Formulations 

FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

STIMULATORS OF INSULIN RELEASE (Insulin

Secretagogues) – increase insulin secretion
from the pancreas1
SULFONYLUREAS (SFUs)
Tolbutamide  1957 500 mg tablets Initial: 1000-2000 SE: hypoglycemia
 Orinase® mg daily  , weight gain 
 various generics Range: 250-3000 Preferred SFU for
mg elderly
(seldom need >2000
mg/day) Must be taken
2-3 times daily
Dose: Taken two or
three times daily

Glimepiride  11/95 1 mg, 2 mg, 4 Initial: 1-2 mg daily  SE: hypoglycemia

 Amaryl® mg tablets Range: 1-8 mg , weight gain 
 various generics Dose: Taken once Need to take only
daily once daily

Glipizide  5/84  5 mg, 10 mg Initial: 5 mg daily  SE: hypoglycemia

 Glucotrol® 4/94 tablets  Range: 2.5-40 , weight gain 
 Glucotrol XL® ER: 2.5 mg, 5 mg2 (20 mg for XL) Preferred SFU for
 various generics mg, 10 mg Dose: Taken once or elderly
tablets twice (if >15 mg)
daily ER = extended
release/take once
a day

Glyburide  5/84 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, Initial: 2.5-5 mg SE: hypoglycemia

 Micronase®, DiaBeta® 5 mg tablets daily  , weight gain
 various generics Range: 1.25-20 mg2
Dose: Taken once or
twice daily

Glyburide, micronized  3/92 1.5 mg, 3 mg, Initial: 1.5-3 mg SE: hypoglycemia

 Glynase PresTab® 4.5 mg, 6 mg  daily  , weight gain
 various generics micronized Range: 0.75-12 mg
tablets Dose: Taken once or
twice (if >6 mg) daily

GLINIDES
Repaglinide  12/97 0.5 mg (white), 1 Initial: 1-2 mg daily  SE: hypoglycemia 
 Prandin® mg (yellow), 2 (0.5 mg if A1C <8%) Safe for elderly
mg 
(red) tablets Range: 0.5-16 mg Duration of
Max dose per meal is action is only 4
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

4 mg hours

Dose: Taken two, Take within 15-30

three, or four times minutes of meal
daily

Nateglinide  12/00 60 mg (pink), Initial: 120 mg three SE: hypoglycemia 

 Starlix® 120 mg (yellow) times daily  Safe for elderly
tablets (if A1C close to goal,
use 60 mg) Duration of action
is only 2 hours
<pRange: 180-360
mg Take within 30
Dose: Taken three minutes of meal
times daily
</p

EUGLYCEMICS: Medicines that bring the

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

  12/9 Glucophage: Initial: 500 mg SE: Gastroint

Metformin 4  500 mg, 850 twice daily or estinal
10/0 mg, 1000 850 mg once symptoms
0 mg tablets  daily  (diarrhea,
 Glucophage® Glucophage Range: 500- nausea,
 Extended release XR: 500 mg, 2550 mg upset
(ER): 750 mg Dose: Taken stomach),
 Glucophage tablets two or three metallic taste
XR® times daily (3%), 
 Fortamet® Fortamet: ER: Initial: 500 lactic acidosis
 Glumetza 500 mg, mg once daily (0.03
 Riomet® (liquid, 1000 mg Range: 500- cases/1000
500 mg/5ml) tablets 2000 mg people)4,5
Dosed once Take with
Glumetza: daily meals (ER
500 mg, with evening
1000 mg meal)
tablets
Cannot use if
Generic have liver or
metformin
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

ER: 500 mg, kidney

750 mg problems,
tablets take a drug
to treat heart
failure, or
drink alcohol
excessively

ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS: STARCH

BLOCKERS – delay digestion and absorption of carbohydrates
Acarbose  9/95 25 mg, 50 Initial: 25 mg SE: flatulenc
 Precose® mg, 100 mg three times e 
 various generics tablets daily  Take with
Range: 75-300 first bite of
mg meal
(max 150 mg if
<60 kg) Start with
low dose and
Dose: Taken slowly to
three times minimize GI
daily intolerance.

