Look up one drug

Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

Patient plan: look up a medication list

ACARBOSE

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (A10B) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Canagliflozin (Invokana): general benefit
  • Dapagliflozin (Forxiga): general benefit
  • Dapagliflozin + metformin (Xigduo): general benefit
  • Empagliflozin (Jardiance): general benefit
  • Empagliflozin + metformin (Synjardy): general benefit
  • Gliclazide (Diamicron MR): general benefit, Not a benefit

12 more in the class list below

Glucobay · DIN 02190885 · 50mg · tablet

Listed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2023-07-10 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.Discontinued 2023-07-10 · checked 2026-09-02
StatusListed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2023-07-10 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2023-07-10 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Ontario Limited Use criteria — code 175, 176
Coverage limit: For the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM): Reason for Use code 175 In patients who cannot tolerate or have failed treatment with other oral hypoglycemic agents or in whom other oral hypoglycemic agents are contraindicated; Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: Indefinite Reason for Use code 176 In patients who require combination therapy with more than one oral hypoglycemic agent to control their serum glucose concentrations. Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: Indefinite
1 brand, same coverage
Glucobay · DIN 02190885 Manufacturer: Bayer Inc., Consumer Care Division; listing date 1996-12-19 Health Canada: Cancelled post market since 2023-07-10 · brand GLUCOBAY · ATC A10BF01 ACARBOSE · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients ACARBOSE 50 MG · company Bayer inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Glucobay: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=19648 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02190885)

Source record
DIN 02190885: Glucobay Raw flags: chronicUseMed=Y, notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y Item: 682002011; group id 739; item number 1807; lccId 00113; manufacturer id BAY Source form: Tab; strength: 50mg Recorded listing: Listed, not a benefit; ODB pays only for the benefit products in this interchangeable category; chronic-use medication (100-day supply rule, dispensing-fee limit) Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02190885 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=19648
Interchangeable products
Mar-Acarbose · DIN 02494078 · $0.1482
Shortage status: discontinued (2023-07-10, reported by BAYER INC); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=02190885
Shortage record checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00
Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2023-07-10 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Other drugs in the same formulary class (68:20:02 Oral Anti-Diabetic Agents) and how they are covered

Matched class: 68:20:02 Oral Anti-Diabetic Agents

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: CANAGLIFLOZIN, DAPAGLIFLOZIN, DAPAGLIFLOZIN & METFORMIN, EMPAGLIFLOZIN, EMPAGLIFLOZIN & METFORMIN, LINAGLIPTIN, LINAGLIPTIN & METFORMIN, SAXAGLIPTIN, SAXAGLIPTIN & METFORMIN, SITAGLIPTIN, SITAGLIPTIN & METFORMIN Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): GLICLAZIDE, GLYBURIDE, METFORMIN HCL 68:20:02 Oral Anti-Diabetic Agents

CANAGLIFLOZIN

· 8 products · General benefit · strengths: 100mg, 300mg · Tab

DAPAGLIFLOZIN

· 22 products · General benefit · strengths: 5mg, 10mg · Tab

DAPAGLIFLOZIN & METFORMIN

· 6 products · General benefit · strengths: 5mg & 1000mg, 5mg & 850mg · Tab

EMPAGLIFLOZIN

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 10mg, 25mg · Tab

EMPAGLIFLOZIN & METFORMIN

· 6 products · General benefit · strengths: 5mg & 1000mg, 5mg & 500mg, 5mg & 850mg, 12.5mg & 1000mg, 12.5mg & 500mg, 12.5mg & 850mg · Tab

GLICLAZIDE

· 19 products · General benefit (18), Listed, not a benefit (1) · strengths: 60mg, 30mg, 80mg · ER Tab, SR Tab, Tab

GLYBURIDE

· 8 products · General benefit (6), Listed, not a benefit (2) · strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg · Tab

LINAGLIPTIN

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 5mg · Tab

LINAGLIPTIN & METFORMIN

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 2.5mg & 1000mg, 2.5mg & 500mg, 2.5mg & 850mg · Tab

METFORMIN HCL

· 53 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (33), General benefit (19), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; DIN status E (meaning unconfirmed); confirm discontinuation/availability with Health Canada (1) · strengths: 500mg, 1000mg, 850mg · ER Tab, Tab

SAXAGLIPTIN

· 6 products · General benefit · strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg · Tab

SAXAGLIPTIN & METFORMIN

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 2.5mg & 1000mg, 2.5mg & 500mg, 2.5mg & 850mg · Tab Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 68:20:02 and 6 more
Full class listing Related classes: 68:20:06 Incretin Mimetics, 68:20:10 Insulins (Rapid Acting), 68:20:12 Insulins (Intermediate Acting), 68:20:14 Insulins (Long Acting), 68:20:16 Insulins (Pre-Mixed) Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
Other drugs whose Health Canada label lists a similar indication: type 2 diabetes
From Health Canada product monographs; label wording only, not a treatment recommendation. Matching is lexical and uses one held product label per generic; formulations and qualifying criteria may differ. No displayed matched alternative is a general benefit. SEMAGLUTIDE · Limited Use, codes 667 (2), Limited Use, codes 666 (2), Limited Use, codes 665 (3), Limited Use, codes 738 (1), Limited Use, codes 662 (1), Limited Use, codes 739 (1), Limited Use, codes 663 (1), Limited Use, codes 740 (1), Limited Use, codes 664 (1), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (2) Indications OZEMPIC® is indicated for the once-weekly treatment of adult patients with type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control, in combination with: • diet and exercise in patients for whom metformin is inappropriate due to contraindication or intolerance. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00085314.PDF; date 2026-07-13; DIN 02471469; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph Coverage source: ON formulary extract 2026-08-26
What the Health Canada label says it is for
INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE • MAR-ACARBOSE (acarbose), as monotherapy, is indicated as an adjunct to prescribed diet for the management of blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are inadequately controlled by diet alone. • MAR-ACARBOSE may also be used in combination with either a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who are inadequately controlled on diet, exercise and either a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin alone. The effect of MAR-ACARBOSE in enhancing glycemic control is additive to that of sulfonylureas, metformin or insulin when used in combination, because of its different mechanism of action. In initiating treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, diet should be emphasized as the primary form of treatment. Caloric restriction and weight loss are essential in the obese diabetic patient. Proper dietary management alone may be effective in controlling blood glucose and symptoms of hyperglycemia. The importance of regular physical activity when appropriate should also be stressed. If this treatment p… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00053914.PDF PM date: not printed or not captured Source product: MAR-ACARBOSE; DIN 02494078; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Availability

Glucobay · DIN 02190885 Shortage status: discontinued (2023-07-10, reported by BAYER INC); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=02190885

Check this DIN again

Other review policies

For Glucobay: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026