Click on the links in the list below to see more information about the type 2 diabetes medication such as it’s warnings, side effects, interactions, and storage instructions.

List of available medications for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes is an issue where your body makes enough Insulin, but is insensitive to it and therefore unable to control blood glucose levels.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

A class of Type II diabetes medications is alpha glucosidase inhibitors. These drugs act to inhibit the function of alpha glucosidase enzymes. This enzyme is found in the small intestine and is used to allow for the absorption of glucose. This controls blood glucose levels by decreasing the amount of glucose being absorbed by the intestines. Common drugs are acarbose and miglitol. Trade names are Precose and Glyset respectively.

  • acarbose – Brand Name(s): Precose
  • miglitol – Brand Name(s): Glyset

Biguanides

Biguanides are another class of Type II diabetes drugs. The exact mechanism of how they work is not known, but it has been found in studies to increase insulin sensitivity and maintain insulin levels, helping control increased blood glucose levels. These drugs do not act upon the pancreas, but rather the liver by preventing it from making more glucose. Metformin is the brand name and is sold under various trade names.

Metformin combination drugs

Dopamine agonists

Dopamine agonists are another class of drugs used to control Type II diabetes. This is used in conjunction with insulin to increase the sensitivity of insulin. It is believed to prevent the liver from making extra glucose helping control blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Typically these drugs are not the first choice by doctors and are used when other drugs fail to control blood glucose levels. Dopamine agonists are another class of drugs used to control Type II diabetes. This is used in conjunction with insulin to increase the sensitivity of insulin. It is believed to prevent the liver from making extra glucose helping control blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Typically these drugs are not the first choice by doctors and are used when other drugs fail to control blood glucose levels.

  • Bromocriptine – Brand Name(s): Parlodel

DPP-4 inhibitors

DPP-4 inhibitors are another class of diabetes medications that are relatively new. These drugs are typically used when more common Type II diabetes drugs like metformin do not sufficiently control blood glucose levels. This class of drugs works by inhibiting the action of DPP-4 enzymes, whose function is to destroy a hormone called incretin. Incretins help stimulate the release of insulin and also inhibit the production of glucagon during digestion. There are various types of drugs sold under different brand names.

  • alogliptin – Brand Name(s): Nesina
  • alogliptin-metformin – Brand Name(s): Kazano
  • alogliptin-pioglitazone – Brand Name(s): Oseni
  • linagliptin – Brand Name(s): Tradjenta
  • linagliptin-empagliflozin – Brand Name(s): Glyxambi
  • linagliptin-metformin – Brand Name(s): Jentadueto
  • saxagliptin – Brand Name(s): Onglyza
  • saxagliptin-metformin – Brand Name(s): Kombiglyze
  • sitagliptin – Brand Name(s): Januvia
  • sitagliptin-metformin – Brand Name(s): Janumet XR
  • sitagliptin and simvastatin – Brand Name(s): Juvisync

Glucagon-like peptides (incretin mimetics)

Glucagon-like peptides (GLP) are another class of diabetes drugs. This class of drugs are not the first choice amongst doctors, but they have been found to be effective in controlling blood glucose levels in patients with Type II Diabetes. GLP-1 is an incretin, increasing production of insulin.

Meglitinides

Meglitinides are another class of medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes. These drugs are taken before meals and are fast acting. They help the insulin producing cells of the pancreas to produce more insulin.

Sodium glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors

Sodium glucose transport inhibitors is a class of drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes. These drugs inhibit SGLT2, an enzyme involved in glucose reabsorption in the kidneys. By inhibiting their function, these drugs help control blood glucose levels by excreting excess glucose in the urine.

  • dapagliflozin – Brand Name(s): Farxiga
  • dapagliflozin-metformin  – Brand Name(s): Xigduo XR
  • canagliflozin  – Brand Name(s): Invokana
  • canagliflozin-metformin  – Brand Name(s): Invokamet
  • empagliflozin  – Brand Name(s): Jardiance
  • empagliflozin-linagliptin  – Brand Name(s): Glyxambi
  • empagliflozin-metformin  – Brand Name(s): Synjardy

Sulfonylureas

Sulfonylureas stimulate the release of insulin from the insulin producing cells of the pancreas.

  • glimepiride  – Brand Name(s): Amaryl
  • glimepiride-pioglitazone  – Brand Name(s): Duetact
  • glimeperide-rosiglitazone – Brand Name(s): Avandaryl
  • gliclazide
  • glipizide  – Brand Name(s): Glucotrol
  • glipizide-metformin  – Brand Name(s): Metaglip
  • glyburide  – Brand Name(s): DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase
  • glyburide-metformin  – Brand Name(s): Glucovance
  • chlorpropamide  – Brand Name(s): Diabinese
  • tolazamide  – Brand Name(s): Tolinase
  • tolbutamide  – Brand Name(s): Orinase, Tol-Tab

Thiazolidinediones

Thiazolidinediones are another class of drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes, whose function is to stimulate the storage of fatty acids in the circulation, decreasing their utilization for energy. This stimulates the body to use more glucose to help fuel the body, by using up more glucose, it allows the body to control excess levels of glucose. Thiazolidinediones are another class of drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes, whose function is to stimulate the storage of fatty acids in the circulation, decreasing their utilization for energy. This stimulates the body to use more glucose to help fuel the body, by using up more glucose, it allows the body to control excess levels of glucose.

  • rosiglitazone  – Brand Name(s): Avandia
  • rosiglitazone-glimepiride – Brand Name(s): Avandaryl
  • rosiglitizone-metformin – Brand Name(s): Amaryl M
  • pioglitazone  – Brand Name(s): Actos
  • pioglitazone-alogliptin  – Brand Name(s): Oseni
  • pioglitazone-glimepiride  – Brand Name(s): Duetact
  • pioglitazone-metformin  – Brand Name(s): Actoplus Met

Click on the links in the list above to see more information about type 2 diabetes medications list listed such as their warnings, side effects, interactions, and storage instructions.

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