Oral Diabetes Medicines That Can Cause Low Blood Sugar
Topic Overview
Sulfonylureas can cause low blood sugar. They help the pancreas release insulin.
- Chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
- Glimepiride (Amaryl)
- Glipizide (Glucotrol)
- Glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase)
- Tolbutamide
- Tolazamide
Meglitinides help the pancreas release insulin. They may cause low blood sugar.
- Nateglinide (Starlix)
- Repaglinide (Prandin)
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors lower your blood sugar. They do this by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates.
- Acarbose (Precose)
- Miglitol (Glyset)
You are less likely to get low blood sugar if you take:
- DPP-4 inhibitors. These include sitagliptin (Januvia) and saxagliptin (Onglyza).
- Metformin. One brand name is Glucophage.
- Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors. These include canagliflozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), and empagliflozin (Jardiance).
- Thiazolidinediones. These include pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia).
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ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Theresa O'Young, PharmD - Clinical Pharmacy
David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
Current as ofDecember 7, 2017
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Current as of: December 7, 2017