Glyburide (Micronase) Uses

Glyburide is a prescription drug used to improve glycemic control (blood sugar levels) in people with type 2 diabetes. 

There may be other uses of glyburide — your doctor or pharmacist can provide medical advice and give you more drug information on glyburide.

Glyburide (Micronase) Mechanism of Action

Glyburide works by causing the pancreas to produce more insulin and helping the body use insulin more efficiently. This medicine does not work for people with type 1 diabetes because in this condition, the pancreas does not make insulin. Glyburide also cannot be used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes.

Glyburide (Micronase) Doses

Glyburide is available as 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, and 5 mg oral tablets. It comes in different types of tablets that contain different amounts of medication. Your doctor will prescribe regular or micronized glyburide tablets depending on your needs. You should not switch between different brands or forms of this medicine (for example, between regular or micronized glyburide) without talking to your doctor first.

The typical glyburide dose for the non-micronized or regular form (DiaBeta, Micronase) is 2.5 mg to 5 mg once daily with the first or the largest meal of the day. The maximum dose is 20 mg per day. This may be taken as a single dose or in two divided doses. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually based on blood sugar control. 

The usual dose of micronized glyburide tablets (Glynase) is 1.5 mg to 3 mg by mouth taken with the first or the largest meal of the day. The maximum glyburide dose for the micronized form is 12 mg per day, taken in 1-2 doses. Your doctor may initiate a glyburide dose at a lower level and increase the dose at weekly intervals until your blood sugar levels are normal.