Glipizide and Metformin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Metaglip

Proper Use of This Medicine

Follow carefully the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.

Glipizide and metformin combination should be taken with meals to help reduce the gastrointestinal side effects that may occur during treatment.

Dosing - The dose of glipizide and metformin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of glipizide and metformin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking glipizide and metformin.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For type 2 diabetes:
    • For first-time treatment:
      • Adults: At first, 2.5 milligrams (mg) of glipizide and 250 milligrams (mg) of metformin once a day with a meal. Then, your doctor may increase your dose a little at a time every two weeks until your blood sugar is controlled.
      • Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • As second-line therapy:
      • Oral, 2.5 milligrams (mg) of glipizide and 500 milligrams (mg) of metformin or 5 milligrams (mg) of glipizide and 500 milligrams (mg) of metformin two times a day, with the morning and evening meals. Then, your doctor may increase your dose a little at a time until your blood sugar is controlled. The starting dose should not exceed the daily dose of glipizide or metformin already being taken.
      • Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For patients previously treated with a sulfonylurea antidiabetic agent and/or metformin:
      • Adults: When switching patients from a sulfonylurea plus metformin to the glipizide and metformin combination, the initial dose should not exceed the daily dose of glipizide (or equivalent dose of another sulfonylurea) and metformin that was being taken.
      • Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.