Commonly Prescribed Oral Diabetic Medications

There is a special blood test that your doctor does to determine if your diabetes is in control.  This test measures a chemical in your blood called " A1C".  The higher your sugar is, the higher your A1C will be. 

The American Diabetic Association recommends that diabetics must maintain a A1C of less than 7.0% in order to reduce the complications associated with diabetes. (The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend 6.5% or less).

The higher your A1C, the more likely it is that you will suffer complications of diabetes such as kidney disease, blindness or amputation.

Every point decrease in A1C reduces your risk of diabetic complications and/or dying from a diabetes induced stroke or heart attack. 

Please take your HBA1C level seriously - your life is in your hands.

The best way to control diabetes is with diet and exercise.  If this doesn't work, there are many drugs available. 

Diabetics must not smoke -- diabetics who smoke are at very high risk of having a heart attack or stroke. 

Actos (pioglitizone, Takeda) - once a day insulin sensitizer
Actos is a drug that increases your body's sensitivity to insulin.  Another way to look at it is that when you take Actos, your body's insulin becomes stronger & more effective. 

Actos can take up to six weeks to kick in to maximum effect.

Actos is available in 3 doses - 15mg, 30mg and 45mg.  Most people take the 30mg or the 45 mg.  Actos is very expensive.  If you do not have drug insurance, you can expect to pay from $3.00 to $5.00 per pill.  Many internet pharmacies sell Actos.  This competition drives down the prices.  You can get a good price on Actos if you comparison shop.
Click Here To Comparison Shop For Actos
Prescribing Info PDF File - you need Adobe Acrobat to open this file;
  Click Here to Download Adobe Acrobat for Free
Official Website ; all about Actos and diabetes
medline search
General Information
Comparison Shop For Actos

ACTOSPlus Met
ACTOplus met is combination pill that contains Actos + Metformin in the same pill. 
Click Here To Comparison Shop For ACTOSplus met
Official Website ; all about Actos and diabetes

Amaryl (glimepiride, Aventis)-once-a-day sulfonylurea
The way Amaryl works on the pancreas increase insulin production in response to a meal so that your body can use glucose more efficiently.

Amaryl is usually taken once per day.  The tablets are very easy to split in case you have to adjust your dose.  Amaryl is relatively inexpensive.  You must never take Amaryl on an empty stomach - Amaryl should be taken with your first main meal of the day. Amaryl works fast - usually within 24 hours.
Amaryl prescribing Info
medline search
General Information
Compare Prices

Avandaryl (Avandia + Glimiperide In the Same Tablet)
Avandaryl is what we pharmacists call a "fixed combination" tablet. 
Avandaryl is a combination of Avandia (rosglitazone) mixed with glimiperide (the generic name for Amaryl).

Avandaryl.com - official website; prescribing information, explanation of how the medicine works.
Compare Prices - shop for Avandaryl online - save a few bucks by comparison shopping online.

Avandia (rosiglitazone; Smithkline Beacham) - once a day or twice
a day insulin sensitizer.  Avandia is a drug that increases your body's
sensitivity to insulin.  Another way to look at it is that when you take
Avandia, your body's insulin becomes stronger & more effective. 

Avandia is available in 3 doses - 2mg, 4mg and 8mg.  Most people take
the 8mg per day.  They either take a 4mg tablet twice per day or an 8mg
tablet once per day.   Avandia is very expensive.  If you do not have
Drug insurance, you can expect to pay from $2.50 to $5.00 per day depending on the dose.  Many internet pharmacies sell Avandia.  This competition drives down the prices.  You can get a good price on Avandia if you comparison shop.
Click Here to comparison Shop for Avandia
Prescribing Info
Official Website; Avandia Patient information; prescribing information
medline search
General Information
Compare Prices

Avandamet (rosiglitazone maleate and metformin hydrochloride;
GlaxoSmithKline)

Avandamet is taken twice a day with meals.  It starts to work within
one or two weeks but it can take 2-3 months before the full effects
kick in.  Avandamet contains metformin so it is normally not taken
by people who have sick kidneys.

