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glipizide
Used for Diabetes Type 2
Used for Diabetes Type 2
Glipizide is a sulfonylurea medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. It lowers blood sugar levels by telling your pancreas to release more insulin. Glipizide is taken by mouth, typically once or twice daily. Some side effects of this medication include dizziness and diarrhea. Taking glipizide can also put you at risk for dangerously low blood sugar, so it's important to take this medication with meals.
What is Glipizide?
What is Glipizide used for?
How Glipizide works
Glipizide is a sulfonylurea. It lowers blood sugar levels by telling your pancreas to release more insulin.
When does Glipizide start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Glucotrol XL (extended-release) |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Sulfonylurea |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Glipizide essentials
Side effects of Glipizide
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness (7%)
- Diarrhea (5%)
- Nervousness (4%)
- Tremor (4%)
- Passing gas (3%)
- Low blood sugar levels (3%)
Note: Side effects were reported by people who took glipizide ER (Glucotrol XL) in clinical studies.
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Rash
Glipizide serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Dangerously low blood sugar levels: feeling hungry, fast heartbeat, shakiness, anxiety, sweating, tingling, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, confusion, coma
When do Glipizide possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Passing gas
Dangerously low blood sugar
Seek immediate medical care if you experience this side effect.
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
More on Glipizide side effects
The following Glipizide side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chills
cold sweats
coma
confusion
cool, pale skin
difficulty with moving
dizziness
fainting
fast heartbeat
headache
increased hunger
joint pain
leg cramps
muscle aching or cramping
muscle pain or stiffness
nervousness
nightmares
pain in the joints
problems in urination or increase in the amount of urine
seizures
shakiness
slurred speech
sweating
swollen joints
unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
Abdominal or stomach pain
bloody or black, tarry stools
body aches or pain
burning, dry, or itching eyes
clay-colored stools
congestion
dark urine
decreased vision or other changes in vision
difficult or labored breathing
difficult or painful urination
dryness or soreness of the throat
excessive tearing
fainting
fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
feeling of warmth
hoarseness
indigestion
loss of appetite
pain in the eye
pounding in the ears
rash
redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest
redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
severe stomach pain
shortness of breath
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
trouble in swallowing
unpleasant breath odor
voice changes
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
yellow eyes or skin
Incidence not known
Agitation
back or leg pains
bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
convulsions
decreased urine output
fluid-filled skin blisters
general body swelling
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
high fever
hostility
increased thirst
irritability
lethargy
light-colored stools
lower back or side pain
muscle twitching
nosebleeds
pinpoint red pots on the skin
rapid weight gain
sensitivity to the sun
skin thinness
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stupor
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
unusual bleeding or bruising
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Acid or sour stomach
belching
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
full feeling
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
Rare
Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
dizziness or lightheadedness
excessive muscle tone
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
flushing or redness of the skin
headache, severe and throbbing
hives or welts
inability to have or keep an erection
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
mood or mental changes
muscle stiffness
muscle tension or tightness
sensation of spinning
skin rash, encrusted, scaly, and oozing
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
unusually warm skin
walking in unusual manner
Incidence not known
Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
severe sunburn
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$12.840
GoodRx discount
$12.84
Pros and cons of Glipizide
Pros
- Taken by mouth
- Extended-release tablets taken once daily
- Available as a lower-cost generic medication
Cons
- Raises your risk for low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
- Need to take with meals or 30 minutes before a meal
- Can cause some weight gain as a side effect
Pharmacist tips for Glipizide
- You need to take glipizide with meals or 30 minutes before meals. If you're taking glipizide once daily, take it with breakfast or the biggest meal of the day.
- If you skip a meal, you might need to skip the glipizide you usually take with that meal. Otherwise, taking glipizide can raise your risk for dangerously low blood sugar levels. Ask your provider whether you should still take glipizide if you skip a meal.
- If you're taking glipizide extended-release tablets, make sure to take it whole. Don't crush or cut the tablets because it has a special coating that slowly releases the medication in your body.
- If you're taking glipizide extended-release tablets, you might notice what looks like a tablet in the stool. This is just the empty, non-dissolvable shell that contained the active medication. It's normal to pass it through the stool.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while taking glipizide, especially when you first start the medication or when your provider raises your dose. Drinking alcohol and taking glipizide at the same time can cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low, which can be dangerous.
- Glipizide can cause dizziness as a side effect. Don't drive or do activities that need a lot of focus or coordination until you know how this medication makes you feel.
- Glipizide can raise your risk for dangerously low blood sugar levels. Make sure you know how to recognize symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, sweating, or excessive hunger.
- It's important to always have fast-acting sugars with you so you can take it to treat low blood sugar levels. Some examples of fast-acting sugar include glucose (sugar) tablets, hard candy, fruit juice, or regular soda.
