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Glipizide

Glipizide is an oral sulfonylurea medication used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Brand names GlucotrolGlucotrol XL
Drug class Sulfonylurea
Rx Forms 2
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 116 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 4, 2026
Glipizide at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Glipizide is a sulfonylurea, an older type 2 diabetes medicine that lowers blood sugar by prompting the pancreas to release more insulin. It is used alongside diet and exercise, is commonly added when metformin alone is not enough, has been on the U.S. market since about 1984 and is widely available as a generic. Most people tolerate it well, and apart from low blood sugar the side effects people notice are usually mild, such as dizziness, diarrhea or gas. The one thing to watch is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can be severe, so learn the early signs of shaking, sweating and confusion and keep glucose tablets or juice on hand.

Clinical pearls

  • Take regular glipizide about 30 minutes before a meal, and extended-release once daily with breakfast or the first main meal.
  • Fluconazole and oral miconazole can push blood sugar dangerously low, so mention glipizide before any yeast or fungal infection treatment.
  • Beta-blockers for blood pressure can hide the shakiness of low blood sugar, so check your meter whenever you feel unwell.
  • If you take colesevelam for cholesterol, take extended-release glipizide at least four hours earlier so it absorbs properly.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asTablet, Extended-release tablet
Earliest FDA record1984
Companies listing it with the FDA29
FDA label last updatedJul 21, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Glipizide, written from its FDA label.

What Glipizide is used for

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Glipizide is a sulfonylurea diabetes medication approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes, always in combination with diet and exercise.

  • Glipizide tablets (oral) are indicated to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • Glipizide extended-release tablets (oral) are indicated to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • Glucotrol XL (extended-release tablet, oral) is indicated to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • None of the glipizide products are approved for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis

How Glipizide works

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Glipizide works by telling the pancreas to release more insulin. It does this by binding to a receptor on the insulin-producing beta cells and closing a potassium channel inside those cells — a signal that prompts them to release insulin into the bloodstream. This helps the body move sugar out of the blood and into the cells where it belongs. Because the drug relies on working beta cells, it helps in type 2 diabetes (where some beta cell function remains) but not in type 1 diabetes.

Glipizide is especially effective at boosting insulin release after meals, helping to keep blood sugar from spiking too high after eating. With once-daily extended-release dosing, it maintains steady drug levels throughout the day with less fluctuation than twice-daily immediate-release dosing.

Glipizide dosage

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Glipizide comes as a regular tablet and an extended-release tablet, and how each is taken differs.

  • Regular tablet: taken by mouth, typically about 30 minutes before a meal; frequency and timing depend on your prescriber's instructions
  • Extended-release tablet (including Glucotrol XL): taken once daily by mouth with breakfast or the first main meal of the day
  • If you also take colesevelam, take glipizide extended-release tablets at least 4 hours before colesevelam
  • Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on how your blood sugar responds — always follow their specific instructions and do not change your dose on your own

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Glipizide prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Glipizide extended-release tablets: recommended dosing (starting dose)
    • 5 mg once daily, administered orally with breakfast or the first main meal of the day
    • Dosage adjustment can be made based on the patient's glycemic control
    • Maximum: 20 mg once daily
    • Patients receiving immediate release glipizide may be switched to the extended-release tablets once daily at the nearest equivalent total daily dose
  • Patients at increased risk for hypoglycemia (e.g. the elderly or patients with hepatic insufficiency) - extended-release tablets
    • Start at 2.5 mg
    • Maximum: 20 mg once daily
    • Dosage adjustment can be made based on the patient's glycemic control
  • Adding glipizide extended-release tablets to other anti-diabetic drugs
    • Initiate at 5 mg once daily
    • Start patients at increased risk for hypoglycemia at a lower dose
    • Administer at least 4 hours prior to colesevelam
  • Glipizide tablets (immediate release): initial dose
    • 5 mg, given before breakfast
    • Geriatric patients or those with liver disease may be started on 2.5 mg
    • In general, give approximately 30 minutes before a meal
  • Glipizide tablets (immediate release): titration
    • Dosage adjustments in increments of 2.5-5 mg, as determined by blood glucose response
    • At least several days should elapse between titration steps
    • If response to a single dose is not satisfactory, dividing that dose may prove effective
    • Maximum: 15 mg once daily; maximum recommended total daily dose is 40 mg
    • Doses above 15 mg should ordinarily be divided and given before meals of adequate caloric content
  • Glipizide tablets (immediate release): maintenance
    • Some patients may be controlled on a once-a-day regimen, others respond better to divided dosing
    • Total daily doses above 15 mg should ordinarily be divided
    • Total daily doses above 30 mg have been safely given on a b.i.d. basis to long-term patients
    • Maximum: 40 mg total daily dose
    • In elderly, debilitated or malnourished patients, and patients with impaired renal or hepatic function, initial and maintenance dosing should be conservative
  • Patients transferring from insulin, daily insulin requirement 20 units or less
    • Insulin may be discontinued and glipizide therapy may begin at usual dosages
    • Several days should elapse between glipizide titration steps
    • Test urine for sugar and ketone bodies at least three times daily during insulin withdrawal
  • Patients transferring from insulin, daily insulin requirement greater than 20 units
    • Reduce insulin dose by 50% and begin glipizide at usual dosages
    • Subsequent insulin reductions depend on individual response
    • Several days should elapse between glipizide titration steps
    • Consider hospitalization during transition, especially with greater than 40 units of insulin daily
  • Patients receiving other oral hypoglycemic agents
    • No transition period is necessary when transferring to glipizide
    • Observe carefully (1-2 weeks) for hypoglycemia when transferring from longer half-life sulfonylureas (e.g., chlorpropamide)
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Recommended starting dose is 5 mg once daily. Dose adjustment can be made based on the patient’s glycemic control. Maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once daily ( 2.1 ). • Administer with breakfast or the first meal of the day ( 2.1 ). • For combination therapy with other blood-glucose-lowering agents, initiate the agent at the lowest recommended dose, and observe patients for hypoglycemia ( 2.2 ). 2.1 Recommended Dosing Glipizide extended-release tablets should be administered orally with breakfast or the first main meal of the day. The recommended starting dose of glipizide extended-release tablets is 5 mg once daily. Start patients at increased risk for hypoglycemia (e.g. the elderly or patients with hepatic insufficiency) at 2.5 mg [see Use in Specific Population (8.5 , 8.6) ] . Dosage adjustment can be made based on the patient’s glycemic control. The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once daily. Patients receiving immediate release glipizide may be switched to glipizide extended-release tablets once daily at the nearest equivalent total daily dose. 2.2 Use with Other Glucose Lowering Agents When adding glipizide extended-release tablets to other anti-diabetic drugs, initiate glipizide extended-release tablets at 5 mg once daily. Start patients at increased risk for hypoglycemia at a lower dose. When colesevelam is coadministered with glipizide extended-release tablets, maximum plasma concentration and total exposure to glipizide is reduced. Therefore, glipizide extended-release tablets should be administered at least 4 hours prior to colesevelam.

2.1 Recommended Dosing Glipizide extended-release tablets should be administered orally with breakfast or the first main meal of the day. The recommended starting dose of glipizide extended-release tablets is 5 mg once daily. Start patients at increased risk for hypoglycemia (e.g. the elderly or patients with hepatic insufficiency) at 2.5 mg [see Use in Specific Population (8.5 , 8.6) ] . Dosage adjustment can be made based on the patient’s glycemic control. The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once daily. Patients receiving immediate release glipizide may be switched to glipizide extended-release tablets once daily at the nearest equivalent total daily dose.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Glipizide side effects

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The most common side effects reported in clinical trials with glipizide extended-release tablets include:

Common side effects

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) — shakiness, sweating, confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Nervousness
  • Tremor (shaking)
  • Gas (flatulence)

When to get medical help

  • Get emergency help right away if you have severe low blood sugar — seizures, loss of consciousness, or you cannot be woken up
  • Call your doctor if you notice signs of low blood sugar that are hard to manage: extreme shakiness, confusion, or sweating
  • Call your doctor if you develop signs of hemolytic anemia (breakdown of red blood cells) — unusual tiredness, pale or yellowed skin, fast heartbeat
  • Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant — glipizide should be stopped at least two weeks before your due date
  • Seek care if you have symptoms of a blocked bowel (severe abdominal pain, inability to pass stool) — relevant for the extended-release tablet in people with bowel narrowing

Low blood sugar is the most serious common reaction and can become life-threatening. Severe episodes — with seizures, loss of consciousness, or inability to be roused — are medical emergencies: call 911 or get to an emergency room immediately. Hemolytic anemia (red blood cell breakdown) is a rarer but serious risk, especially in people with G6PD deficiency.

Glipizide warnings and precautions

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  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): The biggest risk with glipizide. It can be severe enough to cause seizures, unconsciousness, or permanent brain damage. Older adults, people with liver or kidney problems, those who skip meals, drink alcohol, or exercise heavily are at highest risk. Early signs include shaking, sweating, and confusion — but these warning signs can be masked by beta-blockers and similar drugs.
  • Hemolytic anemia: In people with G6PD deficiency (a hereditary enzyme condition), glipizide can cause red blood cells to break down prematurely. This has also been reported rarely in people without known G6PD deficiency. Signs include unusual fatigue, paleness, or yellowed skin.
  • Cardiovascular risk with sulfonylureas: Older clinical research raised concern that oral sulfonylurea drugs may be associated with a higher rate of death from heart-related causes compared to diet alone or diet plus insulin. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
  • GI obstruction (extended-release tablets): Because the extended-release tablet shell does not dissolve, people with severe narrowing of the digestive tract should not use it — there is a risk of blockage.
  • No proven heart-protective effect: Glipizide has not been shown in clinical studies to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other large blood vessel complications.

Glipizide interactions

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Glipizide interacts with a wide range of medications that can either raise the risk of low blood sugar or make glipizide less effective.

  • Oral miconazole (antifungal): can cause severe low blood sugar — close monitoring required
  • Fluconazole (antifungal): significantly raises glipizide blood levels, increasing hypoglycemia risk
  • Colesevelam (cholesterol binder): reduces glipizide absorption — take glipizide extended-release at least 4 hours before colesevelam
  • Other diabetes medications, ACE inhibitors, fibrates, fluoxetine, NSAIDs, sulfonamide antibiotics, and others: can strengthen the blood-sugar-lowering effect and raise hypoglycemia risk
  • Steroids, diuretics, thyroid hormones, oral contraceptives, antipsychotics, phenytoin, and others: can reduce glipizide's effectiveness and push blood sugar higher
  • Alcohol: can have an unpredictable effect — either raising or lowering blood sugar
  • Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine: can blunt the warning signs of low blood sugar, making hypoglycemia harder to detect

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Glipizide prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Miconazole: A potential interaction between oral miconazole and oral hypoglycemic agents leading to severe hypoglycemia has been reported. Monitor patients closely for hypoglycemia.
  • Fluconazole: Concomitant treatment with fluconazole increases plasma concentrations of glipizide, which may lead to hypoglycemia. Monitor patients closely for hypoglycemia.
  • Colesevelam: Colesevelam can reduce the maximum plasma concentration and total exposure of glipizide when coadministered. Administer glipizide at least 4 hours prior to colesevelam.
  • Drugs that may increase glucose-lowering effect (antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAO inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, NSAIDs, chloramphenicol, probenecid, coumarins, voriconazole, H2 receptor anta: May increase the glucose lowering effect, increasing susceptibility to and/or intensity of hypoglycemia. Monitor closely for hypoglycemia when administered; monitor closely for worsening glycemic control when discontinued.
  • Drugs that may reduce glucose-lowering effect (atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, calcium channel blocking drugs): May reduce the glucose-lowering effect, leading to worsening glycemic control. Monitor closely for worsening glycemic control when administered; monitor closely for hypoglycemia when discontinued.
  • Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, reserpine: May lead to either potentiation or weakening of the glucose-lowering effect. Increased frequency of monitoring may be required.
  • Sympatholytic drugs (beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine): The signs of hypoglycemia may be reduced or absent. Increased frequency of monitoring may be required.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Certain medications may affect glucose metabolism, requiring glipizide extended-release tablets dose adjustment and close monitoring of blood glucose (7.1). • Miconazole: Monitor patients closely. Severe hypoglycemia can occur when glipizide tablets and oral miconazole are used concomitantly ( 7.2 , 12.3 ). • Fluconazole: Monitor patients closely. An increase in glipizide tablets AUC was seen after fluconazole administration ( 7.3 , 12.3 ). • Colesevelam: Glipizide extended-release tablets should be administered at least 4 hours prior to colesevelam (7.4 , 12.3 ). 7.1 Drugs Affecting Glucose Metabolism A number of medications affect glucose metabolism and may require glipizide extended-release tablets dose adjustment and close monitoring for hypoglycemia or worsening glycemic control. The following are examples of medication that may increase the glucose lowering effect of glipizide extended-release tablets, increase the susceptibility to and/or intensity of hypoglycemia: antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), sulfonamide antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, chloramphenicol, probenecid, coumarins, voriconazole, H2 receptor antagonists, and quinolones. When these medications are administered to a patient receiving glipizide extended-release tablets, monitor the patient closely for hypoglycemia. When these medications are discontinued from a patient receiving glipizide extended-release tablets, monitor the patient closely for worsening glycemic control.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿307 supplements and herbs with documented Glipizide interactions, ranked by severity Check Glipizide against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Glipizide

