Glucovance

If you have type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider may prescribe Glucovance. This medication helps to lower blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas produce more insulin and helping the cells of the body respond better to insulin. It also works to decrease the amount of sugar made by the liver and to decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body. The medication is available in three strengths and is usually taken by mouth once or twice a day with meals.

What Is Glucovance?

Glucovance® (glyburide and metformin) is a prescription medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes). Glucovance is a combination of two different diabetes medications: glyburide (DiaBeta®, Glynase®, or Micronase®) and metformin hydrochloride (Fortamet®, Glucophage®, Glucophage XR®, Glumetza®, or Riomet®).
 
(Click Glucovance Uses for more information on what the drug is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes It?

Glucovance is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
 

How Does Glucovance Work?

Glucovance is a combination of two diabetes medicines (glyburide and metformin).
 These two medications work differently and have different effects in the body:
 
  • Glyburide is part of a class of diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas. A sulfonylurea, such as glyburide, helps the pancreas make more insulin. It also helps the cells of the body respond better to insulin. This helps to lower blood sugar and keep it under better control.
     
  • Metformin works in several ways. It decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It can also decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body (from the diet) and can make insulin receptors more sensitive, helping the body respond better to its own insulin. All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels.
     
Glucovance is not used for type 1 diabetes treatment.
 
(Glucovance Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation
Referring Pages Articles Health Topics Drugs & Supplements