Sitagliptin+metformin
About Sitagliptin+metformin
Sitagliptin+metformin is a combination drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the body's insulin does not work as well as it should. It can also develop if the body produces too much glucagon. Insulin is a substance which helps to lower the level of sugar in your blood, especially after meals.
Sitagliptin+metformin contains metformin and vildagliptin, which help control blood sugar levels. It works by causing the pancreas to produce more insulin and less glucagon (the effect of vildagliptin) and also by helping the body utilise insulin more effectively (the effect of metformin).
Not everyone who is taking Sitagliptin+metformin will get these side effects. The most common side effect of Sitagliptin+metformin is hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) characterised by dizziness, sweating, hunger pangs, dry mouth and skin, etc. Other side effects include changes in taste, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, and upper respiratory symptoms.
Sitagliptin+metformin should be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach. It is advised to take it at the same time each day for best results. For better advice, your doctor will determine the appropriate dose, which can change quickly depending on your condition. Do not skip your meals, and also carry a form of sugar with you to prevent low blood sugar levels.
Avoid taking Sitagliptin+metformin if you are allergic to it. Sitagliptin+metformin should not be stopped even if you feel better without consulting your doctor, as sugar levels may change. If you stop taking Sitagliptin+metformin abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels, which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney damage and nerve damage. Sitagliptin+metformin should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or severe kidney or liver disease. Please inform your doctor if you have any heart disease or are planning to get pregnant or breastfeed. You must continue following the diet and exercise recommended for you while on treatment with Sitagliptin+metformin.
Uses of Sitagliptin+metformin
• Management of Diabetes: Sitagliptin+metformin is commonly prescribed to help regulate blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly those who may require additional medication alongside lifestyle changes.
• Improvement of Glycemic Control: Sitagliptin+metformin aids in improving overall glycemic control by enhancing insulin sensitivity and decreasing hepatic glucose production.
• Weight Management: In some cases, Sitagliptin+metformin can assist in weight management for diabetic patients, as it may help reduce appetite or modify fat metabolism.
• Prevention of Diabetes Complications: Regular use of Sitagliptin+metformin can contribute to the prevention of long-term complications associated with diabetes, such as neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy.
Medicinal Benefits
- Sitagliptin+metformin helps your pancreas produce more insulin, effectively utilise insulin, and decrease the excess sugar that your liver makes.
- It helps control the rise of blood sugar levels in your body after a meal.
- Sitagliptin+metformin plays a vital role in controlling blood sugar levels and prevents serious complications of diabetes like eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), diabetic foot ulcer and delayed wound healing.
Directions for Use
• Sitagliptin+metformin should be taken with meals to avoid stomach upset. • It is usually taken twice daily; however, your doctor may adjust the dosage based on your blood sugar levels. • Swallow Sitagliptin+metformin as a whole with a glass of water. • Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Sitagliptin+metformin
- Low blood sugar
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Stomach upset
- Indigestion
- General weakness
- Headache
Drug Warnings
Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Sitagliptin+metformin. This medicine should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis. Some diabetic patients, while taking Sitagliptin+metformin, might develop a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (too much lactic acid accumulated in the blood) that can damage the working of your liver and kidneys, which are required for the elimination of excess lactic acid from the blood. Before you start taking Sitagliptin+metformin, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney disease, or a low vitamin B12 level. Sitagliptin+metformin, when used with insulin, may extremely lower the blood sugar level, leading to a hypoglycemic condition, which can be fatal.
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for a pregnancy or breastfeeding before starting the treatment. Prolonged intake of Sitagliptin+metformin may lower your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); hence, an annual checkup of TSH is recommended. In rare cases, you may also develop a serious skin reaction known as bullous pemphigoid that requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor if you are going to have a diagnostic test with an injection of dye or X-ray contrast agent. The use of Sitagliptin+metformin should be stopped for a short time before having an X-ray procedure.
