2020 To quickly search this medication table hold Ctrl+f (windows) or Cmd+f (mac) and type your search term; hit enter.
Related Links and Key
- Patient Medication Handouts
- Product indications change. Verify at Canada's Health Product Database.
- Questions to consider prior medication changes (also note Diabetes Canada's "Therapeutic Considerations for Renal Impairment")
- Medication Adjustments for Low Carb Diets
- Blue Cross Pharmacy Providers Price Files
- Alberta Blue Cross coverage database. The legend used on this page for *Alberta Blue Cross coverage is:
- B - benefit (coverage provided)
- NB - not a benefit (no coverage provided)
- SA - special authorization/step therapy required (The form for SA of GLP-1, DPP-4 or SGLT is here. All other SA forms are on the Blue Cross Forms page).
Diabetes Medication Classes
For quick access, click the medication class: | ||
Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Acarbose Glucobay® (B) $24-$33 |
50 or 100 mg (100 mg tid) |
Three times daily (before meals) |
Monotherapy or in combination with metformin, sulfonylurea or insulin |
Biguanide (Metformin)
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Metformin Glucophage® (B) $4 |
500 mg, 850 mg ​(max 2000-2500 mg/day) |
2-3 times daily |
Monotherapy or in combination with other antihyperglycemic agents |
Metformin extended release |
500 mg, 1000 mg (max 2000 mg/day) |
Once daily | Monotherapy or in combination with other antihyperglycemic agents |
DPP-4 Inhibitors
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Alogliptin Nesina® (NB) $66 |
6.25 mg, 12.5 mg, 25 mg (max 25 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
Linagliptin Trajenta® (SA) $79 |
5 mg (max 5 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
Saxagliptin Onglyza® (SA) $75-$88 |
2.5 mg, 5 mg (max 5 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
Sitagliptin Januvia® (SA) $92 |
25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg (max 100 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
GLP-1 Agonists (Incretin Mimetics)
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Dulaglutide injection Trulicity® (NB) $203 |
0.75 mg, 1.5 mg (max 1.5 mg/week) |
Once weekly injection |
|
Exenatide ER (Extended Release) Bydureon® (NB) $123 |
2 mg (max 2 mg/week) |
Once weekly injection |
|
Exenatide Byetta® (NB) $144 |
5 mcg, 10 mcg (max 20 mcg/day) |
Twice daily injection |
|
Liraglutide injection Victoza® (NB) $91- $272 |
0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg (max 1.8 mg/day) |
Once daily injection |
|
Lixisenatide injection Adlyxine® (SA) $113 |
10 ug, 20 ug (max 20 ug/day) |
Once daily injection |
|
Semaglutide injection Ozempic® (SA) $195 (NIHB Coverage -Non-insured health benefits for First Nations and Inuit) |
0.25, 0.5 mg, 1 mg
|
Once weekly injection |
|
Semaglutide tablets Rybelsus® (NB) $219.44 |
3mg, 7 mg, 14 mg tablet |
Once daily tablet |
|
Secretagogues (Sulfonylureas and Meglitinides)
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Gliclazide Diamicron® (B) $3 - $11 |
80 mg (max 320 mg/day) |
Twice daily |
"Non- ketosis prone, maturity onset or adult type" diabetes |
Gliclazide modified release Diamicron MR® (B) $3 - $14 |
30 mg, 60 mg (max 120 mg/day) |
Once daily |
"Non- ketosis prone, maturity onset or adult type" diabetes |
Glimepiride Amaryl® (NB) $29-67 |
1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg (max 8 mg/day) |
Once daily |
Monotherapy or with metformin or insulin |
Glyburide Diabeta® (B) $2-$6 |
2.5 mg, 5 mg (max 20 mg/day) |
Twice daily |
Type 2 Diabetes |
Repaglinide Gluconorm® (B) $7 |
0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg (max 4 mg/meal; 16 mg/day) |
At meals (optional HS snack) |
Monotherapy or with metformin or rosiglitazone |
SGLT-2 Inhibitors
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Canagliflozin (SGLT 2) Invokana® (SA) $84 |
100 mg, 300 mg (max 300 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
Dapagliflozin (SGLT 2) Forxiga® (SA) $82 |
5 mg, 10 mg (max 10 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
Empagliflozin (SGLT 2) Jardiance® (SA) $81 |
10 mg, 25 mg (max 25 mg/day) |
Once daily |
|
Ertugliflozin (SGLT 2) Steglatro® (NB) $74 |
5 mg, 15 mg (max 15 mg/day) |
Once daily (morning) |
|
Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Rosiglitazone Avandia® (SA) $31 - $69 |
2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg (max 8 mg/day) |
Once daily |
In combination with metformin or sulfonylurea. Prior to prescribing AVANDIA, physicians must: Document the eligibility of patients to meet the above criteria; Counsel each patient on the risks and benefits of AVANDIA, including the cardiovascular risks; and Obtain the patient’s written informed consent to take the drug. |
Pioglitazone Actos® (SA) $10- $21 |
15 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg (max 45 mg/day) |
Once daily |
Monotherapy or in combination with metformin or sulfonylurea. |
Combination Medications
Generic name (class) Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Available Strengths (max daily dose) |
Usual Dosing | Health Canada Indications |
Alogliptin (DPP-4) + Metformin Kazano® (NB) $72 |
12.5 mg / 500 mg 12.5 mg / 850 mg 12.5 mg / 1000 mg (max 25 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily | Alone or in combination with pioglitazone or insulin |
Linagliptin (DPP-4) + Metformin Jentadueto® (SA) $83 |
2.5 mg + 500 mg 2.5 mg + 850 mg 2.5 mg + 1000 mg (max 5 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily | Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea or empagliflozin. Boehringer 6m compassionate supply form (MDs). |
Sitagliptin (DPP-4) + Metformin Janumet® (SA) $100 |
50 mg / 500 mg 50 mg / 850 mg 50 mg / 1000 mg (max 100 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily | Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, pioglitazone or insulin. |
Sitagliptin (DPP-4) + Metformin modified release Janumet XR® (SA) $50 - $99 |
50 mg / 500 mg 50 mg / 1000 mg 100 mg / 1000 mg (max 100 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Once daily with a meal preferably in the evening |
Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, pioglitazone or insulin. |
Sitagliptin (DPP-4) + Ertugliflozin (SGLT-2) Steglujan® (NB) No cost available | 100 mg / 5 mg 100 mg / 15 mg | Once daily | Metformin |
Saxagliptin (DPP-4) + Metformin Komboglyze® (SA) $76 |
2.5 mg + 500 mg 2.5 mg + 850 mg 2.5 mg + 1000 mg (max 5 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily | Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea or insulin. |
Saxagliptin (DPP-4) + Dapagliflozin (SGLT-2) QTERN® (NB) $ - cost not available; not yet marketed |
5 mg / 5 mg 5 mg / 10 mg (max 5 mg / 10 mg/day) |
Once daily | On metformin and saxagliptin alone or already controlled with metformin, saxagliptin and dapagliflozin. Can be used with insulin. |
Canagliflozin (SGLT-2) + Metformin Invokamet® (NB) $95 |
50 mg / 500 mg 50 mg / 850 mg 50 mg / 1000 mg 150 mg / 500 mg 150 mg / 850 mg 150 mg / 1000 mg (max 300 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily | Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, pioglitazone or insulin. |
Canagliflozin (SGLT-2) + Metformin modified release Invokamet XR® (NB); not yet marketed |
50 mg / 500 mg 50 mg / 1000 mg 150 mg / 500 mg 150 mg / 1000 mg (max 300 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Once daily | Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, pioglitazone or insulin. |
Dapagliflozin (SGLT-2) + Metformin Xigduo® (SA) $74 |
5 mg / 850 mg 5 mg / 1000 mg (max 10 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily | Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, sitagliptin or insulin. |
Empagliflozin (SGLT-2) + Metformin Synjardy® (SA) $83 |
5 mg / 500 mg 5 mg / 850 mg 5 mg / 1000 mg 12.5 mg / 500 mg 12.5 mg / 850 mg 12.5 mg / 1000 mg (max 25 mg + 2000 mg/day) |
Twice daily |
Alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, pioglitazone or insulin (not premix). |
Empagliflozin (SGLT-2) + Linagliptin (DPP-4) Glyxambi® (NB) $142 |
10 mg / 5 mg 25 mg / 5 mg (max 25 mg + 5 mg/day) |
Once daily | Metformin |
Ertugliflozin (SGLT-2) + Metformin Segluromet® (NB) $74 | 2.5 mg / 500 mg 2.5 mg / 1000 mg 7.5 mg / 500 mg 7.5 mg / 1000 mg (max 15 mg / 2000 mg ) |
Twice daily | Sitagliptin |
Insulin degludec + liraglutide (GLP-1) Xultophy® (NB) $185-309 |
1 unit of Xultophy contains 1 unit of degludec and 0.04 mg liraglutide (fixed ratio) |
Once daily injection |
|
Insulin glargine + lixisenatide (GLP-1) Soliqua® (NB) $228 at max dose (NIHB Coverage - Non-insured health benefits for First Nations and Inuit) |
1 unit of SOLIQUA contains 1 unit of insulin glargine and 0.33 mcg lixisenatide (fixed ratio) Starting dose: 15 units/day or 30 units/day Maximum dose: 60 units/day |
Once daily injection |
|
Insulins
For quick access, click the type of insulin. Or, hold Ctrl+f (windows) or Cmd+f (mac) and type your search term; hit enter. |
Bolus Insulins
Titration of Bolus Insulin: See Diabetes Canada Insulin Titration Regimens and our Insulin Adjustments webpage.
Generic name |
Pharmacodynamics Onset/Peak/Duration |
Discard after room temp | Dosing Considerations |
Aspart Novorapid® (B) vial $30; cartridges $61; prefills $64 |
10-20 min / 1-3 hrs / 3-5 hrs |
28 days |
|
Faster Insulin Aspart Fiasp® (coverage under review) vial $30, cartridges $61, prefills $63 |
5-15 min / 1-3 hrs / 3-5 hrs |
28 days |
|
Lispro 100 u/mL Admelog® (NB) vial $22.70; cartridges $45; prefills $45 |
30-45 min/ 1-3 hr / 3-5 hr | 28 days |
|
Lispro 100 u/mL Humalog® (B) vial $29; cartridges $58; prefills $57 |
30-45 min / 1-3 hr / 3-5 hrs |
28 days |
|
Lispro 200 u/mL Humalog® (B) prefills $107 |
Same as Lispro 100 u/mL 30-45 min / 1-3 hr / 3-5 hrs |
28 days |
|
Glulisine Apidra® (B) vial $28; cartridges $53; prefills $53 |
10-15 min / 1-1.5 hrs / 3-5 hrs |
28 days |
|
Regular Insulin Humulin R® (B) vial $24; cartridges $47 |
Refer to "regular insulin" line in the image Pharmacodynamic Action Profiles of Bolus Insulins 30-60 min / 2-4 hrs / 6-8 hrs |
28 days | |
Regular Insulin Novolin ge Toronto® (B) vial $24; cartridges $47 |
Refer to "regular insulin" line in the image Pharmacodynamic Action Profiles of Bolus Insulins 30-60 min / 2-4 hrs / 6-8 hrs |
One month | |
Insulin, human biosynthetic Entuzity® (NB) 500 u/mL - acts as bolus and basal. See in the Basal Insulin Chart below. |
See in basal chart below | 28 days |
Basal Insulins
- Titration of Basal Insulin: See Diabetes Canada Insulin Titration Regimens and our Insulin Adjustments webpage.
