glipizide Nursing Considerations & Management

 Drug Name

Generic Name :  glipizide

Brand Name:  Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL

Classification: Antidiabetic, Sulfonylurea (second generation)

Pregnancy Category C

Dosage & Route

Available forms : Tablets—5, 10 mg; ER tablets—2.5, 5, 10 mg

Dosages : Give approximately 30 min before breakfast to achieve greatest reduction in postprandial hyperglycemia.

ADULTS
  • Initial therapy: 5 mg PO before breakfast. Adjust dosage in increments of 2.5–5 mg as determined by blood glucose response. At least several days should elapse between adjustments. Maximum once-daily dose should not exceed 15 mg; above 15 mg, divide dose, and administer before meals. Do not exceed 40 mg/day. ER tablets: 5 mg/day. Adjust dosage in 5-mg increments every 3 mo; maximum dose—20 mg/day.
  • Maintenance therapy: Total daily doses above 15 mg PO should be divided; total daily doses above 30 mg are given in divided doses bid.
  • Extended release: 5 mg/day with breakfast, may be increased to 10 mg/day after 3 mo if indicated.
PEDIATRIC PATIENTS
  • Safety and efficacy not established.
GERIATRIC PATIENTS
  • Geriatric patients tend to be more sensitive to the drug. Start with initial dose of 2.5 mg/day PO. Monitor for 24 hr and gradually increase dose after several days as needed.
Therapeutic actions
  • Glipizide stimulates insulin release from pancreatic β-cells and reduces gluconeogenesis in liver cells. It also increases insulin sensitivity at target sites.
Indications
  • Adjunct to diet and exercise to lower blood glucose with type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Adjunct to insulin therapy in the stabilization of certain cases of type 1 diabetes, reducing the insulin requirement and decreasing the chance of hypoglycemic reactions
Adverse effects
  • GI upsets, diarrhoea, nausea; allergic skin reactions, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, hyponatraemia; jaundice; haemolytic anaemia, pancytopenia.
  • Potentially Fatal: Hypoglycaemia in presence of renal or hepatic damage and alcohol.
Contraindications
  • Hypersensitivity. Type 1 DM; ketoacidosis; severe renal or hepatic insufficiency. Pregnancy, lactation.
Nursing considerations
Assessment
  • History: Allergy to sulfonylureas; diabetes with complications; type 1 diabetes, serious hepatic or renal impairment, uremia, thyroid or endocrine impairment, glycosuria, hyperglycemia associated with primary renal disease; pregnancy
  • Physical: Skin color, lesions; T; orientation, reflexes, peripheral sensation; R, adventitious sounds; liver evaluation, bowel sounds; urinalysis, BUN, serum creatinine, LFTs, blood glucose, CBC
Interventions
  • Give drug 30 min before breakfast; if severe GI upset occurs or more than 15 mg/day is required, dose may be divided and given before meals.
  • Monitor urine or serum glucose levels frequently to determine drug effectiveness and dosage.
  • WARNING: Transfer to insulin therapy during periods of high stress (eg, infections, surgery, trauma).
  • WARNING: Use IV glucose if severe hypoglycemia occurs as a result of overdose.
Teaching points
  • Take this drug 30 minutes before breakfast for best results.
  • Do not discontinue this drug without consulting your health care provider.
  • Monitor urine or blood for glucose and ketones.
  • If taking ER tablets, swallow them whole; do not crush, chew, or divide tablets. The empty tablet may appear in your stool.
  • Do not use this drug during pregnancy; consult health care provider.
  • Avoid alcohol while using this drug.
  • Report fever, sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, rash, dark urine, light-colored stools, hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic reactions.