Glucotrol (Glipizide)

What is Glucotrol?

Glucotrol is an oral medication that comes under the class of drugs that consists of glimepiride, glyburide, tolazamide and tolubutamine. It is an anti diabetic oral medication (sulfonylurea-type) programmed to control high blood sugar.

What is Glucotrol used for?

Glucotrol is prescribed for patients who suffer from type-2 diabetes (high blood sugar levels). It helps in controlling kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs and sexual function problems.

How does Glucotrol work?

Glucotrol starts its mechanism by stimulating pancreas to generate more insulin and, thereby, decreasing the high amount of glucose from the blood. It helps in augmenting the insulin production by the pancreas.

How to use Glucotrol

Glucotrol is taken once a day, usually before breakfast. Take Glucotrol orally, at least 30 minutes before you have food. Patients, who require high doses, depending upon their condition, can take two doses of Glucotrol in a day. Take your dose of Glucotrol regularly, exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your doses without talking to your doctor. Make a note that you have to fix a single time in a day to take this medication.

Do not break your Glucotrol tablet nor crush or chew it. As mentioned before, check your glucose level even more closely when you are travelling, exercising more than usual or skipping meals and drinking alcohol or are hyper stressed out. In cases as such, your dose might have to be changed by your doctor.

Glucotrol warnings and precautions

Do not take this medicine if you are suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. If you are undergoing conditions like kidney and liver diseases and have a history of coronary heart disease, pituitary or adrenal gland disorder, chronic diarrhea or a blockage in the intestines, you need to tell your doctor and have the doses adjusted to suit your medical condition. Before being prescribed Glucotrol, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to start a family.

Remember to check your glucose levels each day. If you have a low blood sugar levels try carrying non-dietetic hard candy along with your Glucotrol dose. Don’t give up on your regular exercise and diet control program. Go for a checkup regularly to avoid any complications in the future.

What do I do if I have missed a Glucotrol dose?

If you have missed your Glucotrol dose, you should take it half an hour before your next meal. Subsequently, you can restart your regular dosing schedule. You can skip the missed dose if it’s time to take the next one, but never take double dose.

What do I do if I have taken a Glucotrol overdose?

If you have taken a Glucotrol overdose, seek medical attention from your local emergency room. An overdose of Glucotrol may result in serious hypoglycemia.

Glucotrol interactions

Thyroid medicine, seizure drugs, medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies, diet pills, birth control pills and other hormones, phenothiazines, steroids, isoniazid or diuretics should not be taken with Glucotrol as it can raise the possibility of Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.

You may suffer from hypoglycemia, i.e. low blood sugar, if you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfa drugs such as bactrim; beta-blockers like Tenormin; blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), aspirin or other salicylates along with the course of Glucotrol.

Glucotrol side effects

You must take emergency medical attention if you experience signs of allergic reactions such as difficulty in breathing, hives, swelling of your face, tongue, lips or throat. The most common side effect of Glucotrol is hypoglycemia.

Call your medical health provider immediately, if you come across side effects like easy bruising or bleeding, rapid heart rate, feeling tired or short of breath, dark colored urine, pale or yellowed skin, fever, confusion, severe nausea and vomiting, increased thirst and sweating, and headache.

Some of the less serious Glucotrol side effects include diarrhea, constipation, nausea, stomach pain, skin rash, redness or itching, dizziness.