Generic Drugs // Diabetes // Sitagliptin (Januvia)

What is Januvia (Sitagliptin)?
Januvia is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. It works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

What is Januvia (Sitagliptin)?
Januvia is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. It works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

Januvia is for people with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Januvia is sometimes used in combination with other diabetes medications, but is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Januvia may also be used for other 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 are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease. If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use sitagliptin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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.

Januvia 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).

Before taking sitagliptin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease. If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use sitagliptin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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. Januvia 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.

Januvia 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.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking sitagliptin for a short time if any of these situations affect you.

Store sitagliptin at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food if your doctor has instructed you to). If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma.

What should I avoid while taking sitagliptin?
Follow your doctor"s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are taking sitagliptin.

Januvia 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. Call your doctor at once if you have fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash. These could be signs of a serious side effect.

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. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect sitagliptin?
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).

Before you take sitagliptin, tell your doctor if you are also taking digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin). You may not be able to take sitagliptin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with sitagliptin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.