THIAZOLIDINEDIONES (Glitazones or
TZDs): decrease insulin resistance in the body (muscle and fat tissues)
Pioglitazone 7/99 15 mg, 30 Initial: 15-30 SE: anemia,
(preferred over mg, 45 mg  mg daily  swelling
(white to off- Range: 15-45 (edema)
rosiglitazone) 
white) mg from fluid
 Actos®
tablets Dose: Taken retention,
once daily weight gain,
macular
edema (in
eye), bone
loss and
fractures in
women 
May cause or
worsen heart
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

failure

Cannot use if
have liver
problems or
severe heart
failure

Requires liver
monitoring6

Rosiglitazone  5/99 2 mg (pink), Initial: 4 mg SE: anemia,

 Avandia® 4 mg daily  swelling
(orange), 8 Range: 4-8 mg (edema)
mg  Dose: Taken from fluid
(red-brown) once or twice retention,
tablets daily 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
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

failure

Requires liver
monitoring6

GLP-1 ANALOGS: increase insulin secretion, reduce glucose

release from liver after meals, delay food emptying from stomach and
promote satiety

Exenatide   4/05 5 mcg per Initial: 5 mcg SE: nausea,

 Byetta® dose and 10 SQ twice daily  headache,
mcg per Range: up to hypoglycemia
dose  10 mcg SQ (when used
Injected twice daily with insulin
under the Dose: Taken secretagogue
skin twice daily s) 
(subcutaneo Rare reports
us/SQ) of sudden
pancreatitis
Available as (inflammatio
a pen device n of
pancreas)

May cause
mild weight
loss

Liraglutide   01/1 3 mL pen Initial: 0.6 mg SE: nausea,

 Victoza® 0 that delivers SQ once daily  headache,
doses of 0.6 Range: up to diarrhea,
mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg SQ once hypoglycemia
or 1.8 mg  daily (when used
Injected Dose: Taken with insulin
under the once daily secretagogue
skin s) 
(subcutaneo Rare reports
us/SQ) of sudden
pancreatitis
Available as (inflammatio
a pen device n of
pancreas).
Cannot be
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

used if have
history of
medullary
thyroid
cancer

Albiglutide   04/1 30mg or Initial: 30mg SE: injection

 Tanzeum® 4 50mg per once weekly site reaction,
dose nausea,
Range: can diarrhea,
increase to upper
Injected 50mg once respiratory
under the weekly infection.
skin if inadequate
(subcutaneo response Rare reports
us/SQ) of
pancreatitis
(inflammatio
Requires n of
reconstitutio pancreas);
n cannot be
used if have
history of
Available in
medullary
dose-specific
thyroid
single-dose
cancer.
pen
devices

Dulaglutide   09/1 0.75 mg or Initial: 0.75 SE: nausea,

 Trulicity® 4 1.5 mg per mg once weekly diarrhea,
dose vomiting,
Range: may abdominal
increase up to pain
Injected 1.5 mg once
under the weekly if Cannot use if
skin inadequate family history
(subcutaneo response of medullary
us/SQ) thyroid
carcinoma
(MTC) or if
Available in have multiple
dose- endocrine
specific,
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

single-dose neoplasia
pen devices. syndrome
type
2 (MEN2)

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

DPP-4 INHIBITORS: increase insulin secretion, reduce

glucose release from liver after meals

Alogliptin   01/1 6.25mg 25mg PO daily. SE:

 Nesina® 3 (light pink), Taken once stuffy or
12.5mg daily. runny nose,
(yellow), sore throat,
25mg headache,
(light red) upper
tablets respiratory
infection,
rare severe
allergic
reactions
(swelling of
tongue,
throat, face
or body;
severe rash)
rare reports
of
pancreatitis
No weight
gain
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

Sitagliptin   11/0 25 mg Initial: 100 mg SE: runny

 Januvia® 6 (pink), 50 daily  nose, upper
mg (light Range: 25-100 respiratory
beige),  mg daily infection,
100 mg Dose: Taken rare severe
(beige) once daily allergic
tablets reactions
(swelling of
tongue,
throat, face
or body;
severe rash) 
No weight
gain; Lower
doses used if
kidney
problems

Saxagliptin   7/09 2.5 mg (pale Initial: 2.5 or 5 SE: upper

 Onglyza® to light mg daily  respiratory
yellow), 5 Range: 2.5-5 infection,
mg (pink) mg daily urinary tract
tablets Dose: Taken infection,
once daily headache 
No weight
gain; Lower
doses used if
kidney
problems

Linagliptin   5/11 5mg (light Initial: 5 mg SE: runny

 Tradjenta® red) tablet daily  nose, sore
Dose: Taken throat, rare
once daily reports of
pancreatitis,
rare severe
allergic
reactions, no
weight gain;

