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Question
My husband takes
glyburide
and metformin.
We have retired in Mexico where he ran short of the glyburide before the next delivery was sent, and we were told that glibenclamide can be taken in its place. However, an American doctor (here) told him he could take Glucobay.
Can you advise me as to which one would be equivalent to the glyburide
(used as a
substitute)?
Answer
The names are certainly confusing!
The sulfonylurea
which is called glibenclamide in most of the world is called
glyburide in the US. Brand names (in the US) include DiaBeta and Micronase.
Glucobay is the brand name of a different diabetes drug (acarbose) that
is not a sulfonylurea. It is what's called a
alpha-glucosidase inhibitor,
and
has an entirely different mode of action.
