Introduction

Glipizide is categorized as sulfonylurea and is an oral blood-glucose-lowering drug. It is a whitish powder and is freely soluble in dimethylformamide and insoluble in water and alcohols. It is available under the brand name of Generic Glucotrol XL in the form of tablets intended to be taken orally. Generic Glucotrol XL tablets controls the rate of delivery of glipizide into the gastrointestinal lumen. Being osmotically active drugs, the Glipizide SR Tablets have two layers in the drug core surrounded by a semipermeable membrane containing the drug in the active layer and osmotically active components in the push layer.

Drug Indications

Generic Glucotrol XL tablets are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition in which the glucose level in blood increases to high levels.

Dosage & Administration

The dosage of these tablets can be best advised by your doctor but the usual normal dosage may be the following.

During initial therapy the recommended dose is 5 mg per day and should be taken with food. Patients who have developed sensitivity to hypoglycemic drugs may be administered with an initial dose lower than that.

The dosage of Generic Glucotrol XL tablets is dependent on the measures of glycemic control which should be taken at an interval of every three months. If preceding three months show inadequate glycemic control, then the dosage may be increased but even if after increasing the dose no improvement is seen after three months, then the old dosage is recommended.

Most patients have responded to 5 mg to 10 mg taken once daily. Some patients may require up to the maximum recommended daily dose of 20 mg but the dosage should not exceed 20 mg per day.

Patients with stable type 2 diabetes receiving insulin may be given treatment with these tablets but cautiously.

For patients who take 20 units or less of insulin daily may begin with the usual dose 5mg to 10mg of Glipizide per day and stop taking insulin but titration steps should be at interval of several days.

For patients who take more than 20 units of insulin daily may begin with the usual dose 5mg to 10mg of Glipizide per day but the insulin taken should be reduced to 50%. But titration steps should be at interval of several days.

Patients receiving other oral hypoglycemic agents may be administered with Glipizide SR tablets but should be carefully monitored for one to two weeks with the usual recommended dosage.

Side Effects

The commonly seen side effects are pain, insomnia, paresthesia, anxiety, depression and hypesthesia, nausea, dyspepsia, constipation and vomiting, hypoglycemia, arthralgia, leg cramps and myalgia, syncope, sweating and pruritus, rhinitis, blurred vision and polyuria. Rarely reported side effects are chills, hypertonia, confusion, vertigo, somnolence, anorexia, arrhythmia, migraine, dysuria, rash and urticaria. Experiencing of any side effects should be immediately reported to your doctor.

Drug Interactions

Anti-inflammatory agents and other highly protein bound drugs may potentiate the hypoglycemic action of Generic Glucotrol XL.

Thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel blocking drugs, and isoniazid may tend to produce hyperglycemia. So the patients taking these drugs along with Glipizide should be carefully monitored for blood glucose.

Drug Contraindications

Generic Glucotrol XL tablets are contraindicated in patients who have developed hypersensitivity to glipizide or any excipients in the drug. Patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis, with or without coma should be contradicted from using these tablets.