Sulfonylurea (2nd generation)
Glipizide
Brand names: Glibenese, Minodiab
Adult dose
Dose: 2.5–5mg OD before breakfast; usual range 2.5–20mg/day; max 20mg/day (in divided doses if >15mg)
Route: PO
Frequency: OD or BD
Clinical pearls
- Less commonly used than gliclazide in UK
- Take 30 min before food
Contraindications
- Type 1 diabetes
- DKA
- Severe hepatic/renal impairment
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding
- Porphyria
Side effects
- Hypoglycaemia
- Weight gain
- GI upset
- Hyponatraemia
- Cholestatic jaundice (rare)
Interactions
- Other hypoglycaemics
- β-blockers (mask hypoglycaemia)
- Alcohol
- CYP2C9 inhibitors
Monitoring
- HbA1c
- Hypoglycaemia symptoms
Reference: BNF; NICE NG28; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/glipizide/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Pathways
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) · JBDS 2013 / Joint British Diabetes Societies; NICE NG17
- Adult Hypoglycaemia (Treated Diabetes) · JBDS-IP (2023): Hospital Management of Hypoglycaemia
- Adrenal Crisis · Society for Endocrinology Emergency Guidance (2024)
- Type 2 Diabetes Management · NICE NG28 2022
- Hyperthyroidism Management · BTA / ETA 2018
- Adrenal Insufficiency · Society of Endocrinology / ESE 2016