PAD Refills

Last updated on September 2, 2026

September 2026

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Diabetes drug table update

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On March 1, 2026, many diabetes medications, including insulin, metformin, glyburide, gliclazide, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin became fully covered under BC PharmaCare Plan NP (National Pharmacare plan). For a full list of benefits, refer to  Plan NP diabetes medications.

Generic name, brand name, available strengths Health Canada adult starting dose (range)1
See monographs for titration details
Approximate annual cost2
BC PharmaCare coverage
METFORMIN
metformin 
GLUCOPHAGE, generics 
500, 850, 1000 mg tabs 500 mg PO BID; 850 mg PO once daily (1500-2550 mg/day)3 $20 to $45 Regular benefit (plan NP)
metformin ER 
GLUMETZA, generics 
500, 1000 mg tabs 1000 mg ER PO once daily (1000-2000 mg/day) $520 to $1045 Non-benefit
SODIUM GLUCOSE COTRANSPORTER 2 INHIBITORS (SGLT2i)
dapagliflozin 
FORXIGA, generics 
5, 10 mg tabs 5 mg PO once daily (5-10 mg/day) $270 Regular benefit (plan NP)
dapagliflozin + metformin 
XIGDUO, generics 
5 + 850/1000 mg tabs 1 tab PO BID $765 Non-benefit
empagliflozin 
JARDIANCE 
10, 25 mg tabs 10 mg PO once daily (10-25 mg/day) $1140 Regular benefit (plan NP)
empagliflozin + metformin
SYNJARDY 
5 + 500/850/1000 mg tabs
12.5 + 500/850/1000 mg tabs 
1 tab PO BID $1175
canagliflozin 
INVOKANA, generics 
100, 300 mg tabs 100 mg PO once daily (100-300 mg/day) $970 to $1010 Non-benefit
canagliflozin + metformin
INVOKAMET
50 + 500/1000 mg tabs
150 + 1000 mg tabs
1 tab PO BID $1310
GLUCAGON LIKE PEPTIDE-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS (GLP1)
semaglutide 
OZEMPIC, generics
2 mg (0.25, 0.5 mg/dose) and 4 mg (1 mg/dose) multidose prefilled pens 0.25 mg subcut once weekly for 4 weeks, then to 0.5 mg/week (may titrate every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 2 mg/week) $550 to $1100 ($85/pen) Limited Coverage
2 mg dose: non-benefit
semaglutide 
RYBELSUS 
1.5, 4, 9 mg tablets 1.5 mg orally once daily on an empty stomach for 30 days, then to 4 mg/day (may to 9 mg/day after subsequent 30 days) $2970 Non-benefit
dulaglutide 
TRULICITY 
0.75 mg and 1.5 mg 
single-dose prefilled pens
0.75 mg subcut once weekly (may to 1.5 mg/week after 1 week, then may titrate every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 4.5 mg/week) $3450 to $3475 ($70/pen) Non-benefit
liraglutide 
VICTOZA
18 mg multidose prefilled pens (0.6, 1.2, 1.8 mg/ dose) 0.6 mg subcut once daily for 1 week, then to 1.2 mg/day (may to 1.8 mg/day after 1 week) $1430 to $4280 ($120/pen) Non-benefit
GLUCAGON-DEPENDENT INSULINOTROPIC POLYPEPTIDE (GIP) & GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 RECEPTOR AGONIST (GLP1)
tirzepatide
MOUNJARO 
10-60 mg multidose prefilled pens (2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 mg/dose) 2.5 mg subcut once weekly for 4 weeks, then to 5 mg/week (may titrate every 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 15 mg/week) $4215 to $7585 ($325 to $585/ pen) Non-benefit
BASAL INSULIN + GLP1 AGONIST FIXED-DOSE COMBINATIONS
insulin glargine + lixisenatide 
SOLIQUA 
