Short answer: The Glucotrol XL label starts at 5 mg once daily, taken by mouth with breakfast or the first main meal. People at higher risk of low blood sugar, such as older people or those with liver problems, start at 2.5 mg. The dose is adjusted based on blood sugar control, up to a maximum of 20 mg once daily. The tablet is swallowed whole.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Glucotrol XL is approved for: Glucotrol XL is a sulfonylurea approved, along with diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes (section 1). It is not recommended for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (section 1.1).
Source
GLUCOTROL XL (glipizide) extended release tablets, for oral use, prescribing information and Patient Information. Roerig (Pfizer). DailyMed, version published July 23, 2026. DailyMed setid eed99b60-d043-4249-9b2a-f05e46fb588d
Glucotrol XL is taken by mouth once daily with breakfast or the first main meal of the day (section 2.1).
Each tablet releases glipizide slowly over 24 hours from a shell that does not dissolve. It is swallowed whole and not chewed, split or crushed (section 17 and Patient Information).
It comes as 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg extended-release tablets (section 3).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily |
| Higher risk of low blood sugar (for example older people or liver problems) | Start at 2.5 mg |
| Adding to other diabetes medicines | Start at 5 mg once daily; lower for people at higher risk of low blood sugar |
| Dose changes | Based on blood sugar control |
| Maximum | 20 mg once daily |
| Switching from immediate-release glipizide | Once daily at the nearest equivalent total daily dose |
With colesevelam, Glucotrol XL is taken at least 4 hours before colesevelam, because colesevelam lowers glipizide levels.
A lower Glucotrol XL dose may be needed when it is combined with other diabetes medicines.
In older people, the label says dosing should be conservative to avoid low blood sugar.
Stored at 68 to 77 F, protected from moisture and humidity.
The Glucotrol XL label gives no missed-dose rule. Neither the prescribing information nor the Patient Information says what to do if a dose is missed.
People taking immediate-release glipizide may be switched to Glucotrol XL once daily at the nearest equivalent total daily dose.
In Dose Track you set up Glucotrol XL as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.