Glucophage - Greek for "sugar eater" is Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's brand name for metformin hydrochloride tablets. It is a prescription-only medicine distributed in 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg doses.
Glucophage is an oral antihyperglycemic drug used in the management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes). It is much better than insulin shots (for type 2 only, unfortunately), because it stimulates one's pancreas to produce its own insulin naturally. That means the body will rarely produce too much insulin, so hypoglycemia or weight gain are not likely to result.
There are virtually no side effect, except for people with kidney problems, most of whom should not take Glucophage. A small number of these patients have developed a serious condition called lactic acidosis. About 50% of those died.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, pharmacologist, or a lawyer. I use Glucophage as prescribed by my doctor, and probably would not be alive by now if I did not.