Glibenclamide

Glibenclamide (AAN, BAN, INN), also known as glyburide (USAN), is an antidiabetic drug in a class of medications known as sulfonylureas, closely related to sulfonamide antibiotics. It was developed in 1966 in a cooperative study between Boehringer Mannheim (now part of Roche) and Hoechst (now part of Sanofi-Aventis).

It is sold in doses of 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg, under the trade names Diabeta, Glynase, and Micronase in the United States and Daonil, Semi-Daonil, and Euglucon in the United Kingdom, and Delmide, Glybovin in India. It is also sold in combination with metformin under the trade names Glucovance, Benimet, and Glibomet, as well as Glucored and Glucored Forte (by Sun Pharmaceutical) in Russia, Belarus and other countries of the CIS.

Medical uses

It is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. As of 2003, in the United States, it was the most popular sulfonylurea.

It is not as good as either metformin or insulin in those who have gestational diabetes.

Side effects and contraindications