diff --git a/sdk/metric/doc.go b/sdk/metric/doc.go
index 4f553a57153..90a4ae16c1a 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/doc.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/doc.go
@@ -31,6 +31,14 @@
 // is being run on. That way when multiple instances of the code are collected
 // at a single endpoint their origin is decipherable.
 //
+// To avoid leaking memory, the SDK returns the same instrument for calls to
+// create new instruments with the same Name, Unit, and Description.
+// Importantly, callbacks provided using metric.WithFloat64Callback or
+// metric.WithInt64Callback will only apply for the first instrument created
+// with a given Name, Unit, and Description. Instead, use
+// Meter.RegisterCallback and Registration.Unregister to add and remove
+// callbacks without leaking memory.
+//
 // See [go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric] for more information about
 // the metric API.
 //
diff --git a/sdk/metric/meter.go b/sdk/metric/meter.go
index 479b7610eb1..2309e5b2b0f 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/meter.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/meter.go
@@ -185,6 +185,11 @@ func (m *meter) Int64ObservableCounter(name string, options ...metric.Int64Obser
 // configured with options. The instrument is used to asynchronously record
 // int64 measurements once per a measurement collection cycle. Only the
 // measurements recorded during the collection cycle are exported.
+//
+// If Int64ObservableUpDownCounter is invoked repeatedly with the same Name,
+// Description, and Unit, only the first set of callbacks provided are used.
+// Use meter.RegisterCallback and Registration.Unregister to manage callbacks
+// if instrumentation can be created multiple times with different callbacks.
 func (m *meter) Int64ObservableUpDownCounter(name string, options ...metric.Int64ObservableUpDownCounterOption) (metric.Int64ObservableUpDownCounter, error) {
 	cfg := metric.NewInt64ObservableUpDownCounterConfig(options...)
 	id := Instrument{
@@ -201,6 +206,11 @@ func (m *meter) Int64ObservableUpDownCounter(name string, options ...metric.Int6
 // configured with options. The instrument is used to asynchronously record
 // instantaneous int64 measurements once per a measurement collection cycle.
 // Only the measurements recorded during the collection cycle are exported.
+//
+// If Int64ObservableGauge is invoked repeatedly with the same Name,
+// Description, and Unit, only the first set of callbacks provided are used.
+// Use meter.RegisterCallback and Registration.Unregister to manage callbacks
+// if instrumentation can be created multiple times with different callbacks.
 func (m *meter) Int64ObservableGauge(name string, options ...metric.Int64ObservableGaugeOption) (metric.Int64ObservableGauge, error) {
 	cfg := metric.NewInt64ObservableGaugeConfig(options...)
 	id := Instrument{
@@ -334,6 +344,11 @@ func (m *meter) Float64ObservableCounter(name string, options ...metric.Float64O
 // and configured with options. The instrument is used to asynchronously record
 // float64 measurements once per a measurement collection cycle. Only the
 // measurements recorded during the collection cycle are exported.
+//
+// If Float64ObservableUpDownCounter is invoked repeatedly with the same Name,
+// Description, and Unit, only the first set of callbacks provided are used.
+// Use meter.RegisterCallback and Registration.Unregister to manage callbacks
+// if instrumentation can be created multiple times with different callbacks.
 func (m *meter) Float64ObservableUpDownCounter(name string, options ...metric.Float64ObservableUpDownCounterOption) (metric.Float64ObservableUpDownCounter, error) {
 	cfg := metric.NewFloat64ObservableUpDownCounterConfig(options...)
 	id := Instrument{
@@ -350,6 +365,11 @@ func (m *meter) Float64ObservableUpDownCounter(name string, options ...metric.Fl
 // configured with options. The instrument is used to asynchronously record
 // instantaneous float64 measurements once per a measurement collection cycle.
 // Only the measurements recorded during the collection cycle are exported.
+//
+// If Float64ObservableGauge is invoked repeatedly with the same Name,
+// Description, and Unit, only the first set of callbacks provided are used.
+// Use meter.RegisterCallback and Registration.Unregister to manage callbacks
+// if instrumentation can be created multiple times with different callbacks.
 func (m *meter) Float64ObservableGauge(name string, options ...metric.Float64ObservableGaugeOption) (metric.Float64ObservableGauge, error) {
 	cfg := metric.NewFloat64ObservableGaugeConfig(options...)
 	id := Instrument{