Glucovance
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
2.5mg + 400mg · 5mg + 500mg
Metformin and glibenclamide tablets for type 2 diabetes. The two drugs lower blood sugar by different routes, so one pill does the work of two separate ones.
From$1.16/ tabletView
Glibenclamide
One product sits on this glibenclamide shelf: Glucovance, a combination tablet pairing glibenclamide with metformin in two strengths (2.5 mg + 400 mg and 5 mg + 500 mg) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Key points
- Glibenclamide is a sulfonylurea that lowers blood sugar by stimulating the pancreas to release more insulin, used alongside diet and exercise for type 2 diabetes.
- Low blood sugar and weight gain are the side effects people report most often, and glibenclamide carries a higher hypoglycemia risk than other sulfonylureas.
- Listed on the 2019 AGS Beers Criteria as potentially inappropriate in adults 65 and older due to the risk of severe, prolonged low blood sugar and falls.
How does glibenclamide work?
Glibenclamide is a sulfonylurea, a class of diabetes medicine that acts on the pancreas. It binds to receptors on the insulin-producing cells and blocks the channels that control potassium flow, triggering those cells to release more insulin into the bloodstream. Glibenclamide also slows how quickly the liver removes insulin, so more stays active for longer.
The result is lower blood sugar after meals. Glucovance, listed under Diabetes Management, pairs glibenclamide with metformin, which reduces the glucose the liver releases. The two medicines work through different mechanisms to bring blood sugar down.