Two medicines, side by side
Acarbose vs glipizide
Acarbose and glipizide are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acarbose since 1995 and of glipizide since 1984. Pharmacies paid $0.274 per acarbose 100 mg tablet and $0.0339 per glipizide 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and glipizide a sulfonylurea.
Check it at the source: the acarbose FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 15, 2026); the glipizide FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026).
Highlights of the acarbose record
Acarbose (Precose) · label of July 15, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAcarbose Tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 6, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.274 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the glipizide record
Glipizide (Glucotrol) · label of January 8, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsGlipizide extended-release tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 8, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0339 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acarbose label of July 15, 2026, Glipizide label of January 8, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acarbose and glipizide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and glipizide a sulfonylurea.
How each works, in its label's words: Acarbose, “Mechanism of Action In contrast to sulfonylureas, Acarbose Tablets do not enhance insulin secretion.”; Glipizide, “Glipizide primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas, an effect dependent upon functioning beta cells in the pancreatic islets.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Acarbose, “The plasma elimination half-life of acarbose activity is approximately 2 hours in healthy volunteers.”; Glipizide, “The mean terminal elimination half-life of glipizide ranged from 2 to 5 hours after single or multiple doses in …”
Generics: acarbose since 2008; glipizide since 1994 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acarbose | Glipizide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor | Sulfonylurea |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action In contrast to sulfonylureas, Acarbose Tablets do not enhance insulin secretion. | Glipizide primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas, an effect dependent upon functioning beta cells in the pancreatic islets. |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma elimination half-life of acarbose activity is approximately 2 hours in healthy volunteers. | The mean terminal elimination half-life of glipizide ranged from 2 to 5 hours after single or multiple doses in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 6, 1995 | May 8, 1984 |
| First generic approved | May 7, 2008 | May 10, 1994 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 31 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.274 per tablet (Acarbose 100 mg tablet) | $0.0339 per tablet (Glipizide 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +8% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 3,847 | 60,555 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to acarbose
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions