Metformin (Glucophage Xr) is an inexpensive medicine used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. It is is more popular than comparable drugs. It is available in both brand and generic versions. Generic metformin is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but some pharmacy coupons or cash prices may be lower.
$ 30.00 (500mg x 30 pills)
prices from H&B Pharmacy
Metformin works in a number of ways to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Patients also tend to see their cholesterol levels drop and an increase in sensitivity to insulin. Some metformin users lose weight because of the drug's affect on appetite, naturally leading the patient to eat fewer calories!
For the first week of treatment you will usually be asked to take 500mg metformin once a day.
After this, your dose may be gradually increased, either by taking the medicine two and then three times a day, or by taking higher strength tablets. It's important that you always follow the instructions given by your doctor. These will be printed on the dispensing label that your pharmacist has put on the medicine. If you are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
All forms of metformin should be taken with a meal or a snack.
Glipizide (Glucotrol) is a prescription meds that's used along with diet and exercise, and sometimes with other medications, to reduce blood sugar levels in people with high blood sugar caused by type 2 diabetes. It's available in oral immediate-release tablet, oral extended-release tablet and generic form. Generic drugs usually cost less.
$ 20.00 (5mg x 30 pills)
prices from H&B Pharmacy
Glipizide works mainly by stimulating the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. These cells are called beta cells. Glipizide causes the beta cells to produce more insulin. This helps to decrease the amount of sugar in the blood of people with type 2 diabetes.
Glipizide also increases the uptake of sugar from the blood into muscle and fat cells and decreases the production of sugar by the liver.
Glipizide is a first line option for treating type 2 diabetes in people who are not overweight, or who cannot take metformin. It is used when diet and exercise have failed to control blood sugar levels. It can also be used in combination with other antidiabetic medicines to provide better control of blood sugar.
Many medications may affect how well glipizide works, change your blood sugar levels, or increase your risk of side effects. To be safe, tell your pharmacist or doctor about everything you take: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbs. They are the experts who can help you prevent or minimize drug interactions by adjusting your medications or doses as needed.
The regular Glipizide tablet is usually taken one or more times a day, 30 minutes before breakfast or meals. The extended-release tablet is usually taken once a day with breakfast. Take glucotrol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of glipizide and gradually increase your dose if needed. After you have taken glucotrol for some time, glucotrol may not control your blood sugar as well as it did at the beginning of your treatment. Your doctor may adjust the dose of your medication as needed so that the medication will work best for you. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling and if your blood sugar test results have been higher or lower than normal at any time during your treatment.
Questions & Answers
You can not buy metformin and glipizide without prescription in the US, Canada, UK and most other countries in the world. You need to get a prescription for diabetes pills from your doctor before being able to access the meds. If you have a prescription, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or any other online pharmacy will sell drugs for you.
Reviews
Been taking 1000 mg twice a day for almost 9 years along with Lantus. Metformin messed with my stomach, etc., for about 2-3 weeks, but no adverse events since then.
I love Metformin - oral contraceptives never helped me and only Metformin has been able to help control my PCOS symptoms. It took about 6 months for me to see any real benefits and then I noticed that the benefits were incredible. I have lost a lot of weight, and I just wanted to offer a word of caution. Please continue to go to your doctor and monitor your progress. Metformin (although I love it) is a pretty serious drug with major side effects. As you lose weight, your dose may need adjusting as mine did. I went from 2000mg a day to years ago down to 500 over those two years!
I had some initial weight loss from metformin. I think it was in part due to having diarrhea initally, a slightly diminshed appetite and a sort of metallic taste. All those side effects went away though.
I could not take metformin so my doctor gave me glipizide and it worked great and I'm still at 5mg once a day. No problems, no weight gain, no high sugar problems.
I have taken glipizide for years with no problems then in December 2016 I was in the hospital low sodium level (danger zone) vomiting stomach pain the doctor said maybe the glipizide he took me off the pill but now I can not keep my sugar level under control without it.
I have used Glucotrol for about 5 years now as a secondary medicine. Glipizide helps to keep my blood sugar numbers within range and keeps me from having to use insulin as much as I would without it, which is a good thing. I haven't had any side effects from the glipizide at all. I'm very happy with this medication.