- If you feel symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as weakness or hunger, check your blood sugar levels right away. If your numbers are between 50-70 mg/dL, eat 15 grams of fast-acting sugar right away. Follow the "15-15 rule" to bring your blood sugar level back to a safe range. If your blood sugar isn't improving or continues to drop after eating fast-acting sugars, call 911.
More on Glipizide tips
Risks and warnings for Glipizide
Glipizide can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low blood sugar levels
- Risk factors: Missing meals or having inconsistent meal times | Drinking alcohol | Intense or long periods of exercise | Taking medications that lower blood sugar | Older adults | Kidney or liver problems
Glipizide can cause your blood sugar levels to drop to dangerously low levels. Your risk is higher if you're taking other blood sugar medications, such as insulin, or if you don't eat after taking your dose of glipizide. When you first start glipizide, your provider might ask you to check your blood sugar more often to make sure it doesn't drop too much. Symptoms of low blood sugar include feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, fast heartbeat, sweating or body chills, confusion, and feeling very hungry.
Make sure you and your family know how to treat low blood sugar and when they need to call 911. It's best to keep emergency fast-acting sugars with you at all times, in case you need to bring your blood sugar back up to a safer range.
Risk of low red blood cell count (hemolytic anemia)
- Risk factor: People with low levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
People who took medications similar to glipizide have experienced hemolytic anemia. If you've a certain genetic condition that raises your risk of this problem, your provider will most likely consider a different medication for you. Let your provider know if you experience symptoms of anemia, such as weakness, tiredness, or dizziness.
Possible risk of serious heart problems
A study of tolbutamide (a medication similar to glipizide) suggests that taking sulfonylureas might raise the risk of death due to heart problems. More research is needed in this area for glipizide. Let your provider know right away if you experience any symptoms of heart attack (chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness) or heart failure (trouble breathing, tiredness, swelling in your body, or sudden weight gain). Your provider might recommend that you go to the hospital and that you stop taking glipizide.
Risk of harm in people with certain stomach problems (extended-release tablets)
Extended-release glipizide has a non-dissolvable coating. There's a risk that people who have certain gut problems, such as strictures, can have a problem passing this coating. You won't be able to take extended-release glipizide if you have these gut-related problems.
Glipizide dosage
The average cost for 90 tablets of 10mg of Glipizide is $12.84 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 0.00% off the average retail price of $12.84. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg | 180 tablets | $17.51 | $0.10 |
| 10mg | 90 tablets | $12.84 | $0.14 |
| 2.5mg | 30 tablets | $21.24 | $0.71 |
Typical dosage for Glipizide
- The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth before breakfast. If needed, your provider will raise your dose every few days. If your total daily is higher than 15 mg, your provider will prescribe it as divided doses, taken twice daily. The maximum recommended daily dose is 40 mg total.
Glipizide (Glucotrol XL) extended-release
- The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth before breakfast. If needed, your provider will raise your dose every few days. The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once daily.
Your dose of glipizide might be lower if you're an older adult, have liver problems, or are taking other blood sugar medications.
More on Glipizide dosage
Interactions between Glipizide and other drugs
Glipizide may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Glipizide. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Glipizide interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acarbose
- Aspirin
- Balofloxacin
- Besifloxacin
- Ceritinib
- Chloroquine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Desmopressin
- Disopyramide
- Dulaglutide
- Enoxacin
- Entacapone
- Fleroxacin
- Flumequine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Lanreotide
- Levofloxacin
- Lixisenatide
- Lomefloxacin
- Metreleptin
- Moxifloxacin
- Nadifloxacin
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Pasireotide
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Pioglitazone
- Porfimer
- Prulifloxacin
- Rufloxacin
- Sitagliptin
- Sparfloxacin
- Thioctic Acid
- Tosufloxacin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Aminolevulinic Acid
- Atenolol
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bitter Melon
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Cimetidine
- Clarithromycin
- Colesevelam
- Cyclosporine
- Esmolol
- Fenugreek
- Furazolidone
- Gemfibrozil
- Glucomannan
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Labetalol
- Levobunolol
- Linezolid
- Methylene Blue
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Moclobemide
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nialamide
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Phenelzine
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Procarbazine
- Propranolol
- Psyllium
- Ranitidine
- Rasagiline
- Safinamide
- Saxagliptin
- Selegiline
- Sotalol
- Timolol
- Tranylcypromine
- Voriconazole
How much does Glipizide cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Glipizide contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Glipizide will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to sulfonamide medications
- Type 1 diabetes
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
What are alternatives to Glipizide?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Glipizide. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Glipizide images
