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Glucotrol XL - Uses & Side Effects

Generic name: Glipizide
Other brand name: Glucotrol XL

Glucotrol is in a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. Glucotrol is used together with diet and exercise to control non-insulin-dependent, or Type II, diabetes, which was once called "adult-onset diabetes."

This pill seems to stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin in response to a meal.

Glucotrol Dosage

• The usual recommended starting dose is 5 milligrams taken before breakfast. Depending upon blood glucose response, your doctor may increase the initial dose in increments of 2.5 to 5 milligrams. The maximum recommended daily dose is 40 milligrams; total daily dosages above 15 milligrams are usually divided into 2 equal doses that are taken before meals.

Uses of Glucotrol

• Glucotrol is an oral drug that is used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the sulfonylurea class of drugs that includes glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta), tolbutamide (Orinase) and tolazamide (Tolinase).
• Glucotrol is an anti-diabetic drug (sulfonylurea-type) used along with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar.

Side Effects of Glucotrol

Side effects from Glucotrol are rare and seldom require discontinuation of Glucotrol. Side effects may include:

• Constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, gas, headache, hives, itching, low blood sugar, nervousness, sensitivity to light, skin rash and eruptions, stomach pain, tremor.
• Blurred vision, cold sweats, dizziness, fast heartbeat, fatigue, headache, hunger, light-headedness, nausea, nervousness.

Warnings and precautions before taking Glucotrol:

• It's possible that drugs such as Glucotrol may lead to more heart problems than diet treatment alone, or diet plus insulin. If you have a heart condition, you may want to discuss this with your doctor.
• If you are taking Glucotrol, you should check your blood and urine periodically for the presence of abnormal sugar (glucose) levels.
• Even people with well-controlled diabetes may find that injury, infection, surgery, or fever results in a lack of control over their diabetes. In these cases, the physician may recommend that you stop taking Glucotrol temporarily and use insulin instead.
• Glucotrol may not work well in patients with poor kidney or liver function.
• In addition, the effectiveness of any oral antidiabetic, including Glucotrol, may decrease with time. This may occur because of either a diminished responsiveness to Glucotrol or a worsening of the diabetes.

Drug Interaction :- It is essential that you closely follow your physician's dietary guidelines and that you inform your physician of any medication, either prescription or nonprescription, that you are taking. Specific medications that affect Glucotrol include:

• Airway-opening drugs such as Sudafed
  
• Antacids such as Mylanta
  
• Aspirin
  
• Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
  
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
  
• Clofibrate (Atromid-S)
  
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone (Deltasone)
  
• Diuretics such as HydroDIURIL
  
• Estrogens such as Premarin

Overdose

An overdose of Glucotrol can cause low blood sugar. (See side effects section for symptoms.) Eating sugar or a sugar-based product will often correct the condition. Otherwise, seek medical attention immediately.