December 24, 2005
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
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.
