after years of taking glipizide xl, without changing prescription, online pharmacy just changed my medicine to glipizide er - is that a generic form? is there a difference in the medication?
Is glipizide er the same as glipizide xl?
Question posted by Nando15 on 3 Aug 2010
Last updated on 28 April 2018 by genisis1
3 Answers
genisis1
28 April 2018
My experience with glipizide xl and glipizide er i that glipizide xl keeps my blood sugars controlled much better that glipizide er. Glipizide er results in my blood sugar tests being 20 to 30 points higher than Glipizide XL. After your explaination of how each one works, I can see why and confirms what I am seeing.
I have told my Dr. about this and she wrote the prescription for Glucotrol XL The Pharmacy is telling me that the plan is not covering this and is trying to work it out with the Dr.
Thanks.
Lovella
suzanne66
4 Aug 2010
Yes. Glipizide ER and Glipizide XL are both generic versions of the original brand Glucotrol XL.
They are both long acting formulations.
All of the generic glipizide versions currently available have been assigned an "AB" rating by the FDA, meaning they should be equivalent to Glucotrol XL, although there may be differences in the inactive ingredients.
Nando15
4 Aug 2010
Good to know about the generic approval by FDA - thanks!
jaladi90
24 Jan 2018
GLIPIZIDE XL Extended Release Tablet is similar in appearance to a conventional tablet. It consists, however, of an osmotically active drug core surrounded by a semipermeable membrane. The core itself is divided into two layers: an "active" layer containing the drug, and a "push" layer containing pharmacologically inert (but osmotically active) components. The membrane surrounding the tablet is permeable to water but not to drug or osmotic excipients. As water from the gastrointestinal tract enters the tablet, pressure increases in the osmotic layer and "pushes" against the drug layer, resulting in the release of drug through a small, laser-drilled orifice in the membrane on the drug side of the tablet.
Glipizide XL uses osmotic pressure system to slowly release the drug through the GI tract. (see below for description)
Glipizide ER uses a polymer matrix to slowly release the active ingredient. Nothing in stool.
The function of the GLIPIZIDE XL Extended Release Tablet depends upon the existence of an osmotic gradient between the contents of the bi-layer core and fluid in the GI tract. The biologically inert components of the tablet remain intact during GI transit and are eliminated in the feces as an insoluble shell.
Inactive
4 Aug 2010
ER or XL means extended release.
Time release technology, also known as sustained-release (SR), sustained-action (SA), extended-release (ER, XR, or XL), time-release or timed-release, controlled-release (CR), modified release (MR), or continuous-release (CR or Contin), is a mechanism used in pill tablets or capsules to dissolve slowly and release a drug over time. The advantages of sustained-release tablets or capsules are that they can often be taken less frequently than instant-release formulations of the same drug, and that they keep steadier levels of the drug in the bloodstream.
I hope this helps.
Nando15
4 Aug 2010
Thanks - comforting as well as helpful information!
Inactive
4 Aug 2010
You are welcome my friend.-
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glipizide xl, glipizide, pharmacy, generic
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