Detailed Drug Information:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Glipizide is an oral glucose-loweringdrug in a class of medications for diabetes called sulfonylureas.Glipizide lowers the sugar level in the blood by stimulating the releaseof by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone which lowers the blood sugarlevel.

Approximately 90% of patients with diabetes has type II or non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus. Type II diabetes usually occurs in adulthoodand is associated with obesity and a strong family history of diabetes.The inability to control the blood sugar (glucose) is caused by impairedinsulin release by the pancreas and resistance to insulin by cells.

PRESCRIPTION: yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: Immediate-release tablets: yes;Sustained-release tablets: no

PREPARATIONS: Immediate-release tablets; 5mg, 10mg.Sustained-release tablets (Glucotrol XL): 5mg, 10mg.

STORAGE: Glipizide should be stored at room temperature in atight container.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Glipizide is used in type II diabetes to helplower and control blood sugars that are not controlled by diet alone. Itis believed that strict sugar control in diabetics decreases the chancesof eye, kidney, and nerve damage. Oral sulfonylureas are used in type IIdiabetics if a strict diabetic diet is not effective at controlling thesugar level in blood. They also are tried before insulin is tried.

DOSING: Glipizide may be taken with or without food but isusually recommended with breakfast. Since glipizide is metabolized by theliver and excreted by the kidneys, dosages may need to be lowered inpatients with liver or kidney dysfunction.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: All sulfonylureas can cause low blood sugar(hypoglycemia). Therefore, glipizide must be used cautiously in patientswho have other potential reasons for having low blood sugars such aspatients with kidney or liver problems, poor food intake, using alcohol orparticipating in heavy exercise, as well as in patients taking otherglucose-lowering drugs. Drug interactions causing hypoglycemia can occurwith nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (for example, ibuprofen), sulfadrugs, coumadin, miconazole, fluconazole, and beta-blocking drugs. Highglucose reactions (hyperglycemia) can occur with thiazide diuretics,corticosteroids, thyroid medicines, estrogens, niacin, dilantin, andcalcium channel blocking drugs.

PREGNANCY: Glipizide should not be used in pregnancy.

NURSING MOTHERS: Glipizide should not be used by breast-feedingmothers.

SIDE EFFECTS: Minor side effects include headache, dizziness,diarrhea, and gas. Skin rashes can occur and cause itching, hives, or a diffuse measles-like rash. Rare but serious side effects includehepatitis, jaundice, and a low sodium concentration.