Avandamet is available in four tablet strengths of rosiglitazone/metformin,
respectively: 2 mg/500 mg, 4 mg/500 mg, 2mg/1000mg, and 4mg/1000mg
Click Here to comparison Shop for Avandamet.
Prescribing Info
Official Website; Avandamet Patient information; prescribing information
medline search
General Information
Compare Prices


Byetta (Exantide; injectable given twice per day)
Byetta is very expensive.  If you do not have drug insurance, you can
expect to pay about $200.00 for a month's supply of Byetta.
Byetta Price Comparison Shopping - Click here to comparison shop
for Byetta.  You can visit many internet websites that sell Byetta and
hopefully save a few dollars.

Byetta has an interesting background.  Scientists noticed that certain
reptiles could go for months without eating. 

They discovered that there was a naturally occurring chemical in the
lizards saliva that was able to turn the lizard's pancreas on and off. 
This discovery lead to Byetta.  Byetta is a synthetic hormone that
stimulates insulin secretion in response to blood glucose levels.

Byetta is also known to slow down the exit of food from the digestive
track so you feel full longer. 

Byetta is given twice per day as an injection.  It must be taken within
one hour BEFORE meals.

It comes in a prefilled disposable pen-like injector system.  Byetta
comes in two strengths - 5 micrograms per dose (5mcg) and
10 micrograms (10mcg) per dose.  The use of Byetta is associated
with a modest weight loss.  A common side effect of Byetta is nausea
and vomiting. 

They are working on a version of Byetta that you will only have to
take once every week instead of twice per day but this is a long way off.

Byetta is very expensive.  If you do not have drug insurance, you
can expect to pay about $200.00 for a month's supply of Byetta.
Byetta Price Comparison Shopping - Click here to comparison shop
for Byetta.  You can visit many internet websites that sell Byetta and
hopefully save a few dollars.
Byetta.com official Byetta website; patient information, doctor
information, explanation of how Byetta works, lots of diabetes
information.
Byetta Prescribing Information this is the information that your doctor reads before he prescribes Byetta.
Byetta Patient Information information for the Byetta patient; how to
store Byetta, how to use it, things to watch out for, who should use it,
who should not use it.
Search Scientific Literature For Byetta

Duetact (pioglitazone HCl and glimepiride)
Duetact is what we pharmacists call a "fixed combination" product.
Duetact  is a combination of Actos and glimepiride (formerly known as
Amaryl). 

Fixed combination products are useful to patients because they give you
two drugs in one pill, making for better convenience.  Another
consideration of fixed combination products is that you get 2
different medicines but you only have to pay one copay. 

The downside of fixed combination products is that if you get a side
effect, it's hard be sure what component of the pill gave you the problem. 

Since Duetact contains glimepiride, it is important not to take it on
an empty stomach.  If you take it on an empty stomach, you may get
a serious side effect known as "hypoglycemia" or low blood sugar.

Duetact Drug Information
Prescribing Info
medline search
FDA Approval History and Related Documents


Galvus (Vildagliptin)
Galvus is an experimental diabetes drug developed by Novartis.  It is
expected to be approved for use in the United Stated some time
during early winter of 2006.

Galvus is known as a DPP-4 inhibitor.  DDP-4 inhibitors are part of
a broader class of medicines known as incretin mimetics, such as
Byetta (exenatide).  However, unlike Byetta (which must be injected
twice per day) Galvus is a pill [source]

Galvus is known as a DPP-4 inhibitor.  DPP-4 inhibitors work in the
pancreas to increase insulin protection.  They also work in the liver to
regulate the over-production of glucose.  Supposedly, Galvus is not
expected to cause weight gain [source] such as is seen in other diabetes
pills such as Actos, Avandia, and sulfonylureas such as glimepiride and
glipizide.  When approved,  Galvus will be taken once per day. 

Galvus is similar in action to another experimental DPP-4 pill,
Januvia which will be marketed by Merck.

Since Galvus is not yet approved by the FDA, the Galvus prescribing
information is not available.  We will post the Galvus package insert 
on this page when it is made available to the public.

