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Home » Diabetes » Minidiab
Minidiab
Brand name: Minidiab, Glipizide, Apami, Diasef, Glibenese, Melizid(e), Minidiab, Ozidia, Melizide, Xiprine, Antidiab, Melizid, Glez, Glucolip, Glynase, Glyzip, Gluco-Rite, Glix, Beapizide, Diasef, Dipazide, GP-Zide, Namedia, Minodiab
Generic name: Glipizide
Manufacturer: Pfizer
How does Minidiab work?
In patients with diabetes mellitus, there is a deficiency or absence of a hormone manufactured by the pancreas called insulin. Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the control of sugar in the blood.
Glipizide is an antidiabetic medication which is used in those patients with adult maturity onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM). It works by lowering blood sugar levels by stimulating the production and release of insulin from the pancreas. It also promotes the movement of sugar from the blood into the cells in the body which need it.
These two mechanisms in conjunction with a diet low in sugar and fat allows diabetics to control their blood sugar levels more effectively.
What is Minidiab used for?
• Diabetes
Warning!
• It is recommended that you avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while taking this medicine.
• Blood sugar levels should be checked regularly when taking this medicine.
Use with caution in
• Elderly people
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
Not to be used in
• Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
• This medicine should not normally be used during pregnancy. Diabetes mellitus is usually controlled using insulin during pregnancy, because this provides a more stable control of blood sugar. If you get pregnant while taking this medicine, or are planning a pregnancy, you should seek medical advice from your doctor.
• Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
• Drowsiness
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia)
• Dizziness
• Weight gain
• Skin rashes
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
The following drugs may enhance the effects of glipizide leading to low sugar levels in the blood:
aspirin; anti-fungals (fluconazole and miconazole); non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS); sulphonamide antibiotics; co-trimaxazole; beta-blockers; ACE inhibitors; anabolic steroids; testosterone; clofibrate.
The following drugs may reduce the effect of glipizide and so may raise blood sugar levels:
diuretics (loop and thiazide diuretics); corticosteroids; oral contraceptives; phenytoin; chlorpromazine; cholestyramine.
Glipizide may alter the blood clotting effects of warfarin and the other coumarins.
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