If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be interested in learning more about glipizide. It’s a generic prescription drug used along with diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Glipizide comes as immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) tablets that you swallow.* The drug may be used as a long-term treatment.

This article describes glipizide’s side effects. For more information about glipizide, see this in-depth article.

* IR means the drug releases the active ingredient as soon as you take it. ER means the drug slowly releases the active ingredient over a period of time. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their glipizide treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

Read on to learn about other possible mild and serious side effects of glipizide.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Some people may have mild side effects while taking glipizide. Examples that have been reported with this drug include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking glipizide unless your doctor recommends it.

Glipizide may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the prescribing information for glipizide IR tablets and glipizide ER tablets for more information.

Serious side effects are possible with glipizide. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking glipizide, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with glipizide, visit MedWatch.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about glipizide’s side effects.

Does my risk of side effects from glipizide ER increase with higher doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg)?

Not necessarily. Glipizide ER is available in three strengths: 2.5 milligrams (mg), 5 mg, and 10 mg. In general, glipizide ER’s side effects are the same regardless of the dose.

For lists of possible side effects, see the “What are the mild side effects of glipizide?” and “What are the serious side effects of glipizide?” sections above.

Are older people at an increased risk of side effects from glipizide?

It’s possible that adults ages 65 years and older may have an increased risk of side effects from glipizide.

This is because older adults may have health conditions such as liver and kidney problems. And these conditions could increase their risk of side effects from the drug, particularly hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).*

Being age 65 years or older also increases your risk of low blood sugar from any diabetes medication, including glipizide.

Due to this risk, doctors may give older adults a lower dose of glipizide when they start treatment. And doctors may slowly increase the dosage over time to reduce the risk of side effects.

If you have questions about how your age may affect your risk of glipizide’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Will I experience different side effects if I take glipizide with metformin than if I take glipizide alone?

The side effects of glipizide are expected to be the same regardless of other medications it’s taken with. But when taking the drug with metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza), you may have side effects of metformin in addition to those of glipizide.

Common side effects of metformin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive side effects.* Glipizide may also cause digestive side effects. So, you may have more severe or frequent digestive side effects when these drugs are taken together than when each is taken alone.

If you have questions about what to expect when taking glipizide with metformin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For details about side effects of metformin, see this article.

Can glipizide cause weight gain or weight loss?

Weight gain and loss were not reported as side effects in studies of glipizide IR tablets and glipizide ER tablets. But weight gain has been reported with glipizide and other sulfonylurea drugs* since the drug came on the market. It’s one of the more commonly recognized side effects sulfonylureas may cause.

Glipizide is used along with diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Your doctor may suggest changes to your diet and exercise routine when you start glipizide treatment. These changes could lead to weight loss, but this likely won’t be caused by the drug itself.

If you’re concerned about weight changes with glipizide, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend ways to manage your weight while you’re taking the drug.

* This is the group of drugs glipizide belongs to.

Will stopping glipizide treatment suddenly cause side effects?

No, probably not. Withdrawal symptoms weren’t reported in studies of glipizide IR tablets and glipizide ER tablets. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can happen when you suddenly stop taking a drug your body was used to having.

Keep in mind that glipizide helps manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. So, it’s possible that your blood sugar may not be managed as well after you stop taking the drug.

If you’re interested in stopping your glipizide treatment, talk with your doctor first. They may prescribe a different treatment for your type 2 diabetes, which can help reduce possible blood sugar level changes.

Learn more about some of the side effects glipizide may cause.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) was a common side effect in studies of glipizide IR tablets and glipizide ER tablets. The risk of this side effect may be greater for people who:

Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

What might help

Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of hypoglycemia with glipizide. They may need to adjust your dosage to reduce the risk of this side effect happening again.

If you have symptoms of hypoglycemia with glipizide, try to increase your blood sugar level. You can do this by eating 15 grams (g) of carbohydrates. Good sources include:

  • glucose tablets
  • 4 ounces (oz) of soda (regular, not diet)
  • 4 oz of juice
  • hard candies

After 15 minutes, check your blood sugar level. If needed, consume another 15 g of carbohydrates and repeat this process.

If you’re prescribed glipizide or other drugs for treating diabetes, your doctor may also prescribe glucagon for you. It’s a drug which may be used to treat severely low blood sugar.

If you have questions about what to do for hypoglycemia, talk with your doctor.

Low levels of certain blood cells

Taking glipizide may cause a low level of certain blood cells. This includes low levels of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.

