WHAT IS Glucotrol xl/Glipizide TABLETS?

Glucotrol xl/Glucotrol xl/Glucotrol xl/GLIPIZIDE helps to treat type 2 diabetes. Treatment is combined with diet and exercise. The medicine helps your body to use insulin better. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Sustained-release (SR), extended-release (ER, XR, or XL), time-release or timed-release, controlled-release (CR), or continuous-release (CR or Contin) pills are tablets or capsules formulated to dissolve slowly and release a drug over time. The advantages of sustained-release tablets or capsules are that they can often be taken less frequently than instant-release formulations of the same drug, and that they keep steadier levels of the drug in the bloodstream.

WHAT SIDE EFFECTS MAY I NOTICE FROM Glucotrol xl/Glipizide?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• low blood sugar
• vision changes or problems
• yellowing of the eyes or skin
• breathing difficulties
• skin redness
• tremors
• dark yellow or brown urine, or yellowing of the eyes or skin
• severe or persistent dizziness, drowsiness, or headache
• swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• fever, chills, sore throat
• severe skin rash, redness, swelling, or itching

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• nausea
• diarrhea
• headache
• drowsiness

This list may not describe all possible side effects.

WHAT IF I MISS A DOSE?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BEFORE I TAKE Glucotrol xl/Glipizide?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• liver disease
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• kidney disease
• breast-feeding
• diabetic ketoacidosis
• moderate to severe burns or very high blood acid levels
• heart disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to Glucotrol xl/Glucotrol xl/Glucotrol xl/glipizide, sulfa drugs, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• severe infection or injury
• porphyria
• thyroid disease

WHAT SHOULD I WATCH FOR WHILE USING Glucotrol xl/Glipizide?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Learn how to check your blood sugar. Tell your doctor or health care professional if your blood sugar is high, you might need to change the dose of your medicine. If you are sick or exercising more than usual, you might need to change the dose of your medicine. Do not skip meals. Ask your doctor or health care professional if you should avoid alcohol. If you have symptoms of low blood sugar, eat or drink something containing sugar at once and contact your doctor or health care professional. Make sure family members know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you develop serious symptoms of low blood sugar, like seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.

This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths.

WHERE SHOULD I KEEP Glucotrol xl/Glipizide?

Keep out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

WHAT MAY INTERACT WITH Glucotrol xl/Glipizide?

• cisapride
• Lopid/gemfibrozil
• beta-blockers
• Chloromycetin/chloramphenicol
• Benemid/probenecid
• medicines for fungal or yeast infections
• bosentan
• Phoslo/calcium channel blockers
• Reglan/metoclopramide
• Coumadin/warfarin

Many medications may cause an increase or decrease in blood sugar, these include:

• diuretics
• medicines for mental problems
• some herbal dietary supplements
• niacin
• Chloromycetin/chloramphenicol
• female hormones, like estrogens or progestins and birth control pills
• medicines for allergies, asthma, cold, or cough
• Benemid/probenecid
• male hormones or anabolic steroids
• isoniazid
• Dilantin/phenytoin
• heart medicines
• thyroid medicine
• pentamidine
• quinolone antibiotics like Cipro/ciprofloxacin, Levaquin/levofloxacin, Floxin/ofloxacin
• aspirin and aspirin-like drugs
• steroid medicines like Meticorten/prednisone or cortisone
• chromium
• medicines for weight loss
• alcohol containing beverages
• medicines called MAO Inhibitors like Nardil, Parnate, Marplan, Eldepryl
• NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like Motrin/ibuprofen or Aleve/naproxen

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care providers a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

HOW SHOULD I USE Glucotrol xl/Glipizide?

Take this medicine by mouth. Swallow with a drink of water. Do not take with food. Take it 30 minutes before a meal. Follow the directions on the prescription label. If you take this medicine once a day, take it 30 minutes before breakfast. Take your doses at the same time each day. Do not take more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Elderly patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.