Glipizide Medications
Glipizide is an oral anti diabetic drug which belongs to the class sulfonylurea. It is rightly classified as a second generation sulfonylurea; because it has the ability to undergo enter hepatic blood circulation. The drug is known to cause little side effects and there are only a few who report only some sort of side effects after consuming it.
Glipizide is an aromatic cyclic compound and an effective medication which is to be consumed only once in a day. Glipizide works on the principle of blocking potassium channels of beta cells our pancreas which produces insulin. Glipizide blocks the potassium channels and hence it increases the release of calcium ions and increase in calcium level in turn release more insulin from beta cells of pancreas.
Glipzide Dosage
Previously, the drug was marketed by Pfizer under the brand name of glucotrol in USA. It is sold by the Pfizer in the dosage of 5 to 10 milligrams. Glipizide XL is an extended release of glipizide which can be taken in the dosage 2.5, 5 and 10 milligram. Apart from Pfizer, other companies also marketed glipizide and it is taken in the form of tablets.
Glipzide Side Effects
Although side effects of glipizide are slight but one should stop taking and should seek the help of doctor, if one experience any side effects like allergic reactions like swelling in lips, difficulty in breathing, closing of nose and throat etc. Not only this, glipizide may cause serious variations in blood sugar level that can either become too low or too high.
Glipizide which is also known as glucotrol works by lowering our blood sugar level and belongs to sulfonylurea class. It is a whitish and odorless powder which is insoluble in water and alcohol but soluble in Noah. The compound is highly soluble in dimethyl formamide. Glipizde tablets that are available in the market are generally either of 5 mg or 10 mg strength. The ingredients which made up glipizide are lactose, silicon di oxide, cellulose, starch, stearic acid etc.
Side effects that glipizide may cause are only minor. If most common side effects persist then one should consult the doctor immediately. Common side effects of glipizide or glucotoral are headache, indigestion, stomach troubles, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, dizziness etc. There are no other symptoms which may occur when one consumes glipizide. When severe side effects occur, one should immediately seek medical attention.
In US and other foreign countries, the frequency of side effects of Glipizide is very low. Only 11.8 per cent of the patients experience side effects of glipizide. If one experience any side effect of glipizide then one should stop taking it altogether and switch on to some other diabetic drug.
Most common side effect of glpizide is gastrointestinal troubles and when the troubles occur then one may experience symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, constipation etc. The dosage of glipizide is important because if one reduces the dose and if starts taking some other anti diabetic drug with it then the symptoms began to disappear.
Allergic reactions may also be seen in the patients who take this drug. However these are transient and disappear altogether with time if the symptoms continue then one should stop taking the medicine.
There are several other minor side effects which glipizide may cause like inappropriate Antideuretic hormone secretion and other such symptoms which are reported by the patients when one takes overdose of glipizide.
by on 21. Apr, 2011 in diabetes medications
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