Glipizide
Information about Glipizide
Glipizide uses
Glipizide is used to lower the blood sugar level in patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus that is not controlled by diet and exercise alone.
. It is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.How glipizide works
Glipizide is an antidiabetic medication. It works by increasing the amount of insulin released by the pancreas in order to lower blood glucose.
Common side effects of glipizide
Dizziness, Diarrhea, Nervousness, Tremors, Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level), Flatulence, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Weight gain, Abdominal discomfort, Abnormal sensation, Vasculitis, Hypersensitivity, Abnormal liver function, Increased creatinine level in blood, Increased blood urea, Rash, Itching, Bullous dermatoses (skin disease characterized by presence of blisters), Liver failure
Available Medicine for Glipizide
Expert advice for Glipizide
- Take it shortly before or with the first main meal of the day (usually breakfast). Avoid skipping meals.
- Be careful while driving or operating machinery until you know how Glipizide affects you.
- It can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) when used with other antidiabetic medicines, alcohol or if you delay or miss a meal.
- Always carry some sugary food or fruit juice with you in case you experience hypoglycemic symptoms such as cold sweats, cool pale skin, tremor and anxiety.
- Your doctor may check your liver function regularly. Inform your doctor if you develop symptoms, such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).
Frequently asked questions for Glipizide
Glipizide
Q. What is the best time to take Glipizide?
Take Glipizide before meals or exactly as instructed by your doctor. There is evidence stating that Glipizide works best at controlling post meal high blood sugar levels when taken 30 minutes before breakfast. So, if you are supposed to take it once daily, take it in the morning before breakfast with a glass of water.
Q. Is Glipizide the same as metformin?
No, Glipizide is not the same as metformin. Although both these oral medicines are used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the way they work to reduce the sugar levels are different. While Glipizide acts by increasing the secretion of insulin by the pancreas, metformin acts by improving the functioning and effectiveness of the insulin already available in the body.
Q. Is Glipizide bad for kidneys?
No, Glipizide is not harmful if your kidney function is normal. Any previous case of kidney problem should be informed to the doctor, so that the use of Glipizide can be assessed. This is done in order to analyze whether Glipizide can be given or not because it is principally excreted by the kidney. If you have kidney problems you will be started at a lower dose.