May - June 2006

Anti-Diabetic Tablets

• We tested 20 national brands of anti-diabetic tablets, which consisted of 5 brands each of glibenclamide (5 mg), glipizide (5 mg), gliclazide (80 mg) and metformin (500 mg). Out of these, metformin is a biguanide and the rest are sulphonylureas.

• We tested glibenclamide and metformin tablets as per IP and glipizide and gliclazide as per BP.

• All the tablets were tested for assay, identification, uniformity of weight and disintegration as per IP and BP. Glibenclamide, glipizide and gliclazide were tested for the uniformity of content. The test was not prescribed for the latter two but we conducted it in the interest of consumers. Metformin was tested for dissolution as per IP. All the tablets complied with all the parameters given in the respective standards.
  
• Since all the brands complied with the standards, a major criterion for preferring one brand to another was their price.
  
• The price ranged from Rs. 4.65 to Rs. 63.70 for ten tablets. Gliclazide tablets were the most expensive of all.
  

Details of the test report can be read in INSIGHT

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