Generic Name: sitagliptin (SI ta glip tin)
Brand Names: Januvia
What is sitagliptin?
Sitagliptin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. It works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.
Sitagliptin is for people with type 2 diabetes diabetes. Sitagliptin is sometimes used in combination with other diabetes medications, but is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Sitagliptin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about sitagliptin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to sitagliptin or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
Before taking sitagliptin, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, if you are on dialysis, or if you have a history of pancreatitis.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are taking sitagliptin.
Stop taking sitagliptin and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, or fast heart rate.
Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Other sugar sources include orange juice and milk. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.
Sitagliptin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, and possibly other medications. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking sitagliptin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to sitagliptin, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
To make sure you can safely take sitagliptin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); or
a history of pancreatitis.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Your name may need to be listed on a sitagliptin pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.
It is not known whether sitagliptin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Sitagliptin should not be given to a child younger than 18 years old without a doctor's advice.
How should I take sitagliptin?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office. Visit your doctor regularly.
Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them: headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating.
Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.
Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your dose needs may also change.
Ask your doctor how to adjust your sitagliptin dose if needed. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.
Sitagliptin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, and possibly other medications. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
Store sitagliptin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
See also: Sitagliptin dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food). Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, and seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking sitagliptin?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Sitagliptin side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking sitagliptin and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
pancreatitis - severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fast heart rate; or
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.
Less serious side effects may include:
runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;
headache; or
nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sitagliptin Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Mellitus Type II:
100 mg orally once daily.
What other drugs will affect sitagliptin?
Before you take sitagliptin, tell your doctor if you are also taking digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin).
Although sitagliptin is not as likely to cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as some other oral diabetes medications, tell your doctor if you are taking any other drugs that can potentially lower blood sugar, such as:
probenecid (Benemid);
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol);
sulfa drugs (Bactrim and others);
a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI); or
- beta-blockers (Tenormin and others).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with sitagliptin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More sitagliptin resources
- Sitagliptin Side Effects (in more detail)
- Sitagliptin Dosage
- Sitagliptin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Sitagliptin Drug Interactions
- Sitagliptin Support Group
- 26 Reviews for Sitagliptin - Add your own review/rating
- sitagliptin Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Januvia Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Januvia Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Januvia Consumer Overview
- Sitagliptin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare sitagliptin with other medications
- Diabetes, Type 2
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about sitagliptin.
See also: sitagliptin side effects (in more detail)
No comments:
Post a Comment