Clinical information
Common uses
- type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise
Common side effects
- diarrhoea
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- low blood sugar
- upper respiratory infection
Cautions
- boxed warning: lactic acidosis, rare but can be fatal
- not for severe kidney problems
- avoid excessive alcohol
- sulfonylureas may carry increased risk of heart-related death
Interactions
- topiramate and similar carbonic anhydrase inhibitors — lactic acidosis risk
- miconazole or fluconazole (antifungals) — severe low blood sugar
- cimetidine — raises metformin levels
- colesevelam — take this medicine at least 4 hours before it
- thiazide diuretics, steroids, oestrogens — can raise blood sugar
- alcohol — increases lactic acidosis risk
Pregnancy: not recommended — insulin usually preferred in pregnancy
Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, glipizide and metformin hydrochloride tablets label, setid 94a7f96e-2ed1-432d-bc6a-5840863816e1 (accessed 2026-08-16)