Diabetic Medications

The following lists were prepared as references only, and were complete at the time of compilation. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist for further details. Some drugs are marketed under different Brand Names in different countries.

Medications Used to LOWER Blood Glucose

Biguanides	Mechanism of Action: decrease hepatic glucose production (glycogenolysis/gluconeogenesis), decrease carbohydrate absorption in the gut, increase central and peripheral insulin sensitivity
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min-max)
	Metformin HCl	Glucophage	500-2550mg/day

Thiozolidinediones	Mechanism of Action: increase central and peripheral insulin sensitivity
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min/max)
	Pioglitizone	Actos	15-45mg/day
	Rosiglitizone	Avandia	4-8mg/day

Sulfonylureas	Mechanism of Action: stimulate increased insulin production
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min/max)
	Chlorpropamide	Diabinese	100-500mg/day
	Gliclazide	Diamicron	80-320mg/day
	Glimepiride	Amaryl	1-8mg/day
	Glipizide	Glucotrol	2.5-20mg/day
	Glyburide	Diabeta, Glynase, Micronase	1.25-20mg/day
	Tolazamide	Tolinase	100-250mg/day
	Tolbutamide	Orinase	1000-3000mg/day

Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors	Mechanism of Action: interferes with carbohydrate absorption in the gut
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min/max)
	acarbose	Precose	50-100mg 3x/day
	miglitol	Glyset	25-100mg 3x/day

Meglitinides	Mechanism of Action: stimulate increased insulin production of short duration
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min/max)
	replaglinide	Prandin	0.5-4mg 3x/day
	nateglinide	Starlix	60-120mg 3x/day

Insulin	Mechanism of Action: injected to replace or supplement natural insulin
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Onset/Duration
Analogs	insulin aspart	Novolog, NovoRapid	Very fast
	insulin lispro	Humalog	Very fast
	insulin glulisine	Apidra	Very fast
	insulin glargine	Lantus	Very slow
	insulin detemir	Levemir	Very slow
Human (rDNA)	insulin	Humulin, Iletin, Novolin, Velosulin
		Regular, Actrapid	Fast
		NPH(N), Insultard	Intermediate
		Lente (L)	Intermediate (being discontinued)
		UltraLente(U)	Slow (being discontinued)
		Exubera	Inhaled Insulin
Pre-mixes		70/30,50/50,75/25	fast and intermediate
Combo Orals	Mechanism of Action: attempt to provide "convenience" of two drugs in one pill
	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min/max)
	Avandia/Metformin	Avandamet	500 - 4/2000-8
	Metformin/Glyburide	Glucovance/Avandaryl	250-1.25/2000-20
	Metformin/glipizide	Metaglip	250-2.5/2000-20
Miscellaneous	Generic Name	Brand Name	Dosage (min/max)
	Amylin	Symlin	15ug-120ug
	Extenatide	Byetta	5ug-10ug
	sitagliptin phosphate	Januvia	25-100mg

Medications Known To RAISE Blood Glucose


Generic Name	Brand Name	Common Uses
Aminophylline		bronchospasm
Amprenavir		protease inhibitor
Alpha-interferon		immunomodulator
Asparaginase	Elspar	Cancer therapy
Beta-agonists		Beta-blockers
Caffeine		coffee
Chlorpromazine	Thorazine	anti-psychotic/emetic
Calcitonin	Calcimar	osteoporosis
Corticosteroids		inflammation
Cyclophosphamide	Cytoxan	Chemotherapy
Diltiazem	Cardizem	Calcium Channel Blocker
Diazoxide	Hyperstat	hypertension
Didanosine	Videx	HIV
Estrogens	many	birth control, replacement
Ethacrynic acid	Edecrin	diuretic (water pill)
Furosemide	Lasix	diuretic (water pill)
Haloperidol	Haldol	psychosis
Indinavir	Crixivan	HIV
Indomethacin	Indocin	NSAID
Isoniazid		Tuberculosis
Levodopa		Parkinsonism
Lithium	Eskalith	Bi-polar Disorder
Marijuana
Morphine	MSContin	opiate pain relief
Methyldopa		blood pressure, alpha-agonist
megestrol acetate	Megace	Breast Cancer
Nelfinavir	Viracept	HIV
Nicotine		cigarettes, withdrawal
Oral contraceptives	many	pregnancy prevention
Phenothiazines		psychotic disorders
Phenytoin	Dilantin	seizure disorders
Pentamidine	Pentam	PCP
Ritonavir	Norvir	HIV
Saquinavir	Fortovase	HIV
SSRIs	many	depression
Sympathomimetics		block sympathetic nervous system
Theophylline	Theo-Dur	asthma
Thiazides	HCTZ	diuretic (water pills)
Thyroxine		T4 thyroid

References: O'Byrne S, Feely J: Effects of drugs on glucose tolerance in non-insulin-dependent diabetes (parts I and II). Drugs 40:203219, 1990 ; Pandit MK, Burke J, Gustafson AB, Minocha A, Peiris AN: Drug-induced disorders of glucose tolerance. Ann Int Med 118:529540, 1993

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Diabetic Medications

Medications Used to LOWER Blood Glucose

Mechanism of Action: increase central and peripheral insulin sensitivity

Mechanism of Action: stimulate increased insulin production

Mechanism of Action: interferes with carbohydrate absorption in the gut

Mechanism of Action: stimulate increased insulin production of short duration

Mechanism of Action: injected to replace or supplement natural insulin

Mechanism of Action: attempt to provide "convenience" of two drugs in one pill

Medications Known To RAISE Blood Glucose