Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to metformin
21 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as metformin or labeled mainly for the same use (type 2 diabetes); the others include 5 dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, 3 sulfonylureas and 3 peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma agonists (FDA labels read October 8, 2026).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as metformin?
Type 2 diabetes lists all 52 medicines labeled for it, by any route. Each row shows the conditions both labels name. They are listed as public records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another depends on the person and is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine and FDA class | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metforminbiguanide | this medicine | 83 labelers | $0.0145 per tablet 500 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Glipizidesulfonylurea | Type 2 diabetes | 31 labelers | $0.0339 per tablet 5 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Glimepiridesulfonylurea | Type 2 diabetes | 29 labelers | $0.0507 per tablet 4 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Pioglitazoneperoxisome proliferator receptor gamma agonist | Type 2 diabetes | 22 labelers | $0.0675 per tablet 15 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Glyburidesulfonylurea | Type 2 diabetes | 16 labelers | $0.0643 per tablet 5 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Sitagliptindipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | 4 labelers | $3.77 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Repaglinideglinide | Type 2 diabetes | 7 labelers | $0.0987 per tablet 1 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Nateglinideglinide | Type 2 diabetes | 9 labelers | $0.179 per tablet 60 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Acarbosealpha-glucosidase inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | 6 labelers | $0.274 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Alogliptindipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $4.96 per tablet 12.5 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| SemaglutideGLP-1 receptor agonist | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $33.13 per tablet 1.5 mg tablet | Yes | A presentation being discontinued |
| Alogliptin and pioglitazoneperoxisome proliferator receptor gamma agonist | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $4.73 per tablet 25-15 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Miglitolalpha-glucosidase inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | 2 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Saxagliptindipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | 3 labelers | $1.04 per tablet 5 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Glimepiride and pioglitazoneperoxisome proliferator receptor gamma agonist | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $10.52 per unit 30-4 | Yes | No current entry |
| Bexagliflozinsodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Linagliptindipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $16.80 per tablet 5 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Empagliflozin and linagliptinsodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $11.24 per tablet 10 mg-5 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Ertugliflozin | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $11.44 per tablet 15 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Ertugliflozin and sitagliptindipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $17.59 per tablet 15-100 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Dapagliflozin and saxagliptinsodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor | Type 2 diabetes | 1 labeler | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Insulin glargineinsulin analog | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | n/a | No | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA drug labels (indications) via openFDA; FDA NDC Directory; CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for each?
The headline NADAC price per unit of each medicine's most widely listed form; strengths differ, so compare like with like on each record.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What next?
- Metformin: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls
- Glipizide vs metformin
- two records side by side
- Glimepiride vs metformin
- two records side by side
- Metformin vs pioglitazone
- two records side by side
- Glyburide vs metformin
- two records side by side