Glucotrol XL

Glucotrol XL is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Glucotrol XL belongs to a group of drugs called sulfonylureas, which help lower blood sugar levels by causing the pancreas to secrete insulin.

This medication comes in an extended release tablet form and is taken once a day with breakfast.

Common side effects of Glucotrol XL include nausea, diarrhea, and gas. Glucotrol XL can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Glucotrol XL affects you.

 

Glucotrol XL is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Glucotrol XL lowers blood sugar levels along with exercise and an appropriate diet.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Pfizer Laboratories

Serious side effects have been reported with Glucotrol XL. See “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Glucotrol XL include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• gas
• weakness
• nervousness
• headache
• shakiness
• dizziness

This is not a complete list of Glucotrol XL side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin (Ecotrin), ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others
• azoles, such as miconazole (Lotrimin and Monistat) and fluconazole (Diflucan)
• salicylic acid containing products, such as Pepto-Bismol
• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• probenecid (Probalan)
• anticoagulants, or "blood thinners", such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as selegiline (Emsam), phenelzine (Nardil), and others
• beta-adrenergic blocking agents (beta blockers), such as atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal) metoprolol (Lopressor), and others
• diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HCTZ), furosemide (Lasix), and others
• corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone (Cortef), prednisone (Deltasone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), triamcinolone (Kenalog, Aristospan), and others
• thyroid products such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid), thyroid (Armour Thyroid), and others
• estrogens
• oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• nicotinic acid, or niacin (Niaspan, Niacor, Nicolar)
• albuterol (Proventil) 
• calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and Verapamil (Calan, Verelan), and others
• isoniazid
• phenothiazine medications such as promethazine (Phenergan), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others

This is not a complete list of Glucotrol XL drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Glucotrol XL including:

• Glucotrol XL may increase your chance of death from heart disease.
• Glucotrol XL can cause low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) in patients. Tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney or liver disease or drink alcohol. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:
  • shakiness
  • tremors
  • cold sweat
  • fast heart rate
  • headache
  • moodiness
  • dizziness
  • blurred vision
  • confusion
• After exposure to stress, such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery, Glucotrol XL may cause you to lose control over your blood glucose levels.
• Glucotrol XL can decrease the number of red blood cells in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.  Alert your doctor if you have a history of G6PD deficiency or anemia.
• A severe allergic reaction to Glucotrol XL is possible. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction:
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • hoarseness
  • rash or hives
  • swelling
• Glucotrol XL can cause dizziness.  Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how glipizide affects you.  Alcohol may increase the severity of side effects.

Do not take Glucotrol XL if you:

• are allergic to glipizide (Glucotrol XL)
• have type 1 diabetes

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Glucotrol XL, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Glucotrol XL.

Alcohol can intensify the side effects of Glucotrol XL. Glucotrol XL should be taken with a healthy diet to maximize its blood glucose lowering effects.

Before taking Glucotrol XL, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• have kidney, heart, or liver disease
• consume alcohol
• have digestive problems
• have a history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
• have a history of anemia
• are allergic to Glucotrol XL
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Glucotrol XL falls into category C. Studies in animals have shown a harmful and undesired effect on the unborn baby, yet there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

• This medication may be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to her unborn baby.
• Many experts encourage pregnant mothers to take insulin to treat their high blood sugar levels.  Glucotrol XL should not be taken in the last month of pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

You should not take Glucotrol XL if you are breastfeeding. It may be excreted in your breast milk and may harm your nursing child.

• Take Glucotrol XL exactly as prescribed.
• Glucotrol XL is taken once a day with breakfast.
• Swallow the Glucotrol XL tablets whole without chewing, crushing, or splitting.
• Alcohol can increase the side effects of Glucotrol XL.
• Glucotrol XL should be taken with a healthy diet to maximize its blood glucose lowering effects.
• If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Glucotrol XL at the same time.

Take Glucotrol XL exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dosage range for Glucotrol XL tablets is 5 to 20 mg in one dose each day. The maximum daily dose is 20 mg.

If you take too much Glucotrol XL, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store Glucotrol XL at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.