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  • Do not take glipizide if you are allergic to it, to any of its ingredients, or to sulfonamide (sulfa) drugs
  • Glipizide is not appropriate for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Tell your doctor if you have liver disease — glipizide is broken down by the liver, and impairment can lead to prolonged, dangerous low blood sugar
  • Tell your doctor if you have G6PD deficiency — glipizide can trigger hemolytic anemia in these patients
  • Tell your doctor if you have severe narrowing in the digestive tract — avoid the extended-release tablet in this case
  • Older adults are especially susceptible to low blood sugar and may not feel the usual warning signs; dosing should be conservative
  • If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, discuss with your doctor — glipizide crosses the placenta and should be stopped at least two weeks before your due date to protect the newborn from severe low blood sugar
  • If you are breastfeeding, your baby should be monitored for signs of low blood sugar
  • Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established — glipizide is not approved for use in pediatric patients

Glipizide overdose

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Taking too much glipizide can cause severe low blood sugar. Mild symptoms without loss of consciousness can often be treated with oral glucose (like juice or glucose tablets). Severe overdose — with seizures, coma, or other neurological signs — is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment with glucagon or intravenous glucose.

Even after someone appears to recover, blood sugar must be monitored closely for at least 24 to 48 hours, since low blood sugar can return. Because glipizide is heavily protein-bound and processed by the liver, dialysis is not expected to be helpful in removing it from the body.

What Glipizide does in the body

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Glipizide lowers blood sugar primarily by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin, particularly in response to meals. Once-daily dosing with extended-release glipizide tablets has been shown to reduce hemoglobin A1c (a measure of average blood sugar over about 3 months), fasting blood sugar, and blood sugar after meals. The boost in insulin release after eating continues even after at least 6 months of treatment, without significantly raising baseline (fasting) insulin levels in most patients.

How your body processes Glipizide

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Glipizide is completely absorbed when taken by mouth. The extended-release tablet releases the drug gradually, with blood levels rising over 6 to 12 hours after a dose and staying relatively steady throughout the day. Glipizide is very heavily bound to proteins in the blood (98–99%) and is broken down mainly by the liver, with about 90% of the drug leaving the body as breakdown products through urine and stool. Its half-life (the time for blood levels to fall by half) is roughly 2 to 5 hours, but its blood-sugar-lowering effect lasts longer than this suggests. People with liver disease or impaired kidney function may clear the drug and its byproducts more slowly, raising the risk of prolonged low blood sugar.

How to store Glipizide

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The tablets should be protected from moisture and humidity. Store at 68–77°F (20–25°C); excursions permitted between 59°F and 86°F (15°C and 30°C) .

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

307

Supplements & herbs that interact with Glipizide

307 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Glipizide in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 2
  • Moderate · 256
  • Minor · 49
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major ACAI Moderate ADRAFINIL Moderate AFRICAN WILD POTATO Moderate AGARICUS MUSHROOM Moderate AGMATINE Moderate AGRIMONY Moderate +299 more
Every supplement checked against Glipizide — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 2 major · 256 moderate · 49 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Glipizide against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

1

Nutrient depletion considerations

Glipizide has been associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

COENZYME Q10 Insignificant Depletion
See the full Glipizide nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Glipizide: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Glipizide — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly is glipizide supposed to do for my diabetes?

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Glipizide helps lower your blood sugar by prompting your pancreas to release more insulin — especially after meals. It's used in type 2 diabetes alongside diet and exercise, not as a replacement for them. Think of it as a tool that helps your pancreas do a bit more of the work it's struggling to keep up with.

What's the difference between the regular tablet and the extended-release tablet?

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The regular tablet works relatively quickly and is usually taken about 30 minutes before a meal. The extended-release tablet (including the brand Glucotrol XL) releases the medicine slowly throughout the day, so you take it just once a day with breakfast or your first main meal. Your prescriber chose one based on what fits your situation best — don't switch between them on your own.

What does low blood sugar feel like, and what should I do if it happens?

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Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can feel like shakiness, sweating, a fast heartbeat, confusion, or feeling very hungry or anxious. If you have mild symptoms and you're alert, eat or drink something with fast-acting sugar — like glucose tablets, juice, or regular soda. If you or someone around you loses consciousness or has a seizure, that's an emergency — call 911 right away. Always keep a fast-acting sugar source with you.

Are there any medications or foods I need to avoid while taking glipizide?

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Yes — a few important ones. Oral miconazole (a common antifungal) and fluconazole can both raise glipizide levels and sharply increase the risk of low blood sugar, so let every prescriber and pharmacist know you're on glipizide. Alcohol can have an unpredictable effect on your blood sugar. If you take the cholesterol drug colesevelam, make sure to take glipizide extended-release tablets at least 4 hours before it. Many other medications — including steroids, diuretics, and certain antibiotics — can also interact, so always keep your medication list up to date.

Is glipizide safe to take if I'm pregnant or trying to get pregnant?

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You should talk to your doctor right away if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Glipizide crosses the placenta, and newborns of mothers who took it close to delivery can develop serious low blood sugar. The label says glipizide extended-release should be stopped at least two weeks before your due date. Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy also carries its own risks, so your doctor will help you find the safest plan for you and your baby.

I'm older — is there anything extra I should watch out for?

▾
Yes, and this is really important. Older adults are more susceptible to low blood sugar, and the warning signs — like shakiness or confusion — can be harder to notice or may be mistaken for something else. Your prescriber should start you at a lower dose and increase slowly. Make sure a family member or someone close to you knows the signs of low blood sugar and what to do if it happens.

Is Glipizide available over the counter?

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No. Glipizide is a prescription medicine: every Glipizide product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Glipizide first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Glipizide is from 1984: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Glipizide was first used.

Who makes Glipizide?

▾
29 companies currently list Glipizide products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including A-S Medication Solutions, Bryant Ranch Prepack, NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Glipizide on HelloPharmacist

📊Glipizide supplement interactions307 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerGlipizide vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Glipizide NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Glipizide Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Glipizide forms and strengths (how it comes)

Glipizide is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Tablet

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Glipizide tablets are used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
Important instructions
  • Glipizide tablets are taken by mouth, generally about 30 minutes before a meal
  • Glipizide tablets: there is no single fixed dose — your prescriber will adjust based on your blood sugar response
  • Glipizide tablets: some patients do well with once-daily dosing; others may need the dose split across meals — follow your prescriber's guidance
  • Glipizide tablets: older adults, people with liver disease, debilitated or malnourished patients should start at a lower dose to reduce the risk of low blood sugar
Available strengths 4 strengths
2.5 mg 5 mg 10 mg 15 mg
208 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Extended-release tablet

By mouth
Brands Glucotrol
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Glipizide extended-release tablets are used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • Glucotrol XL is used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
Important instructions
  • Glipizide extended-release tablets and Glucotrol XL are taken once daily by mouth with breakfast or the first main meal of the day
  • Glucotrol XL: if you also take colesevelam, take Glucotrol XL at least 4 hours before colesevelam to avoid reduced absorption
  • Glipizide extended-release tablets: do not use if you have severe narrowing anywhere in the digestive tract — the tablet shell does not dissolve and could cause a blockage
  • Glipizide extended-release tablets: older adults and those with liver problems should start at a lower dose — follow your prescriber's guidance closely
Available strengths 3 strengths
2.5 mg 5 mg 10 mg
101 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Glipizide on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Glipizide appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

29 companies list 136 Glipizide product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet, extended-release tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1984. Brand names on the directory include Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL; the rest are generics.