SGLT2 inhibitors: increase glucose excretion in the urine

 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

Canagliflozin   03/1 100mg Initial: 100mg SE: increased

 Invokana® 3 (yellow, daily urination or
capsule- urgency,
shaped), Range: 100- lower blood
300mg 300mg daily pressure,
(white, dizziness,
capsule- Dose: Taken genital yeast
shaped) once daily infections,
tablets 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

Dapagliflozin   01/1 5mg (yellow, Initial: 5mg SE: increased

 Farxiga® 4 round once daily urination or
shaped), urgency,
10mg Range: up to lower blood
(yellow, 10mg daily pressure,
diamond dizziness,
shaped) genital yeast
tablets infections,
urinary tract
infections
increase in
blood
potassium;
rare severe
allergic
reactions
(swelling of
tongue,
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

throat, face
or body;
severe rash)

Cannot use if
have kidney
problems

Empagliflozin   08/1 10mg (pale, Initial: 10mg SE: increased

 Jardiance® 4 beige, once daily urination or
round), urgency,
25mg (pale, Range: up to lower blood
beige 25mg daily pressure,
oblong) dizziness,
tablets 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 PILLS

Alogliptin/ 01/1 12.5mg/ Initial: 12.5mg Same as

Metformin  3 500mg (pale /500mg once or above with
 Kazano® yellow), twice daily alogliptin and
12.5mg/100 metformin
0mg Range: up to
(pale yellow) 25/2000 Taken
oblong twice daily with
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

tablets food.

Alogliptin/ 01/1 12.5mg/ Initial: 12.5mg Same as

Pioglitazone  3 15mg (pale /15mg once above with
 Oseni® yellow), daily alogliptin and
12.5mg/30m pioglitazone
g (pale Range: up to
peach), 25/45 mg
12.5mg/45m Taken once
g (pale red), daily with or
25mg/15mg without food.
(yellow),
25mg/30mg
(peach),
25mg/45mg
(red) round
tablets

Empagliflozin/ 02/1 10mg/5mg Initial: 10mg/Same as

Linagliptin  5 (pale 5mg once dailyabove with
 Glyxambi® yellow), empagliflozin
25mg/5mg Range: up to and
(pale pink) 25mg/5mg once linagliptin
triangular daily
tablets

Empagliflozin/ 01/1 5mg/500mg Initial: 5mg/ Same as

Metformin   5 (orange 500mg or above with
 Synjardy® yellow), 5mg/1000mg empagliflozin
5mg/1000m and
g (brownish Range: up to metformin
yellow), 25mg/2000mg
12.5mg/500 Taken in 2
mg (pale divided doses
brownish
purple),
12.5mg/100
0mg (dark
brownish
purple) oval
film-coated
tablet

Canagliflozin/ 08/1 50mg/ Initial: 50mg/ Same as

 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

Metformin   4 500mg 500mg or above with

 Invokamet® (white), 50mg/1000mg canagliflozin
50mg/1000 and
mg (beige), Range: up to metformin
150mg/500 300mg/2000mg
mg Taken in 2
(yellow), divided doses
150mg/1000
mg (purple)
capsule-
shaped film-
coated
tablets

Dapagliflozin/ 10/1 5mg/500mg Initial: base on Same as

Metformin XR  4 (orange), patient’s above with
 Xigduo XR® 5mg/1000m current regimen dapagliflozin
g (pink to and
dark pink), Range: up to metformin
10mg/500m 10mg/2000mg
g (pink), daily
10mg/1000
mg (yellow
to dark
yellow) oval
film-coated
tablet

Glyburide/ 7/00 1.25 mg/250 Initial: 1.25 Same as

Metformin  mg, 2.5 mg/250 mg above with
 Glucovance® mg/500 mg, once or twice glyburide and
 various generics 5 mg/500 daily  metformin
mg tablets Range: up to –
20/2000 mg
Dose: Taken
once or twice
daily

Glipizide/ 10/0 2.5 mg/250 Initial: 2.5 Same as

Metformin  2 mg, mg/250 mg above with
 Metaglip® 2.5mg/500 daily or glipizide and
 various generics mg, 2.5mg/500 mg metformin
5mg/500 mg twice daily 
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

tablets Range: up to
20/2000 mg
Dose: Taken
once or twice
daily

Linagliptin/ 01/1 2.5mg/ Initial: Same as

Metformin  2 500mg (light 2.5mg/500mg above with
 Jentadueto® yellow), twice daily with linagliptin
2.5mg/850m food and
g (light metformin
orange,
oval), Range:
2.5mg/1000 up to
mg (light 2.5mg/1000mg
pink) oval twice daily with
tablets food.

Rosiglitazone/ 10/0 2 mg/500 Initial: 2 Same as

Metformin  2 mg (pale mg/5000 mg above with
 Avandamet® pink), 2 once or twice metformin
 various generics mg/1000 mg daily  and
(yellow), 4 Range: up to 8 rosiglitazone
mg/500 mg mg/2000 mg
(orange), 4 Dose: Taken
mg/1000 mg twice daily
(pink) oval
tablets

Pioglitazone/ 8/05 15 mg/500 Initial: 15 Same as

Metformin  mg, 15 mg/500 mg or above with
 ActoPlus Met® mg/850 mg 15 mg/850 mg metformin
 various generics (white to off- once or twice and
white) daily  pioglitazone
oblong Range: up to
tablets 45 mg/2550 mg
Dosed once or
twice daily

Pioglitazone/ 7/06 30 mg/2 mg, Initial: 30 Same as

Glimepiride  30 mg/4 mg mg/2 mg or 30 above with
 Duetact® (white to off- mg/4 mg once pioglitazone
white) daily  and
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

tablets Range: max of glimepiride

one tablet daily
Dose: Taken
once daily

Rosiglitazone/ 11/0 4 mg/1 mg Initial: 4 mg/1 Same as

Glimepiride  5 (yellow), 4 mg or 4 mg/2 above with
 Avandryl® mg/2 mg mg once daily  rosiglitazone
 various generics (orange), 4 Range: up to 8 and
mg/4 mg mg/4 mg glimepiride
(pink) Dose: Taken
rounded once daily
triangle
tablets

Sitagliptin/ 03/0 50 mg/500 Initial: 50 Same as

Metformin  7 mg (light mg/500 mg or above/below
 Janumet® pink), 50 50 mg/1000 mg with
mg/1000mg  twice daily  sitagliptin
(red) oblong Range: up to and
tablets 100 mg/2000 metformin
mg
Dose: Taken
twice daily

Sitagliptin/ 2/12 50 mg/500 Initial: 100 Same as

Metformin  mg (light mg/1000 mg above/below
 Janumet XR® blue), 50 daily with
mg/1000 mg sitagliptin
(light green), Range: up to and
100 100 mg/2000 metformin
mg/ 1000 mg daily
mg (blue)
oval tablets Dose: Taken
once daily

Repaglinide/ 06/0 1 mg/500 Initial: 1 Same as

Metformin  8 mg (yellow), mg/500 mg above with
 PrandiMet® 2 mg/500 twice daily  repaglinide
mg (pink) Range: 10 and
tablets mg/2500 mg, metformin
Max per dose
 Formulations 
FDA Comments 
(color indicated if
Medicine Appr Dosing (SE = possible side
available by Brand
oval effects)
only)

4 mg/1000 mg

Dose: Taken
twice or three
times daily

Pioglitazone/ 05/0 15 mg/1000 Initial: 15 Same as

Metformin XR  9 mg, 30 mg/1000 mg or above with
 ActoPlus Met mg/1000 mg 30 mg/1000 mg metformin
XR® (white to off- once daily  and
white) round Range: up to pioglizatone
tablets 45 mg/2000 mg
Dose: Taken
once daily

Saxagliptin/ 11/1 5 mg/500 Initial: 5 Same as

Metformin XR  0 mg (light mg/500 mg or above with
 Kombiglyze XR® brown to 5 mg/1000 mg metformin
brown), 5 once daily  and
mg/1000 mg Range: up to 5 saxagliptin
(pink), 2.5 mg / 2000 mg
mg/1000 mg Dose: Taken
(pale yellow once daily
to light
yellow)
capsule-
shaped
tablets
1. SFUs, repaglinide and nateglinide can cause hypoglycemia. The risk of hypoglycemia
is increased when meals are skipped. Avoid skipping meals.
2. “Clinical” maximum daily dose for glyburide is 10 mg and glipizide is 20 mg; higher
doses are not likely to further lower the blood glucose.
3. These medicines do not cause hypoglycemia when used alone. However, when
used with SFUs, repaglinide, nateglinide, or insulin, hypoglycemia may occur.
4. Lactic acidosis symptoms: feeling very weak, tired or uncomfortable; unusual muscle
pain, trouble breathing, unusual or unexpected stomach discomfort, feeling cold,
feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or suddenly developing a slow or irregular heartbeat.
5. Radiologic tests using iodinated contrast media: stop metformin at the time of or
prior to the procedure, and withhold for 48 hours after procedure and restart after
kidney function has been re-evaluated and found to be normal.
6. Liver toxicity symptoms: unexplained nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual
tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or whites of eyes.