This document provides information on various antihyperglycemic agents including: - Names of drugs, available strengths, usual maintenance doses, and approximate wholesale costs per unit. Drugs include various classes: biguanides, sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, basal insulins, and premixed insulins. - Costs provided are average wholesale costs to pharmacies before dispensing and do not include professional or dispensing fees. Insulin prices listed are based on pen cartridge costs.

1. Appendix 5 (March 2016)
Approximate Cost Reference Listi
for Antihyperglycemic Agents
ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC
AGENTS
AVAILABLE
STRENGTHS
USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE OR
USUAL DOSAGE RANGE
APPROXIMATE
WHOLESALE COST*/UNIT
Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitor
Acarbose (Glucobay™)
100 mg 50 - 100 mg three times a day $ 0.41/Tab
50 mg 50 - 100 mg three times a day $ 0.29/Tab
Biguanides
Metformin
(Glucophage®, generic)
500 mg 500 - 2000 mg per day in divided doses $ 0.05/Tab
850 mg 850 - 2550 mg per day in divided doses $ 0.06/Tab
Metformin ER
(Glumetza®)
500 mg 500 - 2000 mg per day $ 0.63/Tab
1000 mg 500 - 2000 mg per day $ 1.27/Tab
Incretin Agents – DPP-4 Inhibitors
Alogliptin (Nesina™)
6.25 mg 6.25 mg once daily (depending on renal function) $ 2.84/Tab
12.5 mg 12.5 mg once daily (depending on renal function) $ 2.84/Tab
25 mg 25 mg once daily (depending on renal function) $ 2.84/Tab
Linagliptin (Trajenta®) 5 mg 5 mg once daily $ 2.43/Tab
Saxagliptin (Onglyza®)
2.5 mg 2.5 - 5 mg once daily $ 2.57/Tab
5 mg 2.5 - 5 mg once daily $ 3.09/Tab
Sitagliptin (Januvia®)
25 mg 25 mg once daily (depending on renal function) $ 3.21/Tab
50 mg 50 mg once daily (depending on renal function) $ 3.21/Tab
100 mg 100 mg once daily $ 3.21/Tab
Incretin Agents – GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Albiglutide (Eperzan™) N/A N/A N/A
Dulaglutide(Trulicity™)
0.75 mg & 1.5 mg
prefilled pen
Available in packages
of 2 or 4 pens
Initial dose of 0.75 mg once weekly, increasing to
1.5 mg once weekly
$ 52.03 per week = an
average of $ 7.43/per day
(supplied as prefilled pen)
Exenatide (Byetta®)
5 mcg prefilled pen
(250 µg/mL)
10 mcg twice a day
$ 2.60/5 mcg dose = an
average cost of $5.20/day or
$ 36.38/week (supplied as
prefilled pen)
10 mcg prefilled pen
(250 µg/mL)
10 mcg twice a day
$ 2.60/10 mcg dose) = an
average cost of $5.20/day or
$ 36.38/week
(supplied as prefilled pen
guidelines.diabetes.ca
diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)Updated March 2016. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association.

2. ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC
AGENTS
AVAILABLE
STRENGTHS
USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE OR
USUAL DOSAGE RANGE
APPROXIMATE
WHOLESALE COST*/UNIT
Exenatide Extended
Release (Bydureon®)
2 mg prefilled pen
(Sold in
packages of 4 pens)
Single dose of 2 mg injected once weekly
$ 52.01 per week = an
average of $ 7.43/per day
(Supplied as prefilled pen)
Liraglutide (Victoza®)
6 mg/mL
prefilled pen
1.2 - 1.8 mg once daily
$ 2.98/0.6 mg dose = an
average cost of $ 20.86
per week
$ 5.96/1.2 mg dose = an
average cost of $ 41.77
per week
$ 8.95/1.8 mg dose = an
average cost of $ 62.65
per week
(supplied as prefilled pen)
Insulin Secretagogues – Sulfonylureas
Gliclazide
(Diamicron®, generic)
80 mg
80 - 320 mg per day
(doses > 160 mg should be twice a day)
$ 0.09/Tab
Gliclazide (Diamicron
MR®, generic)
30 mg 30 - 120 mg once daily $ 0.09/Tab
60 mg 60 - 120 mg once daily $ 0.21/Tab
Glimepiride
(Amaryl®, generic)
1 mg
1 - 4 mg once daily
(may increase to a maximum dose of 8 mg/day)
$ 0.44/Tab
2 mg
1 - 4 mg once daily
(may increase to a maximum dose of 8 mg/day)
$ 0.44/Tab
4 mg
1 - 4 mg once daily
(may increase to a maximum dose of 8 mg/day)
$ 0.44/Tab
Glyburide
(Diabeta®, generic)
2.5 mg 1.25 - 20 mg daily, taken usually twice per day $ 0.04/Tab
5 mg 1.25 - 20 mg daily, taken usually twice per day $ 0.06/Tab
Note: chlorpropamide and tolbutamide are still available in Canada, but rarely used
Insulin Secretagogues – Meglitinides
Nateglinide (Starlix)
(Discontinued)
60 mg 120 mg three times a day $ 0.60/Tab
120 mg 120 mg three times a day $ 0.63/Tab
Repaglinide
(Gluconorm®, generic)
0.5 mg
0.5 - 4 mg taken with meals
(max daily dose: 16 mg/day)
$ 0.15/Tab
1 mg
0.5 - 4 mg taken with meals
(max daily dose: 16 mg/day)
$ 0.16/Tab
2 mg
0.5 - 4 mg taken with meals
(max daily dose: 16 mg/day)
$ 0.18/Tab
guidelines.diabetes.ca
diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)Updated March 2016. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association.

3. ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC
AGENTS
AVAILABLE
STRENGTHS
USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE OR
USUAL DOSAGE RANGE
APPROXIMATE
WHOLESALE COST*/UNIT
Sodium Glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2)
Canagliflozin (Invokana™)
100 mg 100 - 300 mg once daily $ 2.84/Tab
300 mg 100 - 300 mg once daily $ 2.84/Tab
Dapagliflozin (Forxiga®)
5 mg 5 - 10 mg once daily $ 2.84/Tab
10 mg 5 - 10 mg once daily $ 2.84/Tab
Empagliflozin
(Jardiance™)
10 mg 10 - 25 mg once daily $ 2.84/Tab
25 mg 10 - 25 mg once daily $ 2.84/Tab
Thiazolidinediones
Pioglitazone (Actos)
generic
15 mg 15 - 30 mg once daily $ 1.13/Tab
30 mg 15 - 30 mg once daily $ 1.42/Tab
45 mg Maximum daily dose $ 2.72/Tab
Rosiglitazone (Avandia®)
2 mg 4 - 8 mg daily as a single or as a divided dose $ 1.49/Tab
4 mg 4 - 8 mg daily as a single or as a divided dose $ 2.34/Tab
8 mg 4 - 8 mg daily as a single or as a divided dose $ 3.31/Tab
Weight Loss Agent
Xenical® 120 mg tab 120 mg three times a day $ 1.78/Tab
Combination Products
Alogliptin/Metformin
(Kazano™)
12.5 mg/
500 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.49/Tab
12.5 mg/
850 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.49/Tab
12.5 mg/
1000 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.49/Tab
Dapagliflozin/Metformin
(Xigduo® )
5 mg/850 mg Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day (taken with food) $ 1.42/Tab
5 mg/1000 mg Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day (taken with food) $ 1.42/Tab
Linagliptin/Metformin
(Jentadueto™)
2.5 mg/500 mg Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.37/Tab
2.5 mg/
850 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.37/Tab
2.5 mg/
1000 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.37/Tab
guidelines.diabetes.ca
diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)Updated March 2016. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association.

4. ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC
AGENTS
AVAILABLE
STRENGTHS
USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE OR
USUAL DOSAGE RANGE
APPROXIMATE
WHOLESALE COST*/UNIT
Rosiglitazone/Metformin
(AvandaMet®)
2 mg/500 mg
Starting dose of 2 mg/500 mg may increase to a
maximum dose of 8 mg/2000 mg per day
$ 1.26/Tab
2 mg/1000 mg
Starting dose of 2 mg/500 mg may increase to a
maximum dose of 8 mg/2000 mg per day
$ 1.38/Tab
4 mg/500 mg
Starting dose of 2 mg/500 mg may increase to a
maximum dose of 8 mg/2000 mg per day
$ 1.73/Tab
4 mg/1000 mg
Starting dose of 2 mg/500 mg may increase to a
maximum dose of 8 mg/2000 mg per day
$ 1.83/Tab
Saxagliptin/Metformin
(Komboglyze®)
2.5 mg/
500 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.38/Tab
2.5 mg/
850 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.38/Tab
2.5 mg/
1000 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.38/Tab
Sitagliptin/Metformin
(Janumet®)
50 mg/
500 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.61/Tab
50 mg/
850 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.61/Tab
50 mg/
1000 mg
Usual dose 1 tablet twice per day $ 1.61/Tab
Sitagliptan/Metformin
Extended Release
Formula (Janumet XR®)
50 mg/
500 mg
Usual dose 2 tablets once daily $ 1.61/Tab
50 mg/
1000 mg
Usual dose 2 tablets once daily $ 1.61/Tab
100 mg/1000 mg
(currently only
available in Quebec)
Usual dose 1 tablets once daily $ 1.61/Tab
guidelines.diabetes.ca
diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)Updated March 2016. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association.

