Drug Name

Common Brand
Names

How It Works

Common Side
Effects

Glyburide

DiaBeta
Apo-Glyburide
Mylan-Glyburide
Teva-Glyburide

Hypoglycemia is
the most common
side effect of
glyburide.

Gliclazide

Diamicron
Ava-Gliclazide
Novo-Gliclazide
pms-Gliclazide

Glyburide works by
stimulating the pancreas to
secrete insulin to help
transport glucose out of the
blood and into tissues where
it is needed. Therefore, if the
insulin-producing cells in the
pancreas do not function,
glyburide will not be effective.
Gliclazide works by
stimulating the pancreas to
secrete insulin to help
transport glucose out of the
blood and into tissues where
it is needed. Therefore, if the
insulin-producing cells in the
pancreas do not function,
Gliclazide will not be
effective.

Glimepiride

Amaryl
Apo-Glimepiride
RatioGlimepiride

Glimepiride works by
stimulating the pancreas to
secrete insulin to help
transport glucose out of the
blood and into tissues where
it is needed. Therefore, if the
insulin-producing cells in the
pancreas do not function,
Glimepiride will not be
effective.

Hypoglycemia is
the most common
side effect of
Glimepiride

Repaglinide

GlucoNorm
CO-Repaglinide
pms-Repaglinide

Hypoglycemia
Headache
Dizziness
Weight gain
Joint pain

Nateglinide

Starlix

Repaglinide works by
stimulate the pancreas to
secrete insulin. If the insulinproducing cells in the
pancreas do not work
function, Repaglinide will not
be effective.
This medication is very
similar to Glyburide,
Gliclazide, and Glimepiride,
but they are faster and
shorter acting.
Nateglinide works by
stimulate the pancreas to
secrete insulin. If the insulinproducing cells in the
pancreas do not work
function, Nateglinide will not
be effective.

Hypoglycemia is
the most common
side effect of
Gliclazide

Hypoglycemia
Headache
Dizziness
Weight gain
Joint pain

This medication is very

similar to Glyburide,
Gliclazide, and Glimepiride,
but they are faster and
shorter acting.
Metformin

Glucophage
Apo-Metformin
Novo-Metformin

Metformin works in three

different ways to regulate
blood sugar levels:
- It decreases glucose
production in the liver
- It decreases the absorption
of glucose in the intestine
- It increases insulin
sensitivity to ensure the
proper regulation of glucose
Acarbose controls blood sugar
levels after eating by slowing
the absorption of
carbohydrates.

Cramping
Nausea
Feeling of fullness
Abdominal
bloating
Diarrhea

Acarbose

Glucobay

Pioglitazone

Actos
Apo-pioglitazone
Mint-pioglitazone
Ran-pioglitazone

Pioglitazone works by
increasing the sensitivity of
insulin receptors in the liver,
skeletal muscles, and fat
tissue; to increase the
effectiveness of insulin.

Weight gain
Edema (swelling)
Mild anemia

Rosiglitazone

Avandia

Weight gain
Edema (swelling)
Mild anemia

Sitagliptin

Januvia

Rosiglitazone works by
increasing the sensitivity of
insulin receptors in the liver,
skeletal muscles, and fat
tissue; to increase the
effectiveness of insulin.
Sitagliptin works by
increasing the effects of
certain intestinal hormones
that control blood sugar.
When blood sugar is high it
increases insulin secretion
and decreases glucagon
secretion

Flatulence
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Acarbose does
not generally
cause
hypoglycemia

Sitagliptin is
generally well
tolerated;
therefore, there
are no common
side effects.