Two medicines, side by side
Glipizide vs glimepiride
Glipizide and glimepiride are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of glipizide since 1984 and of glimepiride since 1995. Pharmacies paid $0.0339 per glipizide 5 mg tablet and $0.0507 per glimepiride 4 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: 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.”; Glimepiride, “Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.”
Check it at the source: the glipizide FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026); the glimepiride FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2025).
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
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Glipizide label of January 8, 2026, Glimepiride label of May 12, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do glipizide and glimepiride differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: 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.”; Glimepiride, “Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.”
Both are in FDA's class sulfonylureas.
Generics: glipizide since 1994; glimepiride since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Glipizide | Glimepiride | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Sulfonylurea | Sulfonylurea |
| How it works (label) | 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. | Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 8, 1984 | November 30, 1995 |
| First generic approved | May 10, 1994 | October 6, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 31 labelers | 27 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0339 per tablet (Glipizide 5 mg tablet) | $0.0507 per tablet (Glimepiride 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | +4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,555 | 38,737 |
| 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 glipizide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions