Two medicines, side by side
Glipizide vs repaglinide
Glipizide and repaglinide are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of glipizide since 1984 and of repaglinide since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.0339 per glipizide 5 mg tablet and $0.0987 per repaglinide 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, glipizide is a sulfonylurea and repaglinide a glinide.
Check it at the source: the glipizide FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026); the repaglinide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 2, 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 repaglinide record
Repaglinide (Prandin) · label of May 2, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsRepaglinide tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Limitation of Use: Repaglinide tablets should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 22, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 7 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0987 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Glipizide label of January 8, 2026, Repaglinide label of May 2, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do glipizide and repaglinide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, glipizide is a sulfonylurea and repaglinide a glinide.
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.”; Repaglinide, “Repaglinide lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas.”
Generics: glipizide since 1994; repaglinide since 2013 (Drugs@FDA).
| Glipizide | Repaglinide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Sulfonylurea | Glinide |
| 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. | Repaglinide lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas. This action is dependent upon functioning beta (ß) cells in the pancreatic islets. |
| 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 | December 22, 1997 |
| First generic approved | May 10, 1994 | July 11, 2013 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 31 labelers | 7 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0339 per tablet (Glipizide 5 mg tablet) | $0.0987 per tablet (Repaglinide 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -0.5% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 60,555 | 7,417 |
| 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