It’s not clear how often this side effect occurred in studies of glipizide IR tablets. Blood cell levels weren’t reported in studies of glipizide ER tablets. But this side effect has been reported since glipizide ER became available for use.

Possible symptoms of each condition are provided below:

  • With low platelet levels, you may bleed or bruise more easily than usual.
  • With low red blood cell levels, you may have fatigue (low energy), lightheadedness, or pale-looking gums, nails, or skin.
  • With low white blood cell levels, you may not have any symptoms. But having low white blood cells can increase your risk of infection. And infection may cause fever, chills, and body aches.

What might help

Your doctor may check your blood cell levels with a blood test before you start glipizide and often during your treatment.

If you have symptoms of the conditions above while taking glipizide, tell your doctor. They’ll likely check your blood test results and suggest ways to ease your symptoms. They’ll tell you if it’s safe for you to keep taking glipizide.

Liver problems

Liver problems are a possible side effect of glipizide. It’s not clear how often this side effect happened in studies of glipizide IR tablets and glipizide ER tablets. Liver problems have also been reported since the drug became available for use.

Specifically, glipizide may cause abnormal results of liver function tests or cholestasis (a condition that happens when the bile duct is blocked). The drug may also cause liver damage.

Symptoms of liver problems may include:

  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
  • nausea, diarrhea, or low appetite
  • fatigue (low energy)

What might help

If you have symptoms of liver problems while taking glipizide, tell your doctor right away. They may give you tests to check your liver function. If you’re found to have a liver problem, your doctor will tell you whether it’s safe to keep taking glipizide.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, glipizide can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you swallow, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to glipizide, they’ll decide if you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to glipizide, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your glipizide treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how glipizide affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Glipizide may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether glipizide is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting this drug. Factors to consider include those described below.

Heart or blood vessel problems. Like other sulfonylurea drugs, Glipizide may increase the risk of death related to heart or blood vessel problems. Your risk may be higher if you already have heart or blood vessel problems. Examples include high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Before starting glipizide treatment, tell your doctor if you have heart or blood vessel problems. They can tell you whether glipizide is a safe treatment option for you.

Liver or kidney damage. Before starting glipizide, tell your doctor about any liver or kidney problems you have. Examples include liver failure and kidney failure.

Having liver or kidney problems can cause glipizide to build up in your system. And this can increase your risk of side effects from the drug. If you have liver or kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of the drug for you.

Narrowing in the intestines. If you have a narrowing in your intestines, glipizide ER tablets may not be safe for you to use. This form of glipizide may increase your risk of a bowel obstruction (blockage).

Your doctor may prescribe glipizide IR tablets for you instead, since this form does not increase your risk of a bowel obstruction.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to glipizide or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.

G6PD deficiency. Before starting glipizide, tell your doctor if you have G6PD deficiency. This can increase your risk of hemolytic anemia (a condition that causes a low red blood cell level) as a side effect of the drug. If you have G6PD deficiency, your doctor may recommend a treatment other than glipizide for you.

Alcohol and glipizide

It may not be safe to drink alcohol during your glipizide treatment. This is because alcohol can cover up the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).* And this can make it hard for you to tell when you’re having an episode of hypoglycemia.

Alcohol can also increase or decrease your blood sugar level. This can make it hard for glipizide to effectively manage your blood sugar.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe for you to drink while taking glipizide.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section above.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking glipizide

It’s not known for sure if glipizide is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. If your doctor advises you to take glipizide during pregnancy, they’ll likely have you stop taking the drug before your due date. They’ll do this to decrease the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in your newborn.

For glipizide IR tablets, your doctor will likely have you stop the drug at least 1 month before your due date. And for glipizide ER tablets, they’ll likely have you stop at least 2 weeks before your due date.

To learn more about the risks and benefits of taking glipizide while pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor.

Glipizide is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Both mild and serious side effects from glipizide are possible.

If you have any questions about side effects that glipizide can cause, talk with your doctor. Below are a few questions you may want to ask to help decide if this drug is right for you:

  • Do any of the medications I take increase my risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) from glipizide?
  • How do the side effects of glipizide compare with those of other drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes?
  • Do any medical conditions I have increase my risk of side effects from glipizide?

You can also ask your doctor about Glucotrol XL, which is the brand-name version of glipizide ER tablets. A generic drug and its brand-name version are expected to have the same side effects because they contain the same active ingredient. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

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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.