 mg extended-release	$10 – $80	$7 – $25
1000 mg extended-release	$12 – $90	$8 – $28

Typical retail ranges, not quotes. What you are charged depends on the pharmacy and on how the claim is processed — which is exactly why it is worth asking.

Where the money goes

On every $4 generic list. Almost nobody should be paying real money for immediate-release metformin.
Ask whether your dose can be met with fewer, larger tablets — two 500s and one 1000 are not the same price.

What else there is

Not recommendations. The tradeoff matters more than the name, and it is the part a prescriber will want to talk about.

Extended-release metforminDifferent class

Costs a little more but is much easier on the stomach. If nausea is why you stopped taking it, this is the change to ask about before abandoning the drug.

Worth asking

If my stomach cannot tolerate this, can I try the extended-release version?

Before you change anything.