More Galvus Information:
Click Here to view Medline Search for Galvus
Click Here to Google Galvus
Click Here to view real time news regarding Galvus
Click Here to visit Galvus.com [coming soon billboard]

Glipizide  Sulfonlyurea; Generic; Brand Name = Glucotrol, Pfizer;
Prescribing Info
medline search
General Information
Compare Prices

Glucophage (metformin, Bristol Meyers Squibb) - biguanide ; also
available in sustained release form; Glucophage XR.  Glucophage is a brand name version of a drug called metformin.  Metformin is the most popular diabetes drug in the United States.  Metformin's main job is to get your liver to stop producing too much glucose. 

In many diabetics, the liver acts like a sugar factory on overtime; it
goes haywire and produces way too much sugar all throughout the day.
What metformin does is to send a signal to the liver to reduce the
production of sugar.

One drawback of metformin is that it can cause terrible stomach cramps
and diarrhea if you take too high a dose too soon.  You have to give
your body a chance to get used to the metformin.  If you build up the
dose slowly, day by day, these side effects can be dramatically reduced.

If you have poor kidney function you should not take metformin. 
our doctor will monitor your kidney function with a simple blood test.
Prescribing Info - [ metformin]
medline search
General Information
Comparison Shop For Glucophage: since Glucophage is such a popular drug, there is a lot of competition between the internet sites that sell it keeping the prices low.  If you shop around you should be able to get a good price on metformin. 

Glimepiride (Generic; formerly known as Amaryl)
Amaryl prescribing Info
medline search
General Information
Compare Prices

Glyburide + Metformin, fixed combination tablet
(formerly known as Glucovance)
Prescribing Info
General Information
Medline
Compare Prices

Glucotrol XL (glipizide extended release, Pfizer)
Prescribing Info
medline search
General Information
Compare Prices

Glyburide (Micronase; Upjohn, Glynase; Upjohn, Diabeta;
Aventis) sulfonylurea
Glyburide  works on the pancreas to increase insulin production in
response to a food so that your body can use glucose more efficiently.

Glyburide is relatively inexpensive.  You must never take glyburide on
an empty stomach .  If you take glyburide on an empty stomach your blood sugar may drop too low. The scientific name for low blood sugar is hypoglycemia. 

Glyburide is usually taken once or twice per day.  Glyburide is an
inexpensive drug.
Prescribing Info
medline search 
General Information

Glyset (miglitol) glucosidase inhibitor
Prescribing Info
medline search
General Information


Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate)
Januvia diabetes drug developed by Merck.  It was approved for use in
the United Stated October 19th, 2006.

Januvia is indicated to be used alone or in combination with metformin, Actos and Avandia.

Januvia is available as tablets containing 25mg, 50mg or 100mg.  The
recommended dose of Januvia is 100mg per day to be taken with or
without meals.  Patients with kidney disease or weakened kidneys should
take a smaller dose. [ Click here for the official Januvia prescribing information ]

Januvia is known as a DPP-4 inhibitor.  DDP-4 inhibitors are part of a
broader class of medicines known as incretin mimetics, such as
Byetta (exenatide).  However, unlike Byetta (which must be injected
twice per day) Januvia is a pill. [source]

DPP-4 inhibitors work in the pancreas to increase insulin protection. 
They also work in the liver to regulate the over-production of glucose.  Supposedly, Januvia is not expected to cause weight gain such as is
seen in other diabetes pills such as Actos, Avandia, and sulfonylureas
such as glimepiride and glipizide.  In trials, Januvia was be taken once
per day in doses of 100mg or 200mg.  [source]

Januvia is similar in action to another experimental DPP-4 pill, Galvus
which will be marketed by Novartis. [source]

Januvia Information Database
Januvia.com Januvia Home Page
Januvia patient information website
Januvia prescribing information [PDF Format]
Medline Search for Januvia
Click Here to Google Januvia
Click Here to view real time news regarding Januvia

Janumet

Janumet is a combination of Januvia and metformin in the same pill. 
This way you get added convenience of one pill rather than two pills
and you only have to pay one copay but you are getting two drugs.

Janumet is available in two strengths.  The low dose pill contains
50mg Januvia + 500mg of metformin.   The 50/500mg pill is light pink
and stamped with the number "575".

The second strength of Janumet contains 50 mg of Januvia + 1000mg
of metformin.  The 50/1000mg pill is red and stamped with the number "577". [ source = Janumet prescribing information]

For more information please visit:
Janumet.com [consumer site; FAQ, Prescribing information, etc]
Janumet.com [health professional site; more scientifically oriented than consumer site; patient educatio resources, etc].

Glipizide+Metformin ;
fixed combination tablet; formerly known as Meta-Glip)
General Information
Prescribing Info
Misc: Available in 3 Strengths:
2.5 mg glipizide/250 mg metformin
2.5 mg glipizide/500 mg metformin
5.0 mg glipizide/500 mg metformin
Compare Prices - Not available

Metformin - biguanide ; also available in sustained release form
Metformin is the most popular diabetes drug in the United States. 
Metformin's main job is to get your liver to stop producing too much
glucose. 

In many diabetics, the liver acts like a sugar factory on overtime; it
goes haywire and produces way too much sugar all throughout the day.  What metformin does is to send a signal to the liver to reduce the
production of sugar.

One drawback of metformin is that it can cause terrible stomach cramps
and diarrhea if you take too high a dose too soon.  You have to give
your body a chance to get used to the metformin.  If you build up the
dose slowly, day by day, these side effects are dramatically reduced.

If you have poor kidney function you should not take metformin. 
Your doctor will monitor your kidney function with a simple blood test.
Prescribing Info - [ metformin]
medline search
General Information
Comparison Shop For Metformin: since metformin is such a popular drug,
there is a lot of competition between the internet sites that sell it keeping
the prices low.  If you shop around you should be able to get a good price
on metformin.

Prandi-Met (combination tablet of repaglinide and metformin; Sciele)
Available in 2 strengths 1 mg Prandin./500 mg metformin. and 2 mg Prandin./500 mg metformin.d


Prandin (repaglinide, NOVO) Short Acting Insulin secretagogue
Prescribing Info PDF File - you need Adobe Acrobat to open this file;
  Click Here to Download Adobe Acrobat for Free
Prandin.com
medline search
General Information

Precose (acarbose, Bayer) glucosidase inhibitor
Prescribing Info PDF File - you need Adobe Acrobat to open this file;
  Click Here to Download Adobe Acrobat for Free
medline search
General Information

Rezulin (troglitazone, Parke Davis) Not available in USA -
Voluntarily withdrawn from market due to safety concerns
Rezulin Prescribing Info; side effects, warnings, dose.
medline search

Starlix (nateglinide, Novartis) Short Acting Insulin secretagogue;
Prescribing Info PDF File - you need Adobe Acrobat to open this file;
  Click Here to Download Adobe Acrobat for Free
General Information
Starlix.com; Prescribing Information; Diabetes information
Medline


EDITOR'S SUGGESTIONS
You may be interested in visiting:

Home Page - Updated daily; new drug news and information
Diabetes News - (from Google)-
Online Diabetes Textbook; E-Medicine/WebMd
Diabetes Page - treatment information and links
Online Endocrinology Journals


Site Directory:

Price Comparisons:
Abilify/Actos /Actonel/Acyclovir/Adipex/Adderal/Advicor/Aldara/Allegra /Altovis/Amaryl /Ambien/Amitriptyline /Atacand/Atacand HCT/Avandia /Avandamet/
Avapro, Avalide /Avlimil/Benicar/Bextra/Byetta/Celebrex/ Celexa /Cialis/
Clarinrex/Clozaril/Clozapine/Colestid/Concerta/Condylox/Cozaar/Crestor/
Cymbalta /Denavir/Diovan/ Effexor XR /Effexor /Enzyte/ Evista/Famvir/Flonase /Fluoxetine /Focalin/Fosamax/Geodon/Glipizide/ Glucophage / Glucovance / Hyzaar/
Lamisil/Lescol/Levitra/ Lexapro /Lipitor/Lovastatin/Lunesta/ Metadate
CD/Metformin /Methylphenidate/Methylin/ MetroGel /Micardis /Mobic/ Nasacort/Nasonex/Nexium/Niaspan/Paxil / Plavix /Pravachol/ Prevacid/Propecia/Prozac,Generic Prozac /Questran/Retin-A /Renova /Risperdal/Ritalin/Seroquel/ Singulair /Soma/Sonata/Strattera/Tamiflu/Teveten /Tramadol/Tricor/Valtrex/Viagra/Valium/Vytorin/Welchol/Wellbutrin/Xanax/Xyzal/Zetia/Zocor/Zoloft/Zyban/Zyprexa/Zyrtec

