Key takeaways
Metformin and glyburide/metformin are both used to manage type 2 diabetes, but they have some key differences. Metformin lowers blood sugar by reducing the amount of sugar your body makes and absorbs, and by helping your body use insulin better. Glyburide/metformin combines metformin with glyburide, which stimulates your pancreas to release more insulin. This combination can be more effective at lowering blood sugar than metformin by itself, but it has a higher risk of making blood sugar too low (hypoglycemia). On the other hand, metformin alone rarely causes low blood sugar. Both medications can cause stomach side effects and should be taken with meals to avoid stomach upset. Additionally, excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of a serious side effect called lactic acidosis for both medications. Glyburide/metformin isn’t recommended for people with severe kidney or liver problems, and has a higher risk of causing heart problems compared to metformin alone.