2
Dose forms ⓘ
29
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
3
Brand names
136
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1984
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (19) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

A-S Medication Solutions15%
Bryant Ranch Prepack13%
NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.7%
Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc.7%
Remedyrepack Inc.7%
Northwind Health Company, LLC5%
Other makers46%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Glipizide is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Glipizide is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Glipizide is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

1,400,626
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$18.5M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Glipizide prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Glipizide ranks #133 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 92% of them.

Where Glipizide ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #133 of 1,601
#128 Tramadol 1,699,315 Rx #129 Atomoxetine 1,684,860 Rx #130 Sumatriptan 1,522,413 Rx #131 Clopidogrel 1,480,259 Rx #132 Zolpidem 1,428,857 Rx #133 Glipizide 1,400,626 Rx #134 Buprenorphine Buccal (... 1,379,027 Rx #135 Buprenorphine 1,379,027 Rx #136 Chlorhexidine 1,373,852 Rx #137 Simvastatin 1,357,663 Rx #138 Tretinoin 1,345,058 Rx

Utilization by Glipizide product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 10 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Glipizide product — about 35% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

glipizide 10 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

488,954 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 35% of Glipizide prescriptions shown $5.8M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $12 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 14 of 202 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 310488

glipizide 5 MG Oral Tablet

403,463 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 29% of Glipizide prescriptions shown $4.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $10 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 15 of 203 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 310490

24 HR glipizide 10 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

239,517 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 17% of Glipizide prescriptions shown $4.3M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $18 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 7 of 81 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 315107

24 HR glipizide 5 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

178,648 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 13% of Glipizide prescriptions shown $2.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $12 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 7 of 69 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 314006

24 HR glipizide 2.5 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

75,881 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 5% of Glipizide prescriptions shown $990,765 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $13 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 28 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 310489

glipizide 2.5 MG Oral Tablet

14,163 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Glipizide prescriptions shown $1.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $83 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 6 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 379804

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Glipizide, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 48 of 589 listed Glipizide NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Glipizide products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Glipizide — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 93 of 136 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 136 Glipizide NDCs →

Glipizide recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Glipizide recalls since July 2021.

✅No Glipizide recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Glipizide RxCUI 4821 2 dose forms · 7 strengths
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 372320 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 2.5 MG RxCUI 379804 5 MG RxCUI 310490 10 MG RxCUI 310488 15 MG RxCUI 2737151

Look up RxCUI 4821 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Glipizide costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet · Oral 10 mg $0.045 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 5 mg $0.034 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 2.5 mg $1.27 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Extended Release · Oral 10 mg $0.122 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Extended Release · Oral 5 mg $0.376 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Extended Release · Oral 2.5 mg $0.099 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release · Oral 2.5 mg $0.099 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Extended Release 2.5 mg $0.099 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet 10 mg $0.045 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet 5 mg $0.034 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Glipizide brand names

Glipizide is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Glucotrol Glucotrol XL

Who makes Glipizide: manufacturers and labelers

29 companies list Glipizide products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are A-S Medication Solutions, Bryant Ranch Prepack, NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

A-S Medication Solutions 20 Bryant Ranch Prepack 17 NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 10 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 10 Remedyrepack Inc. 9 Northwind Health Company, LLC 7 Aurobindo Pharma Limited 6 PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 6 Proficient Rx LP 6 Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC 5 Advagen Pharma Limited 4 American Health Packaging 4 Northstar Rx LLC. 3 Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. 3 ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 2 Advanced Rx of Tennessee, LLC 2 Apotex Corp. 2 AvPAK 2 Coupler LLC 2 Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. 2 Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging, LLC 2 NCS HealthCare of KY, LLC dba Vangard Labs 2 Oxford Pharmaceuticals, LLC 2

…and 5 more on the FDA NDC directory.

Glipizide drug class (RxNorm)

Glipizide belongs to the Sulfonylurea class.

Pharmacologic class Sulfonylurea
Drug family (ATC) Sulfonylureas

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Glipizide page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jul 21, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Glipizide.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Glipizide after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
116
Finished products in the current FDA directory
136
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
29
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
38
Linked representative label ⓘ
Roerig
Linked label effective
Jul 21, 2026
Composite sections available
22
Linked SPL Set ID
eed99b60-d043-4249-9b2a-f05e46fb588d
Linked SPL Document ID
c98a3ab5-faeb-4d79-8bcd-05f37c2b50bf
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Roerig is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →