metformin/glipizide
Brand names: Metaglip
ZITUVIMET is a drug that combines two medicines to help control blood sugar levels. It is used along with diet and exercise for adults with type 2 diabetes.
What it does
ZITUVIMET is used to help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold), Headache
Key warnings
ZITUVIMET can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.
How It Works
ZITUVIMET contains sitagliptin and metformin. Sitagliptin helps your body release more insulin after you eat. Metformin helps your body use insulin better and reduces sugar production in the liver.
How to Take It
Take ZITUVIMET twice a day with your meals. Your doctor will adjust your dose based on how well it works for you. The highest recommended dose is 100 mg of sitagliptin and 2,000 mg of metformin each day. Do not split or divide the tablets.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ZITUVIMET will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store ZITUVIMET at room temperature, away from moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 171,728 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
ZITUVIMET can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. It can be life-threatening. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like weakness, muscle pain, trouble breathing, sleepiness, or stomach pain.
Known Drug Interactions
Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT 2 ] / multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Alcohol Clinical Impact: Alcohol is known to potentiate the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism. ( 7 ) Drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dol...
Mechanism: Taking these two drugs together means you are taking the same medicine twice, which can cause metformin to build up to dangerous levels. This buildup increases the risk of a serious condition called lactic acidosis.
What to do: Do not take both of these medications at the same time. Your doctor should review your treatment plan to ensure you are not taking a double dose of metformin.
Examples: Topiramate, zonisamide, acetazolamide or dichlorphenamide.
Mechanism: Topiramate lowers the amount of bicarbonate in your blood, which can increase the risk of your blood becoming too acidic when combined with metformin.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your blood chemistry closely to ensure your acid-base balance stays within a safe range.
Examples: Ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine. ( 7 ) Drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) may increase the accumulation of metformin.
Mechanism: Dolutegravir slows down the process of clearing metformin from your body, which can cause the medicine to build up to higher levels in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your metformin dose or monitor you more frequently for side effects.
Examples: Ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine. ( 7 ) Drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) may increase the accumulation of metformin.
Mechanism: Ranolazine slows down how quickly your body removes metformin, which can cause the drug to build up in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your dose or monitor you more closely for side effects.
Examples: Ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine. ( 7 ) Drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) may increase the accumulation of metformin.
Mechanism: Cimetidine blocks the path your body uses to get rid of metformin, which can lead to higher levels of the medicine in your system.
What to do: Watch your blood sugar levels carefully and report any new symptoms to your healthcare provider.
Common Questions
What should I do if I experience severe stomach pain?
Can ZITUVIMET cause kidney problems?
Will ZITUVIMET cause low blood sugar?
Can I drink alcohol while taking ZITUVIMET?
What if I need to have an X-ray with contrast dye?
Does ZITUVIMET interact with other medications?
How often will my doctor check my kidney function?
Can ZITUVIMET cause allergic reactions?
What are the symptoms of lactic acidosis?
Is there a risk of heart failure with ZITUVIMET?
What are the common side effects of metformin/glipizide?
Does metformin/glipizide interact with other medications?
What drug class is metformin/glipizide?
Is metformin/glipizide safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Biguanide / Sulfonylurea Combination
Other drugs grouped near metformin/glipizide — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acarbose
Precose
Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with metformin/glipizide →
alogliptin
Nesina
Alogliptin and Metformin HCl is a drug that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with metformin/glipizide →
bromocriptine
Cycloset
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body.
Compare with metformin/glipizide →
canagliflozin
Invokana
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with metformin/glipizide →
colesevelam
Welchol
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.
Compare with metformin/glipizide →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Biguanide / Sulfonylurea Combination
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on metformin/glipizide
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for metformin/glipizide
The FDA label for metformin/glipizide (sold under brand names such as Metaglip) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Biguanide / Sulfonylurea Combination class. ZITUVIMET is used to help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold), Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 171,728 voluntary reports. The database also lists 7 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: June 9, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages