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Is It Safe To Take Glimepiride, Metformin And Glipizide While Suffering From Diabetes?
Question: My Dr passed away and new POP will not be setup till feb appointment. Im diabetic and my glimepiride is out 2 mg and metformin 500 mg. I have an old bottle of glipizide 5 mg that was another in the family. Is it safe to use this drug until my appointment? Blood sugar today about 350+
Brief Answer:
if it is not expired it can be used
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
As you mentioned glimepiride and glipizide are in the same family of drugs (sulphonyureas).
If the glipizide is not expired (the expiratory date should be on the container) and you have no history of allergic reactions to it, then you can use it.
There are different formulations , the immediate release or the sustained release tablet. If the container has the letters XL or XR , it is sustained release.
The initial dose is 5 mg for both, taken once daily in the morning.
This dose can be increased if there is inadequate control but this should be left up to your doctor.
IF you can alter your diet in the next few weeks to significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake, this would also reduce your blood sugars. IF you do reduce your carbohydrates , you should monitor your readings, the need for medication may decrease.
If the control is not good and the visit is still too long away, you may need to consider visiting another doctor for treatment.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It is expired but never out of the cabinet. looks in good shape. I have taken them for past couple of days and no negative reactions. Just wanted to be sure that they were in the same family and dosage appeared higher than Glimiperide at 2mg as
they are 5mg says gg 771 on pill expired back in 1/2012
Brief Answer:
may be best not to use them
Detailed Answer:
HI
Yes, they are in the same drug family.
Since they expired quite a while ago , it would be best not the take them because it is not likely to as effective as it should and also it is possible that the structure/components would have altered to cause side effects.
If there are no other doctors in your area that you can access, you may want to consider trying the emergency services.
Please feel free to ask any one else
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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