Table of Medications - Diabetes Education Online (2024)

STIMULATORS OF INSULIN RELEASE (Insulin Secretagogues) – increase insulin secretion from the pancreas¹SULFONYLUREAS (SFUs)Tolbutamide

• Orinase®
• various generics

1957500 mg tabletsInitial: 1000-2000 mg daily

Range: 250-3000 mg

(seldom need >2000 mg/day)

Dose: Taken two or three times daily

SE: hypoglycemia, weight gain

Preferred SFU for elderly

Must be taken 2-3 times daily

Glimepiride

• Amaryl®
• various generics

11/951 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg tabletsInitial: 1-2 mg daily

Range: 1-8 mg

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: hypoglycemia, weight gain

Need to take only once daily

Glipizide

• Glucotrol®
• Glucotrol XL®
• various generics

5/84

4/94

5 mg, 10 mg tablets

ER: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg tablets

Initial: 5 mg daily

Range: 2.5-40 mg² (20 mg for XL)

Dose: Taken once or twice (if >15 mg) daily

SE: hypoglycemia, weight gain

Preferred SFU for elderly

ER = extended release/take once a day

Glyburide

• Micronase®, DiaBeta®
• various generics

5/841.25 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg tabletsInitial: 2.5-5 mg daily

Range: 1.25-20 mg²

Dose: Taken once or twice daily

SE: hypoglycemia, weight gainGlyburide, micronized

• Glynase PresTab®
• various generics

3/921.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg, 6 mg

micronized tablets

Initial: 1.5-3 mg daily

Range: 0.75-12 mg

Dose: Taken once or twice (if >6 mg) daily

SE: hypoglycemia, weight gainGLINIDESRepaglinide

• Prandin®

12/970.5 mg (white), 1 mg (yellow), 2 mg

(red) tablets

Initial: 1-2 mg daily

(0.5 mg if A1C <8%)

Range: 0.5-16 mg

Max dose per meal is 4 mg

Dose: Taken two, three, or four times daily

SE: hypoglycemia

Safe for elderly

Duration of action is only 4 hours

Take within 15-30 minutes of meal

Nateglinide

• Starlix®

12/0060 mg (pink), 120 mg (yellow) tabletsInitial: 120 mg three times daily

(if A1C close to goal, use 60 mg)

Range: 180-360 mg

Dose: Taken three times daily

SE: hypoglycemia

Safe for elderly

Duration of action is only 2 hours

Take within 30 minutes of meal

EUGLYCEMICS: Medicines that bring the blood glucose into the normal range. These medicines should not cause hypoglycemia.³BIGUANIDES: decreases glucose release from liver; decreases intestinal absorption of glucose; improves insulin sensitivity (increases glucose uptake and utilization)

Metformin

• Glucophage®
• Extended release (ER):
  • Glucophage XR®
  • Fortamet®
  • Glumetza
• Riomet® (liquid, 500 mg/5ml)

12/94

10/00

Glucophage: 500 mg, 850 mg, 1000 mg tablets

Glucophage XR: 500 mg, 750 mg tablets

Fortamet: 500 mg, 1000 mg tablets

Glumetza: 500 mg, 1000 mg tablets

Generic metformin ER: 500 mg, 750 mg tablets

Initial: 500 mg twice daily or 850 mg once daily

Range: 500-2550 mg

Dose: Taken two or three times daily

ER: Initial: 500 mg once daily

Range: 500-2000 mg

Dosed once daily

SE: Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach), metallic taste (3%),

lactic acidosis (0.03 cases/1000 people)^4,5

Take with meals (ER with evening meal)

Cannot use if have liver or kidney problems, take a drug to treat heart failure, or drink alcohol excessively

ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS: STARCH BLOCKERS – delay digestion and absorption of carbohydratesAcarbose

• Precose®
• various generics

9/9525 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg tabletsInitial: 25 mg three times daily

Range: 75-300 mg

(max 150 mg if <60 kg)

Dose: Taken three times daily

SE: flatulence

Take with first bite of meal

Start with low dose and slowly ­ to minimize GI intolerance.

THIAZOLIDINEDIONES (Glitazones or TZDs): decrease insulin resistance in the body (muscle and fat tissues)Pioglitazone (preferred over rosiglitazone)

• Actos®

7/9915 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg

(white to off-white) tablets

Initial: 15-30 mg daily

Range: 15-45 mg

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: anemia, swelling (edema) from fluid retention, weight gain, macular edema (in eye), bone loss and fractures in women

May cause or worsen heart failure

Cannot use if have liver problems or severe heart failure

Requires liver monitoring⁶

Rosiglitazone

• Avandia®

5/992 mg (pink), 4 mg (orange), 8 mg

(red-brown) tablets

Initial: 4 mg daily

Range: 4-8 mg

Dose: Taken once or twice daily

SE: anemia, swelling (edema) from fluid retention, weight gain, macular edema (in eye), bone loss and fractures in women

May increase­ risk of heart problems such as heart-related chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction)

May cause or worsen heart failure

Cannot use if have liver problems or severe heart failure

Requires liver monitoring⁶

GLP-1 ANALOGS: increase insulin secretion, reduce glucose release from liver after meals, delay food emptying from stomach and promote satietyExenatide

• Byetta®

4/055 mcg per dose and 10 mcg per dose

Injected under the skin (subcutaneous/SQ)

Available as a pen device

Initial: 5 mcg SQ twice daily

Range: up to 10 mcg SQ twice daily

Dose: Taken twice daily

SE: nausea, headache, hypoglycemia (when used with insulin secretagogues)

Rare reports of sudden pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas)

May cause mild weight loss

Liraglutide

• Victoza®

01/103 mL pen that delivers doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg

Injected under the skin (subcutaneous/SQ)

Available as a pen device

Initial: 0.6 mg SQ once daily

Range: up to 1.8 mg SQ once daily

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: nausea, headache, diarrhea, hypoglycemia (when used with insulin secretagogues)

Rare reports of sudden pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas). Cannot be used if have history of medullary thyroid cancer

Albiglutide

• Tanzeum®

04/14

30mg or 50mg per dose

Injected under the skin (subcutaneous/SQ)

Requires reconstitution

Available in dose-specific single-dose pen
devices

Initial: 30mg once weekly

Range: can increase to 50mg once weekly
if inadequate response

SE: injection site reaction, nausea, diarrhea, upper respiratory
infection.

Rare reports of pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas);
cannot be used if have history of medullary thyroid cancer.

Dulaglutide

• Trulicity®

09/14

0.75 mg or 1.5 mg per dose

Injected under the skin (subcutaneous/SQ)

Available in dose-specific, single-dose pen devices.

Initial: 0.75 mg once weekly

Range: may increase up to 1.5 mg once
weekly if inadequate response

SE: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain

Cannot use if family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
(MTC) or if have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type
2 (MEN2)

Rare reports of pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas);
cannot be used if have history of medullary thyroid cancer

DPP-4 INHIBITORS: increase insulin secretion, reduce glucose release from liver after mealsAlogliptin

• Nesina®

01/136.25mg (light pink), 12.5mg (yellow), 25mg
(light red) tablets 25mg PO daily.
Taken once daily.SE:

stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, upper
respiratory infection, rare severe allergic reactions (swelling of
tongue, throat, face or body; severe rash)

rare reports of
pancreatitis

No weight gain

Sitagliptin

• Januvia®

11/0625 mg (pink), 50 mg (light beige),

100 mg (beige) tablets

Initial: 100 mg daily

Range: 25-100 mg daily

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: runny nose, upper respiratory infection, rare severe allergic reactions (swelling of tongue, throat, face or body; severe rash)

No weight gain; Lower doses used if kidney problems

Saxagliptin

• Onglyza®

7/092.5 mg (pale to light yellow), 5 mg (pink) tabletsInitial: 2.5 or 5 mg daily

Range: 2.5-5 mg daily

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, headache

No weight gain; Lower doses used if kidney problems

Linagliptin

• Tradjenta®

5/115mg (light red) tabletInitial: 5 mg daily

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: runny nose, sore throat, rare reports of pancreatitis, rare severe allergic reactions, no weight gain;SGLT2 inhibitors: increase glucose excretion in the urine Canagliflozin

