8 Types of Oral Diabetes Medications and How They Work
Oral diabetes medications help manage blood sugar levels in those with diabetes. Learn the types of oral medications and how they keep glucose levels stable.
glyburide
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Gestational Diabetes
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Gestational Diabetes
Glyburide is taken by mouth to lower blood sugar levels for people who have Type 2 diabetes. This medication isn't meant to be taken alone, but in addition to eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise. Glyburide is typically taken once or twice daily, depending on your dose.
What is Glyburide?
What is Glyburide used for?
- Type 2 diabetes
How Glyburide works
Glyburide is in a class of medications known as sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas work by telling your pancreas to release insulin, which lowers your blood sugar.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Glynase |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Sulfonylurea |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Glyburide
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Feeling bloated
- Nausea
- Heartburn
Less Common Side Effects
- Weight gain
- Temporary allergic skin reactions, such as rash and redness
Glyburide serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe low blood sugar: anxiety, sweating, shaking, confusion, dizziness, weakness, fast heartbeat, feeling hungry, seizures
The following Glyburide side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
Abdominal or stomach pain
chills
clay-colored stools
dark urine
headache
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
unpleasant breath odor
upper right abdominal or stomach pain
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes and skin
Incidence not known
Agitation
back, leg, or stomach pains
bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
bloody, black, or tarry stools
blurred vision
change in near or distance vision
coma
confusion
convulsions
cough or hoarseness
decreased urine output
difficulty in focusing eyes
fast or irregular heartbeat
fluid-filled skin blisters
general body swelling
high fever
hostility
increased thirst
irritability
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
lethargy
lower back or side pain
muscle pain or cramps
muscle twitching
nosebleeds
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
rapid weight gain
sensitivity to the sun
skin thinness
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stupor
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
swollen or painful glands
unusual bleeding or bruising
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Difficulty with moving
joint pain
redness or other discoloration of the skin
severe sunburn
swollen joints
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$28.87
GoodRx discount
$11.43
Pros and cons of Glyburide
Pros
- Usually taken only once daily with largest meal
- Can lower A1C levels by 1.5%
- Taken by mouth, so good option for people who don't like injections
- Can be taken with some other blood sugar medications, such as metformin
Cons
- Risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if you have kidney or liver problems
- More likely to cause low blood sugar than other blood sugar medications, such as metformin
- Can cause some weight gain
- Not approved for Type 1 diabetes
Pharmacist tips for Glyburide
- Take glyburide with your first big meal of the day. It's important that you take this medication with food. Having an empty stomach and taking glyburide can cause your blood sugar to become too low. Talk to your provider or pharmacist if you're unsure about when to take or skip your medication.
- Glyburide can commonly cause your blood sugar to get too low. Symptoms of low blood sugar include feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, fast heartbeat, sweating or body chills, confusion, feeling sleepy, weakness or low energy, or feeling very hungry. If you experience these symptoms, test your blood sugar right away.
- If your blood sugar ever becomes too low (between 50 mg/dL and 70 mg/dL), then it's important that you eat 15 grams of fast-acting sugar to bring your blood sugar back above 70 mg/dL. Some examples of fast-acting sugar include: 4 glucose (sugar) tablets, 3-4 pieces of hard candy, one-half cup of fruit juice, or one-half can of regular soda. After eating 15 grams of fast-acting sugar, wait 15 minutes and recheck your blood sugar. If it's still below 70 mg/dL then eat another 15 grams of carbohydrates and call 911. Recheck your blood sugar levels again in 15 minutes while you wait for help to arrive.
- Caution drinking alcohol while taking glyburide because this can also cause your blood sugar levels to become too low.
- Glyburide can cause dizziness, so avoid activities that require coordination until you get used to the medication.
- Make sure to check your blood sugar regularly, and report changes to your provider. Depending on your blood sugar readings, your provider might need to adjust your dose of glyburide.
Risks and warnings for Glyburide
Glyburide can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Risk factors: Changes in diet and exercise | Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications that lower blood sugar | Age 65 years and older | Liver or kidney problems
Glyburide can lower your blood sugar to dangerously low levels, which can be life-threatening. Signs of low blood sugar include fast heartbeat, sweating, pale skin, shakiness, confusion, and irritability. Make sure to carry with you some form of fast-acting sugar at all times you're taking this medication because you can use these to raise your blood sugar if it becomes too low. Some examples of fast-acting sugars include: 4 glucose (sugar) tablets, 3-4 pieces of hard candy, one-half cup of fruit juice, or one-half can of regular soda. Talk to your provider or pharmacist if you have questions about this.
Possible risk of heart problems
There's a possibility that taking glyburide might raise the risk of death from heart problems. This specific warning was given about a medication called tolbutamide, which is in the same class (sulfonylureas) as glyburide. This means that other medications in the same class, like glyburide, might have the same risk for heart problems. Talk to your provider about the benefits and risks of taking glyburide to decide if it's the right medication for you.
Breakdown of red blood cells
Before taking glyburide, your healthcare provider might test you for a genetic condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. People with G6PD deficiency who take sulfonylureas like glyburide have a higher risk of low red blood cell counts (hemolytic anemia). This is when your red blood cells break down faster than your body is able to make new ones. You might be able to take glyburide with close monitoring of your blood cell counts through regular blood work. Stop the medication and let your provider know right away if you experience dark urine, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, or pale skin, as these can be signs of hemolytic anemia.
Glyburide dosage
The average cost for 90 tablets of 5mg of Glyburide is $18.95 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 64.14% off the average retail price of $52.84. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5mg | 90 tablets | $16.55 | $0.18 |
| 1.25mg | 90 tablets | $11.43 | $0.13 |
| 5mg | 90 tablets | $18.95 | $0.21 |
Typical dosage for Glyburide
-
Glyburide: The usual starting dose is 2.5 mg to 5 mg by mouth once daily with breakfast or the first main meal. Your provider will work with you to adjust your dose weekly until your blood sugar level is the target range. The typical maintenance dose ranges from 1.25 mg to 20 mg by mouth, either once daily or divided into smaller doses and taken twice daily. The maximum daily dose is 20 mg.
-
Micronized glyburide (Glynase and its generic): The usual starting dose is 1.5 mg to 3 mg by mouth once daily with breakfast or the first main meal. Your provider will work with you to adjust your dose weekly until your blood sugar level is the target range. The typical maintenance dose ranges from 0.75 mg to 12 mg by mouth, either once daily or divided into smaller doses and taken twice daily. The maximum daily dose is 12 mg.
Interactions between Glyburide and other drugs
Glyburide may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Glyburide. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acarbose
- Aspirin
- Balofloxacin
- Besifloxacin
- Chloroquine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Darolutamide
- Desmopressin
- Disopyramide
- Dulaglutide
- Enasidenib
- Enoxacin
- Entacapone
- Fleroxacin
- Flumequine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Lanreotide
- Leflunomide
- Letermovir
- Levofloxacin
- Lixisenatide
- Lomefloxacin
- Metreleptin
- Moxifloxacin
- Nadifloxacin
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Pasireotide
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Pioglitazone
- Porfimer
- Prulifloxacin
- Rufloxacin
- Simeprevir
- Sitagliptin
- Sparfloxacin
- Teriflunomide
- Thioctic Acid
- Tosufloxacin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Aminolevulinic Acid
- Atenolol
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bitter Melon
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Clarithromycin
- Colesevelam
- Cyclosporine
- Eltrombopag
- Esmolol
- Fenugreek
- Fluvastatin
- Furazolidone
- Gemfibrozil
- Glucomannan
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Labetalol
- Levobunolol
- Linezolid
- Methylene Blue
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Moclobemide
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nialamide
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Phenelzine
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Procarbazine
- Propranolol
- Psyllium
- Rasagiline
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Safinamide
- Saxagliptin
- Selegiline
- Sotalol
- Timolol
- Tranylcypromine
- Voriconazole
- Warfarin
How much does Glyburide cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Glyburide (generic)
$11.43
Glyburide contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Glyburide will not be safe for you to take.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Taking bosentan (Tracleer) at the same time
What are alternatives to Glyburide?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Glyburide. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Glyburide images