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/box |
Pharmacodynamics Onset/Peak/Duration |
Discard after room temp | Dosing Considerations |
Degludec Tresiba® (B) 2 concentrations 100 u/mL: prefills $111 200 u/mL: prefills $133 Also see Combination Medications |
1 hr / no peak / 42 hrs |
8 weeks |
Conversion FROM degludec TO glargine is not standardized. (Eventually, 10-20% more glargine may be required.) Consider either:
|
Detemir Levemir® (B) cartridges $108; prefills $111 |
1.5 hrs / no peak / 16-24 hrs |
42 days (6 weeks) |
|
Insulin, human biosynthetic (basal and/or bolus) Entuzity® (NB) 500 u/mL prefills 2/box $94 prefills 5/box $237 (each pen has 1500 units) |
28 days |
|
|
Insulin, human biosynthetic Humulin N ® (B) vial $24; cartridges $47; prefills $47 |
1-2 hrs / 5-8 hrs / 14-18 hrs |
28 days | |
Insulin, human biosynthetic Novolin ge NPH® (B) vial $24; cartridges $48 |
Refer to NPH line in the image Pharmacodynamic Action Profiles of Long-Acting Insulins 1-2 hrs / 5-8 hrs / 14-18 hrs |
One month | |
Glargine Lantus® (NB on July 1, 2020) vial $62; cartridges $93; prefills $93 Also see Combination Medications for Soliqua® |
1.5 hrs / no peak / 24 hrs |
28 days |
|
Glargine Basaglar® (B) cartridges $69; prefills $69 |
1.5 hrs / no peak / 24 hrs |
28 days | |
Glargine 300 u/mL Toujeo® (NB) 1.5 mL (450 unit) prefilled SoloSTAR pens $79 |
up to 6 hrs / no peak / up to 36 hrs |
42 days (6 weeks) |
|
Glargine 300 u/mL Toujeo Doublestar 3 mL (900 unit) prefilled pens $52.86 per each pen. |
up to 6 hrs / no peak / up to 36 hrs |
42 days (6 weeks) |
|
Mixed Insulins
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Pharmacodynamics Onset/Peak/Duration |
Discard after room temp (days) | Dosing Considerations |
Lispro insulin (% Humalog)/ lispro protamine Humulin® Mix25 (B) Cartridges $59, Prefills $58 Humulin® Mix50 (B) Cartridges $58, Prefills $57 |
Per insulins lispro (Humalog) and N | 28 days | |
30% regular insulin (R) / 70% insulin isophane (N), Humulin® 30/70 (B) vial $24, cartridges $47 |
Per insulins R and N | 28 days | |
Regular insulin (%Toronto) / insulin (%NPH) |
Per insulins Toronto and NPH | 1 month | |
30% soluble insulin aspart (rapid)/ 70% insulin aspart protamine crystals (NPH) NovoMix® 30 (NB) cartridges $56 |
Per insulins aspart (Novorapid) and NPH | 1 month |
Glucagon
Generic name Brand names (*coverage) Cost/Month |
Storage | Supporting materials and other considerations |
glucagon nasal powder BAQSIMI™ Over $132 (detailed cost pending) |
Store BAQSIMI in the shrink wrapped tube at temperatures up to 30°C (86°F). |
|
glucagon injection Glugagon Lilly (B) $96 per one kit |
Prior to reconstitution, Vials of GLUCAGON and prefilled Hyporets of Diluting Solution may be stored at controlled room temperature, 15° to 30°C | |
glucagon injection GlucaGen® NovoNordisk (B) $84.41 per one kit |
Prior to reconstitution, the shelf life of the product is 3 years. GlucaGen® should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 2-8°C. The sealed container should be protected from light and freezing should be avoided. | |