Prescription medication · Biguanide / Sulfonylurea Combination
metformin/glipizide
Also sold as Metaglip.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 164,328
- FDA reports
- 7
- InteractionsFew interactions
- Rx
- Availability
What the data shows
metformin/glipizide (Metaglip) is a prescription Biguanide / Sulfonylurea Combination, with 164,328 FDA adverse-event reports on file, with 7 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
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What it does
Information not available.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold), Headache
Key warnings
No specific warnings noted. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 164,328 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for metformin/glipizide, by number of reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
21,946 reports
- Loose, watery stools
Loose, watery stools
21,887 reports
- Increased blood sugar
Increased blood sugar
18,329 reports
- Feeling tired
Feeling tired
17,252 reports
- Sudden kidney damage
Sudden kidney damage
16,440 reports
- Build-up of lactic acid in the blood
Build-up of lactic acid in the blood
16,154 reports
- Throwing up
Throwing up
14,692 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
13,511 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
12,132 reports
- Weight loss
Weight loss
11,985 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
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,...
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.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What are the common side effects of metformin/glipizide?
Does metformin/glipizide interact with other medications?
What drug class is metformin/glipizide?
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
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Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
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Common Drug Interactions
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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. Regulatory labeling describes its approved uses and the patient populations studied in pre-market trials. 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 164,328 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.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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