5. Approximate Cost Reference for Insulinsii
ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC
AGENTS
AVAILABLE STRENGTHS
USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE
OR USUAL
DOSAGE RANGE
UNIT COST
FOR PEN
CARTRIDGE
UNIT COST
FOR PRE-
FILLED PEN
PRANDIAL (BOLUS) INSULINS
Rapid-Acting Insulin Analogues
Aspart
(NovoRapid®)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.043/unit $ 0.044/unit
Glulisine (Apidra®)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.036/unit $ 0.036/unit
Lispro (Humalog®)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.041/unit $ 0.040/unit
Lispro 200 units/mL
(Humalog®)
200 units/mL
(600 units/prefilled pen)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
N/A $ 0.037/unit
Short-Acting
Insulin regular
(Humulin®-R)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.033/unit N/A
Insulin regular
(Novolin®ge Toronto)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.031/unit N/A
Note: Pork regular insulin (Hypurin® Regular Insulin Pork) and pork isophane insulin (Hypurin® NPH Insulin Isophane) are available
but rarely used.
BASAL INSULINS
Intermediate-acting
Insulin NPH
(Humulin®-N)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.033/unit $ 0.033/unit
Insulin NPH
(Novolin®ge NPH)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.031/unit N/A
Long-acting Basal Insulin Analogues
Determir (Levemir®)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.075/unit $ 0.078/unit
Glargine 100 units/mL
(Lantus®)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.067/unit $ 0.067/unit
Glargine 300 units/mL
(Toujeo™)
300 units/mL
(450 units/prefilled pen)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
N/A $ 0.064/unit
Note: Pork regular insulin (Hypurin® Regular Insulin Pork) and pork isophane insulin (Hypurin® NPH Insulin Isophane) are available
but rarely used.
SUBSEQUENT ENTRY BIOLOGICS (SEB)
Long-acting Basal Insulin Analogues
Glargine (rDNA origin)
100 units/mL (Basaglar™)
100 units/mL
(300 units/ cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.057/unit $ 0.057/unit
guidelines.diabetes.ca
diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)Updated March 2016. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association.

6. *Approximate unit drug cost not including dispensing/professional fee and pharmacy mark-up. Approximate Canadian Cost average is the weighted wholesale cost
(including a wholesale mark-up charge) to the pharmacy before dispensing.
i
The listed medications represent both the classes and the agents that are most commonly used in primary care practices. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list, and is
intended only as a guide for the family physician.
ii
Insulin prices are based on the pen cartridge price and corresponding vial price would be marginally less
ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC
AGENTS
AVAILABLE STRENGTHS
USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE
OR USUAL
DOSAGE RANGE
UNIT COST
FOR PEN
CARTRIDGE
UNIT COST
FOR PRE-
FILLED PEN
PREMIXED INSULINS
Premixed Regular Insulin – NPH
Insulin regular/NPH
(Humulin® 30/70)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.028/unit N/A
Insulin regular/NPH
(Novolin®ge 30/70,
40/60, 50/50)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.031/unit N/A
Premixed Insulin Analogues
Aspart 30%/aspart
protamine 70%
(NovoMix®30)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.040/unit N/A
Lispro 25%/lispro
protamine 75%
(Humalog Mix25™)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.041/unit $ 0.040/unit
Lispro 50%/lispro
protamine 50%
(Humalog Mix50™)
100 units/mL
(300 units/cartridge)
N/A as dose is determined by
response by patient
$ 0.040/unit $ 0.040/unit
guidelines.diabetes.ca
diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)Updated March 2016. Copyright © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association.