Table 2.
Cost comparison of combination agents versus component agents separately.
| Agent | Maximum effective dose (mg) | Cost/year ($)a | Pills/day | Component cost/year ($)a | Pills/day |
| Glucovance* | 2.5/500, 2 bid | 1,400 | 4 | 730 | 3 |
| Avandamet* | 2/500, 2 bid | 2,170 | 4 | 2,550 | 4 |
| Metaglip* | 5/500, 2 bid | 1,400 | 4 | 775 | 4 |
aAverage wholesale price for brand name and maximal allowable cost for generic preparations.
*Glucophage-XR, Glucovance and Metaglip (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ); Avandamet (GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC).