Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride 5 mg; 500 mg Tablet, Film Coated, 100-count — NDC 0093-7457-01 (Billing 00093-7457-01)

WARNINGS SPECIAL WARNING ON INCREASED RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY The administration of oral hypoglycemic drugs has been reported to be associated with increased cardiovascular mortality as compared to treatment with diet alone or diet plus insulin. This warning is based on the study conducted by the University Group Diabetes Program (UGDP), a long-term prospective clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of glucose-lowering drugs in preventing or delaying vascular complications in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

The study involved 823 patients who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups ( Diabetes 19 (Suppl. 2):747-830, 1970). UGDP reported that patients treated for 5 to 8 years with diet plus a fixed dose of tolbutamide (1.5 grams per day) had a rate of cardiovascular mortality approximately 2½ times that of patients treated with diet alone.

A significant increase in total mortality was not observed, but the use of tolbutamide was discontinued based on the increase in cardiovascular mortality, thus limiting the opportunity for the study to show an increase in overall mortality. Despite controversy regarding the interpretation of these results, the findings of the UGDP study provide an adequate basis for this warning. The patient should be informed of the potential risks and benefits of glipizide and of alternative modes of therapy.

Although only 1 drug in the sulfonylurea class (tolbutamide) was included in this study, it is prudent from a safety standpoint to consider that this warning may also apply to other hypoglycemic drugs in this class, in view of their close similarities in mode of action and chemical structure.

ADVERSE REACTIONS Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets In a double-blind 24-week clinical trial involving glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets as initial therapy, a total of 172 patients received glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/250 mg, 173 received glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/500 mg, 170 received glipizide, and 177 received metformin. The most common clinical adverse events in these treatment groups are listed in Table 4 . Table 4: Clinical Adverse Events > 5% in any Treatment Group, by Primary Term, in Initial Therapy Study Adverse Event Number (%) of Patients Glipizide 5 mg Tablets N = 170 Metformin 500 mg Tablets N = 177 Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, 2.5 mg/250 mg N = 172 Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, 2.5 mg/500 mg N = 173 Upper respiratory infection 12 (7.1) 15 (8.5) 17 (9.9) 14 (8.1) Diarrhea 8 (4.7) 15 (8.5) 4 (2.3) 9 (5.2) Dizziness 9 (5.3) 2 (1.1) 3 (1.7) 9 (5.2) Hypertension 17 (10.0) 10 (5.6) 5 (2.9) 6 (3.5) Nausea/vomiting 6 (3.5) 9 (5.1) 1 (0.6) 3 (1.7) In a double-blind 18-week clinical trial involving glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets as second-line therapy, a total of 87 patients received glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 84 received glipizide, and 75 received metformin.

The most common clinical adverse events in this clinical trial are listed in Table 5 . Table 5: Clinical Adverse Events > 5% in any Treatment Group, by Primary Term, in Second-Line Therapy Study Number (%) of Patients Adverse Event Glipizide 5 mg Tablets 1 N = 84 Metformin 500 mg Tablets 1 N = 75 Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, 5 mg/500 mg 1 N = 87 Diarrhea 11 (13.1) 13 (17.3) 16 (18.4) Headache 5 (6.0) 4 (5.3) 11 (12.6) Upper respiratory infection 11 (13.1) 8 (10.7) 9 (10.3) Musculoskeletal pain 6 (7.1) 5 (6.7) 7 (8.0) Nausea/vomiting 5 (6.0) 6 (8.0) 7 (8.0) Abdominal pain 7 (8.3) 5 (6.7) 5 (5.7) UTI 4 (4.8) 6 (8.0) 1 (1.1) The dose of glipizide was fixed at 30 mg daily; doses of metformin and glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets were titrated.

Hypoglycemia In a controlled initial therapy trial of glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/250 mg and 2.5 mg/500 mg the numbers of patients with hypoglycemia documented by symptoms (such as dizziness, shakiness, sweating, and hunger) and a fingerstick blood glucose measurement ≤ 50 mg/dL were 5 (2.9%) for glipizide, 0 (0%) for metformin, 13 (7.6%) for glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/250 mg, and 16 (9.3%) for glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/500 mg. Among patients taking either glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/250 mg or glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 2.5 mg/500 mg, 9 (2.6%) patients discontinued glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets due to hypoglycemic symptoms and 1 required medical intervention due to hypoglycemia.

In a controlled second-line therapy trial of glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, 5 mg/500 mg, the numbers of patients with hypoglycemia documented by symptoms and a fingerstick blood glucose measurement ≤ 50 mg/dL were 0 (0%) for glipizide, 1 (1.3%) for metformin, and 11 (12.6%) for glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets. One (1.1%) patient discontinued glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablet therapy due to hypoglycemic symptoms and none required medical intervention due to hypoglycemia (see PRECAUTIONS ).

Gastrointestinal Reactions Among the most common clinical adverse events in the initial therapy trial were diarrhea and nausea/vomiting; the incidences of these events were lower with both glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets dosage strengths than with metformin therapy. There were 4 (1.2%) patients in the initial therapy trial who discontinued glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablet therapy due to gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events. Gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and abdominal… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

Drug Interactions Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets Certain drugs tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of blood glucose control. These drugs include thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel blocking drugs, and isoniazid. When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, the patient should be closely observed for loss of blood glucose control.

