Two medicines, side by side
Glimepiride vs glyburide
Glimepiride and glyburide are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of glimepiride since 1995 and of glyburide since 1984. Pharmacies paid $0.0507 per glimepiride 4 mg tablet and $0.0643 per glyburide 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Glimepiride, “Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.”; Glyburide, “of oral sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drugs.”
Check it at the source: the glimepiride FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2025); the glyburide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 1, 2021).
Highlights of the glimepiride record
Glimepiride (Amaryl) · label of May 12, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsGlimepiride tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. Limitations of Use Glimepiride tablets should not be used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis, as it would not be effective in these settings. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 30, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 27 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0507 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 19
Highlights of the glyburide record
Glyburide (Diabeta) · label of July 1, 2021
Used for
From the label: indicationsGlyburide is 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 1, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 16 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0643 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Glimepiride label of May 12, 2025, Glyburide label of July 1, 2021); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do glimepiride and glyburide differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Glimepiride, “Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.”; Glyburide, “of oral sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drugs.”
Both are in FDA's class sulfonylureas.
Generics: glimepiride since 2005; glyburide since 1995 (Drugs@FDA).
| Glimepiride | Glyburide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Sulfonylurea | Sulfonylurea |
| How it works (label) | Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. | of oral sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drugs. In addition to its blood glucose lowering actions, Glyburide produces a mild diuresis by enhancement of renal free water clearance. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The decrease of glyburide in the serum of normal healthy individuals is biphasic, the terminal half-life being about 10 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 30, 1995 | May 1, 1984 |
| First generic approved | October 6, 2005 | August 29, 1995 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 27 labelers | 16 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0507 per tablet (Glimepiride 4 mg tablet) | $0.0643 per tablet (Glyburide 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +4% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 38,737 | 24,067 |
| 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 glimepiride
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions