Glipizide
3 medicines
Glipizide is a sulfonylurea that lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes by making the pancreas release more insulin. Its defining risk is hypoglycemia, so you should never skip a meal after taking a dose.
Glucotrol Xl
Glipizide
5/10mg
Glucotrol Xl is a diabetes medication containing Glipizide, available as 5/10mg tablets.
Key facts
- Glipizide is a sulfonylurea that lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes by making the pancreas release more insulin.
- It is taken about 30 minutes before a meal, usually once or twice daily. It acts faster and clears the body more quickly than some other sulfonylureas, such as glibenclamide.
- Glipizide's defining risk is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Never skip or delay a meal after taking a dose.
- Seek urgent care for confusion, difficulty waking, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
What glipizide treats
Glipizide treats type 2 diabetes, lowering blood glucose when diet and exercise alone are not enough to reach target levels. It is not used for type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas makes little or no insulin.
How glipizide works
Glipizide binds to receptors on the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells, prompting them to release insulin. This lowers blood glucose, but because insulin release is not tied only to food intake, delaying or skipping a meal after a dose can let glucose fall too low.
Before you take it
- Do not take glipizide if you have type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, or a known allergy to sulfonylureas.
- Tell your prescriber about kidney or liver disease, since these can raise the risk of hypoglycemia and may require a dose adjustment.
- Alcohol increases the risk and severity of hypoglycemia. Tell your prescriber about all other glucose-lowering medicines.
Side effects
Common effects include hypoglycemia symptoms such as shakiness, sweating and hunger, mild nausea, and headache.
Stop and seek urgent medical care for:
- Confusion, slurred speech, seizures or loss of consciousness (severe hypoglycemia).
- Signs of an allergic reaction such as rash or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea leading to dehydration.
Safety essentials
- Hypoglycemia is glipizide's defining risk. Take it about 30 minutes before a meal, never skip that meal, and carry a fast-acting sugar source in case of shakiness or confusion.
- Older adults and people with kidney or liver impairment face a higher risk of low blood sugar and may need a lower dose.
- Illness, missed meals, increased exercise and alcohol all raise hypoglycemia risk; check blood glucose more often at these times, and tell your prescriber if low readings become frequent.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.