hGH + Metformin: A Good Thing. (Metformin does not lower, but rather increases IGF-1)

[sciroxx-lab]

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First off – I’d recommend splitting your HGH dose into two daily injections. You can read more about it here: HGH-optimal-usage-guide.


In short, twice-daily HGH has been shown to produce higher IGF-1 levels while also reducing side effects — especially in your case, where insulin sensitivity is a concern. Splitting the dose leads to a much smaller spike in blood glucose compared to a single large shot.


On the metformin side:

• Metformin’s elimination half-life in blood plasma is about 4–6 hours for the immediate-release form.
• In liver tissue (where it actually works), the half-life is around 17 hours, which is why its glucose-lowering effect lasts much longer than blood levels might suggest.
• For extended-release (ER) metformin, absorption is slower, giving you steadier levels over 8–12 hours.

Because of that, most people take metformin:

• Immediate-release: 2–3 times daily
• Extended-release: once or twice daily

Practical tips:

• The main limiting factor for most people is digestive side effects (gas, bloating, diarrhea), so start with trial and error to see what you tolerate.
• It’s generally best taken with food — and works optimally when taken around a big meal.

Example schedule:

• AM: HGH on an empty stomach → metformin with your first meal.
• PM: HGH close to bedtime → metformin a bit before, with your last substantial meal.

This way, you’re keeping IGF-1 levels high, managing insulin sensitivity, and reducing the risk of glucose spikes from HGH.

 

[Froggmann213]

Thank you for your insight, I was not aware there was a IR and ER version of Metformin. I pretty sure the one I have is IR after searching online it says it would be labeled as ER or XR for extended release. Mine does not have this labeling. It sounds like the ER would be more beneficial for me as the glucose spike seems to only be in the morning when checking fasted glucose. I have currently stopped the GH to do a reset with my body and reintroduce the GH starting with 1iu and tirate up. This time I will monitor my glucose before, at start and during to see the changes in levels of both glucose and IGF-1 levels and at what doses. The only other symptoms I experienced was frequent nighttime urination ( in line with the glucose spike) and trigger finger in the morning. Hopefully this reset helps me figure what adjustments I need to make. I was really starting to see some results and would like to continue.

 

[KingOfSushi]

Fasted glucose has varied from 102 to 115

Check your post prandials

 

[sciroxx-lab]

Thank you for your insight, I was not aware there was a IR and ER version of Metformin. I pretty sure the one I have is IR after searching online it says it would be labeled as ER or XR for extended release. Mine does not have this labeling. It sounds like the ER would be more beneficial for me as the glucose spike seems to only be in the morning when checking fasted glucose. I have currently stopped the GH to do a reset with my body and reintroduce the GH starting with 1iu and tirate up. This time I will monitor my glucose before, at start and during to see the changes in levels of both glucose and IGF-1 levels and at what doses. The only other symptoms I experienced was frequent nighttime urination ( in line with the glucose spike) and trigger finger in the morning. Hopefully this reset helps me figure what adjustments I need to make. I was really starting to see some results and would like to continue.

Sounds like you’re taking a very smart approach with the reset and gradual reintroduction.
If your fasted glucose spike is mainly in the morning, you’re right — ER metformin could give you steadier overnight coverage compared to IR, since it’s still active in the liver for that longer window.


When you restart GH, you might want to try splitting even the low starting dose into AM/PM right from the beginning — this often helps keep fasting glucose more stable while still letting IGF-1 climb.


Another option worth considering is trialing IGF-1 itself. It’s been shown to have insulinemic effects, can help restore insulin sensitivity, and may further balance glucose levels when used strategically. I broke down the details here: IGF-1 vs HGH


The nighttime urination + morning trigger finger could indeed be linked to transient glucose elevation from GH, so tracking them along with your glucose and IGF-1 will give you some very useful data.