If you’re looking at treatment options for type 2 diabetes, you may want to learn more about glipizide (Glucotrol XL).

Glipizide is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. The drug’s active ingredient is glipizide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Glipizide comes as immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) tablets that you swallow.*

Glipizide belongs to a group of drugs called sulfonylureas. Keep reading for details on glipizide and cost and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on glipizide, see this in-depth article.

* IR means the drug releases the active ingredient as soon as you take it. ER means the drug releases the active ingredient slowly over a period of time.

The price you pay for glipizide can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, the form of glipizide your doctor prescribes, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how much you’ll pay for glipizide, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover glipizide. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss glipizide in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If glipizide requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether glipizide requires prior authorization.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about glipizide and cost.

Can the cost of glipizide vary depending on the dose I’m prescribed (such as 2.5 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg)?

It’s possible. The cost of glipizide can vary based on the dose you’re prescribed. The price can also depend on other factors, such as which form of the tablets you’re prescribed, your treatment plan, and whether you have health insurance.

Glipizide tablets come as:

  • immediate-release (IR) tablets in two strengths: 5 milligrams (mg) and 10 mg
  • extended-release (ER) tablets in three strengths: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg

To find out how much you can expect to pay for glipizide based on the dose you’re prescribed, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have health insurance, contact your insurance provider for cost information.

How does the cost of the combination drug glipizide/metformin compare with that of glipizide?

If your blood sugar level isn’t effectively managed by taking glipizide and following a balanced diet and exercise routine, your doctor may discuss other treatment options with you. This may include switching to the combination drug glipizide/metformin.

The cost of glipizide compared with the combination drug glipizide/metformin depends on whether you have health insurance or are paying out of pocket for your medication.

Your cost for either drug may also depend on your treatment plan and the pharmacy you choose (if you don’t have insurance coverage).

To learn how much you’d pay for either of these drugs, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

What is glipizide’s price without insurance?

The cost of glipizide without insurance can vary based on your treatment plan, the form of glipizide you take, and your eligibility for any savings programs.

Generally, the cost without insurance is higher than what you’d pay with insurance coverage. Your cost without insurance can also depend on the pharmacy you choose and the quantity of glipizide you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day versus 90-day supply).

To find out how much you’d pay for glipizide without insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more about possible ways to save in the “Can I get help paying for glipizide?” section below.

Glipizide is a generic drug. This means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics generally cost less than brand-name drugs.

Glipizide ER is available in a brand-name version called Glucotrol XL. To find out how the costs of Glucotrol XL and glipizide compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed glipizide ER and you’re interested in taking Glucotrol XL instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The drugmaker of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take glipizide long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of glipizide if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of glipizide. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for glipizide. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need help covering the cost of glipizide or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of glipizide, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for glipizide.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Would my cost for glipizide be different if I’m prescribed 10 milligrams (mg) versus a lower dose?
  • How does the cost of glipizide compare with glipizide ER?
  • Are there other lower cost medication options to treat my condition?

To learn more about glipizide or Glucotrol XL, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.