ORAL AND NONINSULIN INJECTABLE ANTIDIABETIC MEDICATIONS1, 2
BRAND NAME / GENERIC NAME / DOSING RANGE / MECHANISM OF ACTION / ADVERSE EFFECTSBIGUANIDE
Glucophage®, Glucophage® XR / MetFORMIN /
- 500-1000 mg twice daily
 - Total dose given once daily for XR formulations
 - Use cautiously in patients with renal insufficiency
 
- Decreases hepatic glucose production, decreasing intestinal absorption of glucose
 - Improves insulin sensitivity
 
- Diarrhea
 - Gas
 - Nausea
 - Abdominal Pain
 - Hold for dehydration or if undergoing contrast dye procedures
 
SULFONYLUREA
Amaryl® / Glimeperide /
- 1-8 mg once daily
 
- Stimulates insulin release from pancreatic beta cells
 - Reduces glucose output from liver
 - Insulin sensitivity increased at peripheral targets
 
- Hypoglycemia
 - Nausea
 
Glucotrol®, Glucotrol XL® / GlipiZIDE /
- 5-10 mg twice daily
 
Diabeta®, Micronase® / GlyBURIDE /
- Micronized tablets: 1.5-12 mg twice daily
 - Conventional tablets: 2.5-20 mg twice daily
 
THIAZOLIDINEDIONE
Actos® / Pioglitazone /
- 15-45 mg once daily
 
- Improve target response to insulin
 
- Edema
 - Weight gain
 - Osteoporosis
 - Macular edema
 
Avandia® / Rosiglitazone /
- 5-20 mg once daily
 
MEGLITINIDE ANALOG
Starlix® / Nateglinide /
- 60-120 mg 3 times daily before meals
 
- Stimulate insulin release from pancreatic beta cells
 - Insulin release glucose-dependent
 
- Hypoglycemia
 
Prandin® / Repaglinide /
- 0.5-4 mg taken with meals
 
DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE IV (DPP-IV) INHIBITOR
Nesina™ / Alogliptin /
- 25 mg once daily
 
- Inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) enzyme prolonging active incretin levels
 - Incretin increases insulin synthesis from pancreatic beta cells and decreases glucagons levels
 
- Pancreatitis
 - Hypoglycemia
 
Tradjenta™ / Linagliptin /
- 5 mg once daily
 
Onglyza™ / Saxagliptin /
- 2.5-5 mg once daily
 
Januvia™ / Sitagliptin /
- 25-100 mg once daily
 
ALAPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITOR
Precose® / Acarbose /
- 25-100 mg three times daily at start of each meal
 
- Delay digestion of ingest carbohydrates resulting in smaller rise in blood glucose levels following meals
 
- Abdominal pain
 - Diarrhea
 - Flatulence
 
Glyset® / Miglitol /
- 25-100 mg three times daily at start of each meal
 
SODIUM-GLUCOSE CONTRANSPORTER 2 (SGLT2) INHIBITOR
Invokana® / Canagliflozin /
- 100-300 mg once daily
 
- Inhibit sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) in proximal renal tubules reducing reabsorption of filtered glucose from tubular lumen
 - Results in increased urinary excretion of glucose
 
- Female genital mycotic infections
 - Increased urination
 - Increased thirst
 - Dehydration
 - Possible worsening renal insufficency
 
Farxiga™ / Dapagliflozin /
- 5-10 mg once daily
 
Jardiance® / Empagliflozin /
- 10-25 mg once daily
 
GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE (GLP-1) RECEPTOR AGONIST
Tanzeum™ / Albiglutide /
- 30-50 mg once weekly subcutaneously
 
- Increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion
 - Decrease inappropriate glucagons secretion
 - Slow gastric emptying
 
- Hypoglycemia
 - Nausea
 - Decreased appetite
 
Trulicity / Dulaglutide /
- 0.75-1.5 mg once weekly subcutaneously
 
Byetta®, Bydureon® (extended-release for injectable suspension) / Exenatide /
- Immediate release: 5-10 mcg twice daily subcutaneously within 60 minutes prior to a meal
 - Extended release: 2 mg once weekly subcutaneously
 
Victoza® / Liraglutide /
- 0.6-1.8 mg once daily subcutaneously
 
AMYLINOMIMETIC
SymlinPen® / Pramlintide /
- 15-120 mcg prior to each major meal subcutaneously
 
- Used only in insulin requiring patients
 - Reduces postprandial glucose by prolonging gastric emptying time and reducing postprandial glucagons secretion
 - Centrally-mediated effects on appetite suppression
 
- Hypoglycemia
 - Nausea
 
References
- Lexi-Comp, Inc. (Lexi-Drugs® ). Lexi-Comp, Inc.; October 17, 2014
 - Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons [database online]. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc . Accessed October 17, 2014
 
