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ANTIDIABETIC DRUGS (September 2018)

Class Generic name (brand name) Mechanism of action When to take it Adverse effects
Gliclazide (Diamicron®) Before meals (≤ 30 minutes);
Gliclazide (Diamicron® MR) Stimulate the pancreas to produce more Do not take at bedtime Hypoglycemia
Sulfonylureas
Glimepiride (Amaryl®) insulin (low blood sugar)
Glyburide (Diaβeta®) For Diamicron® MR ONLY : Take at breakfast
Repaglinide (GlucoNorm®) Stimulate the pancreas to produce more Before meals (≤ 15 minutes); Hypoglycemia
Meglitinides
insulin Do not take at bedtime (low blood sugar)
Metformine (Glucophage®)
During meals
Biguanides Reduce the production of glucose by the liver Diarrhea, metallic aftertaste, nausea
Metformine extended-release
(Glumetza®) At dinner
 Swelling due to water retention, weight
gain
Increase insulin sensitivity of the body cells
Pioglitazone (Actos®)  Pioglitazone : inscreased risk of bladder
Thiazolidinediones (TZD) and reduce the production of glucose by the With or without food, at the same time each day
Rosiglitazone (Avandia®) cancer (Health Canada restriction)
liver
 Rosiglitazone : increased risk of non-fatal
heart attack (Health Canada restriction)
Alpha-glucosidases Acarbose (Glucobay®) Slow the absorption of carbohydrates (sugar)
With the first mouthful of a meal Bloating and flatulence (gaz)
inhibitor ingested
Linagliptine (Trajenta®)
Intensify the effect of intestinal hormones
Dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 Saxagliptine (OnglyzaMC)
(incretines) involved in the control of blood With or without food, at the same time each day Pharyngitis, headache
(DPP-4) inhibitors Sitagliptine (Januvia®)
sugar
Alogliptine (Nesina®)
Exenatide (Byetta®) Injection to take 0 to 60 minutes before breakfast or dinner

Exenatide extended-release Injection once a week, the same day, any hour of the day, with or
(Bydureon®) without food
Liraglutide (Victoza®) Mimic the effect of certain intestinal Injection to take with or without food, at the same time each day
Glucagon-like peptide-1
Dulaglutide (Trulicity®) hormones (incretines) involved in the control Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
(GLP-1) agonist Injection once a week, the same day, any hour of the day, with or
of blood sugar
without food
Injection once daily within the hour prior to any meal of the day
Lixisenatide (AdlyxineTM)
Injection once a week, same day each week, at any time of the
day, with or without food
Semaglutide (Ozempic®)
Canaglifozine (Invokana®) Before the first meal of the day
Sodium glucose
Dapagliflozine (Forxiga®) Genital and urinary infections, more
cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Help eliminate glucose in the urine Any time of day, with or without food
Empagliflozine (Jardiance®) frequent urination
inhibitors Once a day, in the morning, with or without food
Ertugliflozine (SteglatroTM)

The following pills combine 2 classes of antidiabetic drugs:

 Thiazolidinedione + biguanide (Avandamet®)


 DPP-4 inhibitors + biguanide (Janumet®, Janumet®XR, JentaduetoMC KomboglyzeMC)
 SGLT2 inhibitor + biguanide (Xigduo®, Invokamet®, Synjardy®, SteglurometTM)
 DPP-4 inhibitor + SGLT2 inhibitor (GlyxambiMC, QTERN®, SteglujanTM)
 GLP-1 agonist + degludec insulin (Xultophy®)
 GLP-1 agonist + glargine insulin (SoliquaMC)

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