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Glipizide SR

 

Glipizide SR (generic Glucotrol XL) Review

brand name: Glucotrol
generic name: Glipizide

How does it work?

In patients with diabetes mellitus, there is a deficiency or absence of a hormone manufactured by the pancreas called insulin. Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the control of sugar in the blood.

Glipizide is an antidiabetic medication which is used in those patients with adult maturity onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM). It works by lowering blood sugar levels by stimulating the production and release of insulin from the pancreas. It also promotes the movement of sugar from the blood into the cells in the body which need it.

These two mechanisms in conjunction with a diet low in sugar and fat allows diabetics to control their blood sugar levels more effectively.

What other drugs will affect Glipizide (Sr)?

Many other medicines may increase or decrease the effects of Glipizide (Sr) or affect your condition. Before taking Glipizide (Glucotrol), tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal cough, cold, allergy, or weight loss medications.
• isoniazid (Nydrazid); or
• phenytoin (Dilantin);
• a phenothiazine such as promethazine (Phenergan), prochlorperazine (Compazine), Permitil), fluphenazine (Prolixin, chlorpromazine (Thorazine), and others;
• a steroid medicine such as others), Pediapred, prednisolone (Prelone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol, others), Orasone, prednisone (Deltasone, and others;
• a diuretic (water pill) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), Hydrodiuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, and others;
• a beta-blocker such as metoprolol (Lopressor), acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), and others;
• a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), or phenelzine (Nardil);
• a sulfa-based drug such as sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), Septra), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine);
• a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Aleve), Naprosyn, naproxen (Anaprox, oxaprozin (Daypro), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), etodolac (Lodine), Cataflam), diclofenac (Voltaren, Oruvail), Orudis KT, ketoprofen (Orudis, others), Nuprin, Advil, ibuprofen (Motrin, and others;
• aspirin or another salicylate such as magnesium salicylate (Magan), choline salicylate (Arthropan), others), salsalate (Disalcid, magnesium/choline salicylate (Trilisate), or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol);

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Glipizide (Sr) or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, minerals, including vitamins, and herbal products.

You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

The effects of Glucotrol during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. Therefore, if you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you should take Glucotrol only on the advice of your physician. Since studies suggest the importance of maintaining normal blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy, your physician may prescribe insulin during pregnancy. To minimize the risk of low blood sugar in newborn babies, Glucotrol, if taken during pregnancy, should be discontinued at least one month before the expected delivery date.

Although it is not known if Glucotrol appears in breast milk, other oral antidiabetics do. Because of the potential for hypoglycemia in nursing infants, your doctor may advise you either to discontinue Glucotrol or to stop nursing. If Glucotrol is discontinued and if diet alone does not control glucose levels, your doctor may prescribe insulin.

What drug(s) may interact with Glipizide?

•alcohol
•beta-blockers (used for high blood pressure or heart conditions)
•bosentan
•cisapride
•clofibrate
•diazoxide
•medicines for fungal or yeast infections (examples: fluconazole, nutritional supplements, including non-prescription medicines, ofloxacin)
•some herbal dietary supplements
•steroid medicines such as asthma, cold, or cough
•niacin
•pentamidine
•phenytoin
•quinolone antibiotics (examples: ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, prednisone or cortisone
•thyroid hormones
•water pills (diuretics)

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, birth control pills
•isoniazid
•male hormones or anabolic steroids
•medications for weight loss
•medicines for allergies,. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

Not to be used in

• Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)
  
  

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Call 1-800-222-1222 to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, your local poison control center ( http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm ), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include confusion; tingling of the lips and tongue; sweating; shakiness; rapid heartbeat; nausea; loss of consciousness; vomiting.

Proper storage of Glipizide (Sr) :

Store Glipizide at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, light, moisture, and humidity. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Glipizide (Sr) out of the reach of children and away from pets.