When such drugs are withdrawn from a patient receiving glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, the patient should be observed closely for hypoglycemia. Metformin is negligibly bound to plasma proteins and is, therefore, less likely to interact with highly protein-bound drugs such as salicylates, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, and probenecid as compared to sulfonylureas, which are extensively bound to serum proteins. Glipizide The hypoglycemic action of sulfonylureas may be potentiated by certain drugs, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, some azoles, and other drugs that are highly protein-bound, salicylates, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, probenecid, coumarins, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and beta-adrenergic blocking agents.

When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, the patient should be observed closely for hypoglycemia. When such drugs are withdrawn from a patient receiving glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, the patient should be observed closely for loss of blood glucose control. In vitro binding studies with human serum proteins indicate that glipizide binds differently than tolbutamide and does not interact with salicylate or dicumarol.

However, caution must be exercised in extrapolating these findings to the clinical situation and in the use of glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets with these drugs. A potential interaction between oral miconazole and oral hypoglycemic agents leading to severe hypoglycemia has been reported. Whether this interaction also occurs with the intravenous, topical, or vaginal preparations of miconazole is not known.

The effect of concomitant administration of fluconazole and glipizide has been demonstrated in a placebo-controlled crossover study in normal volunteers. All subjects received glipizide alone and following treatment with 100 mg of fluconazole as a single oral daily dose for 7 days, the mean percent increase in the glipizide AUC after fluconazole administration was 56.9% (range: 35% to 81%). In studies assessing the effect of colesevelam on the pharmacokinetics of glipizide ER in healthy volunteers, reductions in glipizide AUC 0-∞ and C max of 12% and 13%, respectively, were observed when colesevelam was coadministered with glipizide ER.

When glipizide ER was administered 4 hours prior to colesevelam, there was no significant change in glipizide AUC 0-∞ or C max , –4% and 0%, respectively. Therefore, glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets should be administered at least 4 hours prior to colesevelam to ensure that colesevelam does not reduce the absorption of glipizide. Metformin Hydrochloride Furosemide A single-dose, metformin-furosemide drug interaction study in healthy subjects demonstrated that pharmacokinetic parameters of both compounds were affected by coadministration.

Furosemide increased the metformin plasma and blood C max by 22% and blood AUC by 15%, without any significant change in metformin renal clearance. When administered with metformin, the C max and AUC of furosemide were 31% and 12% smaller, respectively, than when administered alone, and the terminal half-life was decreased by 32%, without any significant change in furosemide renal clearance. No information is available about the interaction of metformin and furosemide when coadministered chronically.

Nifedipine A single-dose, metformin-nifedipine drug int… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

PRECAUTIONS General Glipizide and Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets Lactic Acidosis —There have been postmarketing cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis, including fatal cases. These cases had a subtle onset and were accompanied by nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, myalgias, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, or increased somnolence; however, hypotension and resistant bradyarrhythmias have occurred with severe acidosis. Metformin-associated lactic acidosis was characterized by elevated blood lactate concentrations (> 5 mmol/L), anion gap acidosis (without evidence of ketonuria or ketonemia), and an increases lactate:pyruvate ratio; metformin plasma levels were generally > 5 mcg/mL.

Metformin decreases liver uptake of lactate increasing lactate blood levels which may increase the risk of lactic acidosis, especially in patients at risk. If metformin-associated lactic acidosis is suspected, general supportive measures should be instituted promptly in a hospital setting, along with immediate discontinuation of glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets. In glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablet-treated patients with a diagnosis or strong suspicion of lactic acidosis, prompt hemodialysis is recommended to correct the acidosis and remove accumulated metformin (metformin hydrochloride is dialyzable with a clearance of up to 170 mL/min under good hemodynamic conditions).

Hemodialysis has often resulted in reversal of symptoms and recovery. Educate patients and their families about the symptoms of lactic acidosis and if these symptoms occur instruct them to discontinue glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets and report these symptoms to their healthcare provider. For each of the known and possible risk factors for metformin-associated lactic acidosis, recommendations to reduce the risk of and manage metformin-associated lactic acidosis are provided below: Renal Impairment —The postmarketing metformin-associated lactic acidosis cases primarily occurred in patients with significant renal impairment.

The risk of metformin accumulation and metformin-associated lactic acidosis increases with the severity of renal impairment because metformin is substantially excreted by the kidney. Clinical recommendations based upon the patients renal function include (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION , CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ): Before initiating glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets, obtain an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) Glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients with an eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 .

Initiation of glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets is not recommended in patients with eGFR between 30 to 45 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Obtain an eGFR at least annually in all patients taking glipizide and metfomin hydrochloride tablets. In patients at risk for the development of renal impairment (e.g., the elderly), renal function should be assessed more frequently.

In patients taking glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets whose eGFR falls below 45 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , assess the benefit and risk of continuing therapy. Drug interactions —The concomitant use of glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets with specific drugs may increase the risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis: those that impair renal function, result in significant hemodynamic change, interfere with acid-base balance, or increase metformin accumulation. Consider more frequent monitoring of patients.

Age 65 or Greater—The risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis increases with the patient’s age because elderly patients have a greater likelihood of having hepatic, renal, or cardiac impairment than younger patients. Assess renal function more frequently in elderly patients. Radiologic studies with contrast —Administration of intravascular iodinated contrast agents in metformin-treated patients has led to an acute decrease in renal function and the occurrence of lact… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]