Two medicines, side by side
Repaglinide vs glimepiride
Repaglinide and glimepiride are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of repaglinide since 1997 and of glimepiride since 1995. Pharmacies paid $0.0987 per repaglinide 1 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. In FDA's classes, repaglinide is a glinide and glimepiride a sulfonylurea.
Check it at the source: the repaglinide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 2, 2025); the glimepiride FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2025).
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
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 (Repaglinide label of May 2, 2025, Glimepiride label of May 12, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do repaglinide and glimepiride differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, repaglinide is a glinide and glimepiride a sulfonylurea.
How each works, in its label's words: Repaglinide, “Repaglinide lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas.”; Glimepiride, “Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.”
Generics: repaglinide since 2013; glimepiride since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Repaglinide | Glimepiride | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Glinide | Sulfonylurea |
| How it works (label) | 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. | Glimepiride primarily lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 22, 1997 | November 30, 1995 |
| First generic approved | July 11, 2013 | October 6, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 7 labelers | 27 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0987 per tablet (Repaglinide 1 mg tablet) | $0.0507 per tablet (Glimepiride 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.5% | +4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,417 | 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 repaglinide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions