glipizide vs glyburide

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of glipizide and glyburide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
glipizide Sulfonylurea
glyburide Sulfonylurea
Type
glipizide Prescription
glyburide Prescription
Summary
glipizide

Glipizide is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise.

glyburide

Glyburide is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise.

What It Treats
glipizide

Glipizide is used to improve blood sugar control in adults who have type 2 diabetes. It is meant to be used in addition to diet and exercise. This medicine helps your body use insulin better and lowers blood sugar levels.

glyburide

Glyburide is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults who have type 2 diabetes. It is prescribed in addition to diet and exercise. This medicine helps your body use insulin better, which lowers your blood sugar.

How It Works
glipizide

Glipizide belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. It works by helping your pancreas release more insulin. Insulin then helps your body use sugar from the food you eat.

glyburide

Glyburide belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. It works by helping your pancreas release more insulin. Insulin then helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy.

Common Side Effects
glipizide
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Skin rash
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
glyburide
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Fullness in your upper abdomen
FAERS Reports
glipizide
  • Blood Glucose Increased 6,677
  • Nausea 4,444
  • Diarrhoea 3,265
  • Fatigue 2,994
  • Weight Decreased 2,812
glyburide
  • Blood Glucose Increased 3,038
  • Nausea 2,019
  • Weight Decreased 1,537
  • Diarrhoea 1,282
  • Dizziness 1,201
Serious Warnings
glipizide

Glipizide can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Watch for symptoms like shakiness, sweating, confusion, and rapid heartbeat. If you have very low blood sugar, get medical help right away. Certain drugs can increase the risk of low blood sugar. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.

glyburide

Oral diabetes medicines like glyburide may increase your risk of heart problems, compared to treatment with diet alone or diet plus insulin. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking glyburide.

Pregnancy
glipizide

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if glipizide will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar during pregnancy. It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking this medication.

glyburide

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if glyburide will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare glipizide with

Compare glyburide with

How to Read This glipizide vs glyburide Comparison

glipizide is classified in the Sulfonylurea drug class, while glyburide sits within the Sulfonylurea class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, glipizide has 20,192 submissions while glyburide has 9,077. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for glipizide or glyburide.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.