Glipizide 5mg
Generic Name
Glipizide
Indications/Uses
Glipizide 5 mg is a prescription drug that belongs to the drug class sulfonylurea. It is used to reduce the blood sugar level in diabetic cats. Though this medication can hardly cure diabetes, it can be administered through out a cat’s life in order to maintain the blood sugar at acceptable levels. The drug also helps to increase the tissue sensitivity so that even smaller doses of insulin work more effectively. Glipizide 5mg tablets are immediate release tablets and work by stimulating the insulin secretion contained in the beta cells of the pancreatic islets.
Precautions
Animals with known hypersensitivity to all sulpha drugs should be kept away from glipizide tablets. It is not safe to treat pregnant or nursing animals with this medication. Glipizide is likely to react with drugs like chloramphenicol, NSAIDs and warfarin and certain sulfa drugs. Therefore, do not administer this medication if the pet is being treated with any of these. The efficiency of glipizide is likely to be altered by the influence of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s), diuretics and cimetidine. Animals suffering from thyroid, pituitary gland, kidney and liver ailments should not be treated with glipizide 5mg. Administration of glipizide increases the level of certain proteins along with increasing the secretion of insulin. Thus, cats with already high levels of protein should be treated with caution.
Side Effects
Administration of glipizide may at times induce harmful side effects like loss of appetite, transient vomiting, and jaundice. In some cases, administration of this medication can result in Hypoglycemia affected by symptoms like weakness, wobbling, inability to stand, extreme hunger, shivering, lethargy, shaking, seizures or coma. Applying of a small amount of Karo syrup to the cat’s gum is found to be an effective solution for the side effects. While administering this medicine, some pets are seen to exhibit symptoms of bruising, paleness in gums and bleeding tendencies.
Dosage Information
Dosage depends on the severity of the condition. However, the ideal dosage is twice a day. Never increase the dosage without the prescription of an expert veterinarian as over dosage can result in vomiting, depression, loss of appetite and jaundice. During the course of treatment, the cat should be given high fiber diet.
Brand Names
Glucotrol (Pfizer)