What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. A side effect may be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. Not everyone will experience side effects, and which side effects a person experiences cannot be anticipated.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- blurred vision
- diarrhea or constipation
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- fainting
- frequent urination
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- nervousness
- shakiness
- sweating
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Be sure to inform your doctor of all your medical conditions before you begin taking a medication. Some conditions can affect how you should take this medication.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Hypoglycemia is a medical term that means "abnormally low blood sugar levels." Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- headache
- lack of energy
- nervousness
- numbness or tingling of the mouth
- shakiness
- sweating
- weakness
People with more severe hypoglycemia can experience blurred vision, confusion, and an inability to concentrate. If left untreated, severe hypoglycemia can lead to convulsions (seizures) and unconsciousness within minutes. People who are more likely to become hypoglycemic include seniors, people with reduced liver or kidney function, people who are malnourished, and people taking beta-blockers or other medications that lower blood sugar. Low blood sugar is more likely to occur when food intake is inadequate, or after strenuous or prolonged physical exercise. Blood sugar should be monitored regularly and an emergency source of sugar (e.g., a sugar packet, orange juice, hard candy) and glucagon kit should be made available in case the need arises to increase blood sugar levels.
Loss of blood sugar control: People on glipizide may experience loss of blood sugar control during illness or stressful situations such as fever, infection, trauma, or surgery. Under these conditions, your doctor may consider stopping the medication and prescribing insulin until your blood sugar is controlled and within target levels. For some people, their doctor may prescribe insulin or other oral medications in combination with glipizide to control blood sugar.
Proper diet: Glipizide is a treatment to be used in combination with a proper diet. Glipizide is not as a substitute for proper diet.
Worsening of condition: Over a period of time, glipizide may become less effective because of a worsening of diabetes. Talk to your doctor if glipizide no longer controls your blood glucose to target levels. Your doctor may ask you to stop this medication or continue this medication and take an additional antidiabetic medication to help control your blood sugar.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medication.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if glipizide passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you will need to stop taking the medication or stop breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of this medication have not been established for children.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
An interaction between medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. The following medications may affect the way glipizide works, be affected by glipizide, or increase the risk of side effects:
- anabolic steroids
- aspirin
- beta-blockers (e.g., atenolol, metoprolol)
- chloramphenicol
- clonidine
- corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone)
- diazoxide
- diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide)
- estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogens)
- fluconazole
- fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin)
- H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., raniditine)
- isoniazid
- laxatives (after prolonged use)
- MAO inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
- mefenamic acid
- miconazole
- nicotinic acid
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; e.g., naproxen)
- phenothiazines (e.g., chlorpromazine)
- phenylbutazone
- phenytoin
- probenecid
- progestogens (e.g., medroxyprogesterone)
- propranolol
- salicylates (e.g., aspirin, salsalate)
- sulfonamides (e.g., sulfamethoxazole)
- warfarin
If you are taking any of these or other medications (including non-prescription, herbal, and supplement products), speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want to change your therapy or may suggest ways of managing any interactions. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your doctor know if you use them. Medications other than those listed above may also interact with this medication.