300 units glargine + 100 mcg lixisenatide multidose prefilled pens (SoloSTAR) (100 units/mL + 33 mcg/mL) 1 unit = 1 unit of glargine + 0.33 mcg lixisenatide (do not exceed 10 mcg lixisenatide /day initially); dosage range: 15-60 units insulin glargine + 5-20 mcg lixisenatide subcut/day within 1 hour prior to first meal) $800 to $3195 ($220/5 pens) Non-benefit
SULFONYLUREAS (SU)
glyburide generics 2.5, 5 mg tabs 2.5 mg PO once daily > 60 years 
5 mg PO once daily < 60 years (2.5-20 mg/day)
$15 to $95 Regular benefit (plan NP)
gliclazide generics 80 mg tabs 80 mg PO BID (80-320 mg/day) $40 to $150 Regular benefit (plan NP)
gliclazide MR 
DIAMICRON MR, generics 
30, 60 mg tabs 30 mg MR PO once daily (30-120 mg/day) $15 to $50
glimepiride generics 1, 2, 4 mg tabs 1 mg PO once daily (1-8 mg/day) $325 to $830 Non-benefit
DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE 4 INHIBITORS (DPP4i)
linagliptin 
TRAJENTA 
5 mg tabs 5 mg PO once daily (5 mg/day) $980 Limited Coverage (plan NP)
linagliptin + metformin
JENTADUETO 
2.5 + 500/850/1000 mg tabs 1 tab PO BID $1030
saxagliptin 
ONGLYZA, generics 
2.5, 5 mg tabs 5 mg PO once daily (2.5-5 mg/day) $500 to $600 Limited Coverage (plan NP)
alogliptin 
NESINA 
6.25, 12.5, 25 mg tabs 25 mg PO once daily (6.25-25 mg/day) $870 Non-benefit
alogliptin + metformin
KAZANO 
12.5 + 500/850/1000 mg tabs 1 tab PO BID $945
sitagliptin 
JANUVIA, generics 
25, 50, 100 mg tabs 100 mg PO once daily (25-100 mg/day) $1100 Non-benefit
sitagliptin + metformin
JANUMET, generics 
50 + 500/850/1000 mg tabs 1 tab PO BID $1195
sitagliptin + metformin
XR JANUMET XR, generics 
50 + 500/1000 mg tabs
100 + 1000 mg tabs
50 + 500/1000 mg: 2 XR tabs PO once daily
100 + 1000 mg: 1 XR tab PO once daily
$1055 to $1195
MEGLITINIDE ANALOGUE
repaglinide 
GLUCONORM, generics 
0.5, 1, 2 mg tabs 0.5 mg PO TID (1.5-16 mg/day) $250 to $770 Non-benefit
THIAZOLIDINEDIONES (TZD)
pioglitazone generics 15, 30, 45 mg tabs 15-30 mg PO once daily (15-45 mg/day) $185 to $390 Limited Coverage (plan NP)
rosiglitazone generics 2, 4, 8 mg tabs 4 mg PO once daily or 2 mg PO BID (4-8 mg/day) $980 to $1400 Non-benefit
ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITOR
acarbose generics 50, 100 mg tabs 50 mg PO once daily (150-300 mg/day) $90 to $380 Non-benefit
tabs tablets; PO oral; BID twice a day; ER extended-release; subcut subcutaneous; MR modified-release; TID three times a day; 1Heath Canada Drug Product Database2McKesson Canada3US Food and Drug Administration Glucophage (metformin)Health Canada Drug Product Monographs; Cost range: includes initial to maximum dose without mark-up or professional fee rounded up to the nearest $5 calculated from McKesson Canada July 27, 2026; 3US Food and Drug Administration Glucophage (metformin); Basal insulin + GLP1 agonist combination: see Health Canada Drug Product Monographs for complex dosing instructions which take into account prior basal insulin dose
Generic name, brand name, available strengths, dosage forms 
(see monographs for titration details)1
Approximate cost per pack BC PharmaCare coverage2
BASAL INSULINS
insulin NPH 
HUMULIN N
NOVOLIN ge NPH 
100 units/mL vial (Novolin ge NPH)
100 units/mL cartridges, prefilled pen (Humulin N KwikPen)
vial (10 mL): $30
cartridges (15 ml): $65
pen (15 mL): $65
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin glargine biosimilar  
BASAGLAR 
100 units/mL cartridges, prefilled pen (KwikPen) cartridges (15 mL): $95
pen (15 mL): $95
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin glargine biosimilar 
SEMGLEE 
100 units/mL prefilled pen pen (15 mL): $70
insulin glargine 
LANTUS 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges, prefilled pen (SoloSTAR) vial (10 mL): $70
cartridges (15 mL): $105
pen (15 mL): $105
Non-benefit
insulin glargine 
TOUJEO 
300 units/mL prefilled pens (SoloSTAR, DoubleSTAR) SoloSTAR (15 mL): $145 
DoubleSTAR (9 mL): $175 
Non-benefit
insulin degludec 
TRESIBA
100 units/mL cartridges, prefilled pen (FlexTouch)
200 units/mL prefilled pen (FlexTouch)
cartridges (15 mL): $130
pen (15 mL): $130
pen 200 (9 mL): $155
Non-benefit
insulin icodec (once weekly)
AWIQLI
700 units/mL prefilled pen (FlexTouch) pen (1.5 mL): $85
pen (3 ml): $170
Non-benefit
BOLUS (PRANDIAL) INSULINS
insulin regular 
HUMULIN R
NOVOLIN ge Toronto 
100 units/mL vial (Novolin ge Toronto)
100 units/mL cartridges, prefilled pen (Humulin R KwikPen)
vial (10 mL): $30
cartridges (15 mL): $65
pen (15 mL): $70
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin regular basal + bolus action
ENTUZITY 
500 units/mL prefilled pen (KwikPen) pen (6 mL): $125 Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin aspart biosimilar 
TRURAPI
KIRSTY 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges, prefilled pen (Trurapi SoloSTAR)
100 units/mL prefilled pen (Kirsty)
vial (10 mL): $25
cartridges (15 mL): $50
pens (15 mL): $50
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin aspart 
NOVORAPID 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges vial (10 mL): $40
cartridges (15 mL): $75
Non-benefit*
insulin aspart 
FIASP 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges vial (10 mL): $35
cartridges (15 mL): $75
Non-benefit
insulin glulisine 
APIDRA 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges, prefilled pen (SoloSTAR) vial (10 mL): $35
cartridges (15 mL): $65
pen (15 mL): $65
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin lispro biosimilar 
ADMELOG 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges, prefilled pen (SoloSTAR) vial (10 mL): $25 
cartridges (15 mL): $50
pen (15 mL): $50 
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin lispro 
HUMALOG 
100 units/mL vial, cartridges, prefilled pens (KwikPen, Junior KwikPen)
200 units/mL prefilled pen (KwikPen)
vial (10 mL): $45
cartridges (15 mL): $85
pens (15 mL): $85 to $155
Non-benefit
BASAL + BOLUS INSULINS
insulin regular + NPH 
HUMULIN 30/70
NOVOLIN ge 30/70 
100 units/mL vial (Novolin ge 30/70)
100 units/mL cartridges (Humulin 30/70)
vial (10 mL): $30
cartridges (15 mL): $65
Regular benefit (plan NP)
insulin aspart + aspart protamine 
NOVOMIX 30 
100 units/mL cartridges cartridges (15 mL): $70 Non-benefit
insulin lispro + lispro protamine 
HUMALOG MIX25
HUMALOG MIX50
100 units/mL cartridges, prefilled pens (KwikPen) cartridges (15 mL): $85
pens (15 mL): $85
Non-benefit

NPH neutral protamine Hagedorn; 1Heath Canada Drug Product Database; 2Cost per 100 units without mark-up calculated from McKesson Canada July 27, 2026 (insulin is a Schedule II Professional Service Area retail drug and does not require a prescription); *for updated insulin coverage information and exceptions: see BC PharmaCare Biosimilars Initiative

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