What is Glucotrol?
Glucotrol, an oral diabetic medicine, helps control your blood sugar by encouraging the pancreas to produce insulin.Glucotrol can be used in conjunction with diet and physical activity to control blood sugar levels in adults who have type 2 diabetes mellitus.Glucotrol does not treat diabetes type 1.
Warnings
If you are suffering from diabetic ketoneacidosis, do not use glucose. Call your doctor to get treatment.Tell your doctor if, before taking glucotrol, you suffer from kidney disease or liver disease. Also, if your stomach is bloated, you may have a condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD).
Before you take this drug
If you have diabetic ketoacidosis, you should consult your doctor to get treatment.
If you've ever:
- Liver or kidney disease
- Chronic diarrhoea or an obstruction in the intestines.
- G6PD deficiency affects millions of individuals worldwide and occurs as an enzyme deficiency condition.
If you're pregnant, or if you get pregnant, follow your doctor’s advice about the use of glucose. Controlling blood sugar is important for both mother and baby. You may have to temporarily stop using glucose just prior to your due date Breastfeeding may be unsafe while taking this medication. You should consult your physician about the risks.
How to take Glucose?
Follow the directions on your prescription label. Please follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Occasionally, your doctor will change the dose. Take this medication only as prescribed. Do not exceed or take more than the prescribed dosage.Do not take the tablet for 30 minutes prior to your first meal.Take Glucotrol XL Extended-Release Tablets with the first meal you eat each day. Do not chew or crush the tablet. Swallow it whole.You may also need blood tests in your doctor's clinic.Low blood sugar is a common occurrence for diabetics. A headache is one of the symptoms. Others include dizziness, nausea, feeling anxious or shaken, and a rapid heartbeat. Always keep sugary foods such as hard candy, fruit juices, crackers, or raisins on hand to treat low blood glucose.If you are suffering from severe hypoglycemia, your doctor may prescribe an emergency injection kit. Make sure that your close family members and friends are familiar with how to administer this emergency injection.Watch for other signs such as blurred vision or increased thirst, fatigue, headaches, and hyperglycemia.Stress can affect blood sugar levels. Other factors that may influence them include illness, surgery, or alcohol consumption. Consult your doctor prior to changing the dosage or schedule of your medication.You may notice something that looks like a pill in your stool after taking Glucotrol XL. It is just the shell of the tablet. The empty shell is normal to pass with bowel movements after the medicine has been taken by the body.Keep away from heat, moisture, and light.
Details on dosage
Adult Dosage of Glucotrol in Diabetes Type 2:
Released immediately:
Initial dose: Orally, 5 mg once daily, 30 minutes prior to breakfast.
Maintenance dose: up to 40mg in divided doses, 30 minutes prior to a caloric meal. The dose can be gradually increased by 2.5–5 mg per day, depending on the blood sugar response.
Maximum single dose: 15 mg
Maximum daily dose: 40 mg
Comments:
At least several days must pass between each titration step.
If the response is poor to one dose, it may be beneficial to divide the dose.
Longer Releases:
Initial dose: Orally, 5 mg once daily, 30 minutes prior to breakfast.
Maintenance dose: 5–10 mg once daily orally
Maximum daily dose: 20 mg
You can safely switch patients receiving immediate-release tablets to extended-release tablets at the equivalent daily total dose once a day. Or, you can titrate up to the correct extended-release dose by starting with 5mg once daily.
Combination use:
When adding other blood-glucose-lowering agents to extended-release tablets, dose should begin at its minimum recommended amount.Watch for hypoglycemia.
When adding extended-release tablets to other blood-glucose-lowering agents, Glucotrol XL extended-release can be initiated at 5 mg. Start at a lower dose in patients who are more sensitive to hypoglycemia.
The following guidelines are important to consider when transferring insulin-treated patients to glipizide:
For patients who receive daily insulin dosages less than 20 units, stop insulin use and start glipizide at the usual doses.
For patients who have daily insulin dosages exceeding 20 units, the dose of insulin should be decreased by half, and glipizide can begin to be administered at normal doses.
Comments:
It is recommended that several days pass between each titration step.
The subsequent reductions in insulin dose should be based on the individual response.
The patient must test his urine at least three times per day for sugars and ketones during the period of insulin withdrawal.
Some patients who receive more than 40 units of insulin per day may have to be hospitalised during this transitional period.
Patients receiving other oral hypoglycemic agents:
When switching from sulfonylureas with a longer half-life, monitor for at least 1 week for hypoglycemia.
-Glucotrol XL Extended Release Coadministered Colesevelam: Glipizide must be given at least four hours before colesevelam.
Add exercise and diet to help improve glucose control for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Usual Geriatric Dose of Glucotrol in Diabetes Type 2:
Initial dose: Orally, 2.5 mg 30 minutes prior to breakfast.
Comments:
To avoid hypoglycemic reactions, the maintenance dose should be kept conservative.
The dose can be adjusted carefully, taking into consideration the level of renal or cardiac function and any concomitant diseases or drug treatments.
Use: As an adjunct to diet and physical activity to improve the glycemic level in type 2 diabetic adults.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You should take your medication as soon as possible, but only when you're about to have a meal. Skip the dose if you miss a meal and wait for your next meal. Take no more than one dose at a time.Refill your prescription before it runs out.
What happens if I overdose?
Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care. An overdose of glipizide can lead to life-threatening hypoglycemia.Hypoglycemia can cause extreme weakness, blurred eyesight, difficulty speaking, sweating, and tremors. It may also lead to confusion or seizures.
What should be avoided?
Alcohol is a depressant and can cause side effects. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels and cause adverse effects.Do not drive or operate machinery until you have a better understanding of how glipizide affects you.
Side effects of Glucotrol
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy to glucose: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling in your lips, face, throat, or tongue
If you experience symptoms of low sugar, call your doctor immediately.
- Headache, irritability
- Fast heartbeat, sweating
- Dizziness, nausea,
- Hunger, anxiety, or feeling shaky
Glucotrol may cause the following side effects:
- Diarrhoea, constipation, gas;
- Dizziness, drowsiness;
- Tremors
- Skin rash.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Call the FDA's hotline, 1-800-FDA-1088, to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain drugs at the same time. Taking certain drugs together can cause side effects and/or make other medications less effective.The drug glipizide can have interactions with many other drugs. These include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all interactions. Inform your physician of all medications you are currently taking as well as those you plan to discontinue or commence taking in the near future.