Basics:
Who is Corey Nahman? / Our Mission Statement / Advertise /

Drug Information Databases:
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBS) / Antidepressants /
Antihistamines /Arthritis Drugs/Atypical Antipsychotics/
Cholesterol Drugs/Diabetes Drugs /ADD, ADHD/Drug Information
Databases; Catalogue of /Drugs For HIV, AIDS / Insulin /
Osteoporosis Drugs/Sleeping Pills

Pharmaceutical Law:
Baycol/Risperdal/Zyprexa/Seroquel Lawsuit/Ortho Evra Lawsuit/
Vioxx Trial Lawsuit/Whistleblower Law/

Drug Information:
Alimta/Avlimil/Altovis/Baycol/Benicar/Cialis/Crestor/Enzyte/Lamisil/
Levitra/Paxil CR /Phentermine/Strattera/Tamiflu/Valtrex/Viagra/
Zestra

Pharmacy:
How To Become A Pharmacist/ Pharmacist Continuing Education/Pharmacy Journals /

Misc:
Cancer Information /Classified/ Diabetes / Diabetic Supplies/
Drug Company Database/ ENT /FDA; Drug Approval Process  /
Heart Disease /HIV AIDS / Medical Information Databases/
Medical Journals/ Paxil CR Alternatives/Pharmaceutical Advertising, Pharmaceutical Marketing  Help Wanted/Medical Information/

Pharmaceutical sales:

Mother Page; Starting Point / Case Study 1 /  Case Study 2 / Case Study 3 / Tips on how to get in / FAQ Table of contents / Willing to relocate / Hardest part of being a rep / How do I know it is right for me? / Working with a recruiter / Typical length of job search / Interview bring with materials / Ride along / Cover Letter / Resume essentials / Small company versus large company; working for / Am I too old / Scientific degree / MBA / Number of calls per day / Cover Letters / Salary and bonus / Getting laid off / Best way to find job / Newspaper advertisements / Trouble getting business cards / Interviews but no offers / Training / Contract rep / Future sales reps / More than one job offer / Resume essentials / How to find a resume writer / Job fairs(A) /Job fairs(B) / So many interviews


Note To Visitors:

We never answer drug or health related questions so please don't e-mail us with your drug related questions.

If you have a question about a drug that you are taking or if you think you are experiencing a side effect from a drug that you are taking you must get in touch with the doctor who prescribed the drug or the pharmacist who dispensed it to you, not us.

The information contained on this web site is for your information only.  You should never take a drug without a doctor's prescription.   Do NOT give yourself any drug unless it has been prescribed for you by a doctor.

It's foolish to start taking a medicine or stop taking a medicine on your own based on information you read here or any other internet web site because this could cause you to become seriously ill or die or worse even.

Questions or feedback regarding this site? 

Copyright, 2008 Internet Drug News Inc - all rights reserved
CoreyNahman.com and Pharmaceutical News Harvest are registered Trademarks of Internet Drug News Inc.

*****************************************
We subscribe to The HONcode of  online conduct:

1.  Qualification of author(s)
This site is published and webmastered by Corey Nahman, Registered pharmacist in the Sate of New York.
2.  Complementarity
Let it be known that the information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.
3.  Privacy.
We respect the privacy of the users of this site.  Please see our plain English privacy policy.
4. Attribution
At all times, the information on this site shall be footnoted with the source(s) of published information, date and medical and health pages provided.
5.  Justifiability
This site shall at all times back up claims relating to benefits and performance.
6  Transparency
This site shall at all times use accessible presentation, you can of this site at his personal e-mail address at any time.
7.  Financial disclosure
This site is supported by click advertisements, banner advertisements and affiliate arrangements.  All ads are properly labeled as such.  If you have any questions regarding how we make money please with your questions.  All advertisements shall be clearly distinguished from content.

*********************************************
Proudly Published In NEW YORK CITY, USA
Site Map | Privacy Policy | |
Site Mission Statement, Intended Audience, Editorial Policy, Advertising Policy
This Page Last Updated 9/9/2008