• Invokana®

03/13100mg (yellow, capsule-shaped), 300mg
(white, capsule-shaped) tablets Initial: 100mg daily

Range: 100-300mg daily

Dose: Taken once daily

SE: increased urination or urgency, lower blood pressure,
dizziness, genital yeast infections, urinary tract infections
increase in blood potassium; rare severe allergic reactions
(swelling of tongue, throat, face or body; severe rash)
Cannot use if have kidney problemsDapagliflozin

• Farxiga®

01/145mg (yellow, round shaped), 10mg (yellow,
diamond shaped) tablets Initial: 5mg once daily

Range: up to 10mg daily

SE: increased urination or urgency, lower blood pressure,
dizziness, genital yeast infections, urinary tract infections
increase in blood potassium; rare severe allergic reactions
(swelling of tongue, throat, face or body; severe rash)

Cannot use if have kidney problems

Empagliflozin

• Jardiance®

08/1410mg (pale, beige, round), 25mg (pale, beige
oblong) tablets Initial: 10mg once daily

Range: up to 25mg daily

SE: increased urination or urgency, lower blood pressure,
dizziness, genital yeast infections, urinary tract infections
increase in blood potassium; rare severe allergic reactions
(swelling of tongue, throat, face or body; severe rash)

Cannot use if have kidney problems

COMBINATION ORAL PILLSAlogliptin/Metformin

• Kazano®

01/1312.5mg/500mg (pale yellow), 12.5mg/1000mg
(pale yellow) oblong tabletsInitial: 12.5mg/500mg once or twice daily

Range: up to 25/2000 Taken twice daily with food.

Same as above with alogliptin and metformin Alogliptin/Pioglitazone

• Oseni®

01/1312.5mg/15mg (pale yellow), 12.5mg/30mg (pale peach),
12.5mg/45mg (pale red), 25mg/15mg (yellow), 25mg/30mg
(peach), 25mg/45mg (red) round tablets Initial: 12.5mg/15mg once daily

Range: up to 25/45 mg Taken once daily with or without food.

Same as above with alogliptin and pioglitazone Empagliflozin/Linagliptin

• Glyxambi®

02/1510mg/5mg (pale yellow), 25mg/5mg (pale pink) triangular
tablets Initial: 10mg/5mg once daily

Range: up to 25mg/5mg once daily

Same as above with empagliflozin and linagliptinEmpagliflozin/Metformin

• Synjardy®

01/155mg/500mg (orange yellow), 5mg/1000mg (brownish yellow),
12.5mg/500mg (pale brownish purple), 12.5mg/1000mg (dark
brownish purple) oval film-coated tablet Initial: 5mg/500mg or 5mg/1000mg

Range: up to 25mg/2000mg
Taken in 2 divided doses

Same as above with empagliflozin and
metformin Canagliflozin/Metformin

• Invokamet®

08/1450mg/500mg (white), 50mg/1000mg (beige), 150mg/500mg
(yellow), 150mg/1000mg (purple) capsule-shaped film-coated
tablets Initial: 50mg/500mg or 50mg/1000mg

Range: up to 300mg/2000mg
Taken in 2 divided doses

Same as above with canagliflozin and metforminDapagliflozin/Metformin XR

• Xigduo XR®

10/145mg/500mg (orange), 5mg/1000mg (pink to dark pink),
10mg/500mg (pink), 10mg/1000mg (yellow to dark yellow) oval
film-coated tablet Initial: base on patient’s current regimen

Range: up to 10mg/2000mg daily

Same as above with dapagliflozin and metformin Glyburide/Metformin

• Glucovance®
• various generics

7/00 1.25 mg/250 mg, 2.5 mg/500 mg, 5 mg/500 mg tablets Initial: 1.25 mg/250 mg once or twice daily

Range: up to – 20/2000 mg

Dose: Taken once or twice daily

Same as above with glyburide and metforminGlipizide/Metformin

• Metaglip®
• various generics

10/022.5 mg/250 mg, 2.5mg/500 mg, 5mg/500 mg tablets Initial: 2.5 mg/250 mg daily or 2.5mg/500 mg twice daily

Range: up to 20/2000 mg

Dose: Taken once or twice daily

Same as above with glipizide and metforminLinagliptin/Metformin

• Jentadueto®

01/122.5mg/500mg (light yellow), 2.5mg/850mg (light orange, oval),
2.5mg/1000mg (light pink) oval tablets Initial:

2.5mg/500mg twice daily with food

Range:

up to 2.5mg/1000mg twice daily with
food.

Same as above with linagliptin and metformin Rosiglitazone/Metformin

• Avandamet®
• various generics

10/022 mg/500 mg (pale pink), 2 mg/1000 mg (yellow), 4 mg/500 mg (orange), 4 mg/1000 mg (pink) oval tabletsInitial: 2 mg/5000 mg once or twice daily

Range: up to 8 mg/2000 mg

Dose: Taken twice daily

Same as above with metformin and rosiglitazonePioglitazone/Metformin

• ActoPlus Met®
• various generics

8/0515 mg/500 mg, 15 mg/850 mg (white to off-white) oblong tabletsInitial: 15 mg/500 mg or 15 mg/850 mg once or twice daily

Range: up to 45 mg/2550 mg

Dosed once or twice daily

Same as above with metformin and pioglitazonePioglitazone/Glimepiride

• Duetact®

7/0630 mg/2 mg, 30 mg/4 mg (white to off-white) tabletsInitial: 30 mg/2 mg or 30 mg/4 mg once daily

Range: max of one tablet daily

Dose: Taken once daily

Same as above with pioglitazone and glimepirideRosiglitazone/Glimepiride

• Avandryl®
• various generics

11/054 mg/1 mg (yellow), 4 mg/2 mg (orange), 4 mg/4 mg (pink) rounded triangle tabletsInitial: 4 mg/1 mg or 4 mg/2 mg once daily

Range: up to 8 mg/4 mg

Dose: Taken once daily

Same as above with rosiglitazone and glimepirideSitagliptin/Metformin

• Janumet®

03/07
50 mg/500 mg (light pink), 50 mg/1000mg

(red) oblong tablets

Initial: 50 mg/500 mg or 50 mg/1000 mg twice daily

Range: up to 100 mg/2000 mg

Same as above/below with sitagliptin and metforminSitagliptin/Metformin

• Janumet XR®

2/1250 mg/500 mg (light blue), 50 mg/1000 mg (light green),

100
mg/ 1000 mg (blue) oval tablets

Initial: 100 mg/1000 mg daily

Range: up to 100 mg/2000 mg daily

Dose: Taken once daily

Same as above/below with sitagliptin and metforminRepaglinide/Metformin

• PrandiMet®

06/081 mg/500 mg (yellow), 2 mg/500 mg (pink) tabletsInitial: 1 mg/500 mg twice daily

Range: 10 mg/2500 mg, Max per dose

4 mg/1000 mg

Dose: Taken twice or three times daily

Same as above with repaglinide and metforminPioglitazone/Metformin XR

• ActoPlus Met XR®

05/0915 mg/1000 mg, 30 mg/1000 mg (white to off-white) round tabletsInitial: 15 mg/1000 mg or 30 mg/1000 mg once daily

Range: up to 45 mg/2000 mg

Dose: Taken once daily

Same as above with metformin and pioglizatoneSaxagliptin/Metformin XR

• Kombiglyze XR®

11/105 mg/500 mg (light brown to brown), 5 mg/1000 mg (pink), 2.5 mg/1000 mg (pale yellow to light yellow) capsule-shaped tabletsInitial: 5 mg/500 mg or 5 mg/1000 mg once daily

Range: up to 5 mg / 2000 mg

Dose: Taken once daily

Same as above with metformin and saxagliptin