Store Sitagliptin+metformin at room temperature. You are advised not to chew, crush or break the medicine. Keep the medicine out of reach of children. Do not take more than the recommended dose of medicine, as it can cause undesirable effects. It is always important to check for the expiry of the medicine. Discard the medicine if it reaches the expiry date.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Sitagliptin+metformin interacts with an antidepressant (bupropion), drugs used to treat glaucoma, antibiotics (cephalexin, ciprofloxacin), anti-acidity drugs (cimetidine), heart condition drugs (digoxin), anti-HIV drugs (dolutegravir), ethanol, saliva-reducing drugs (glycopyrrolate), iodinated X-ray contrast agents, anti-epileptic drugs (topiramate, lamotrigine), and heart-related chest medicine (ranolazine). Other drug interactions can contribute to low blood sugar, including sex hormones (androgens), anti-oxidants (alpha-lipoic acid), pain killers (aspirin), anti-TB drugs (prothionamide), growth hormones (pegvisomant), and other antidiabetic medicines.
Drug-Food Interactions: Intake of excessive alcoholic beverages may increase the chance of a life-threatening condition known as Lactic Acidosis. So, avoid the intake of alcoholic drinks with Sitagliptin+metformin.
Drug-Disease Interactions: People affected with heart diseases (like congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction), Vitamin B12 deficiency, and alcoholism should avoid intake of Sitagliptin+metformin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while on treatment with Sitagliptin+metformin.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorSitagliptin+metformin is only recommended during pregnancy when the benefit outweighs the risk. Please consult your doctor before starting Sitagliptin+metformin if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorConsult your doctor; Sitagliptin+metformin should be used in breastfeeding mothers only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
cautionDrive only if you are physically stable and mentally focussed, If you experience drowsiness after taking these medications you should not drive or operate any machinery or vehicles.
Liver
consult your doctorIf you have or have a history or evidence of any liver-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking medicine.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf you have or had a history or evidence of any kidney-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking medicine.
Children
consult your doctorIt is advisable to consult a doctor before using it.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Include starchy veggies, proteins, and whole grains in your diet.
- Eat at regular intervals. Do not take a long gap between a meal or snack.
- Monitor your blood sugar level regularly.
- If you feel that your blood sugar level is going down and you are feeling weak, immediately eat sugar candies or drink sugary beverages. It will help to balance the blood sugar level in your body. So, it is advisable to keep sugar candies with you.
- Invest in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity or one hour and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise every week.
- Lose weight gradually to achieve a healthy body mass index (18.5 to 24.9).
- Replace refined carbohydrate-containing foods with whole grain foods and increase the intake of fruits, veggies, and other fibre-enriched foods.
- Reduce intake of saturated fat (or hidden fats) in food like chips, crisps, pastries, biscuits, and samosas. Choose omega-3 fatty acid-containing oils for daily cooking. For frying, you can use palm oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, rice bran oil, and safflower oil.
- Do not take stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You can adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness to control stress-related blood sugar changes.
- Opt for low-fat dairy products (low-fat yoghurt, fat-free milk, cheese, etc.).
- Keep your blood pressure as normal (140/90) as possible. As it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body cannot make sufficient insulin, or the insulin it makes doesn't work properly or is utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination at night, slow wound healing, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. There may be weight gain in some cases, while in rare cases, weight loss may be observed. The complication of type 2 diabetes also includes neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems), retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Sitagliptin+metformin is used to treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Sitagliptin and Metformin are combined to form $ name. Metformin slows down the release of stored sugar from the liver, decreases the amount of sugar absorbed from the stomach, and improves how your body uses sugar. Sitagliptin increases the body's production of chemicals that stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin, thereby helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Thus, Sitagliptin+metformin controls blood glucose levels from rising to very high after meals.
Increased hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination (usually at night), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow wound/sore healing, and frequent infections are the signs of type 2 diabetes. Please consult your doctor if you notice such symptoms.
No. Sitagliptin+metformin is only prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Sitagliptin+metformin needs to be taken with food to avoid stomach upset. Take it as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not crush or chew Sitagliptin+metformin as it may release all of the medicine at once and cause side effects. It should be taken as a whole, with food, or as advised by your doctor.
Generally, Sitagliptin+metformin does not cause hypoglycemia. It can cause low blood sugar if taken along with other antidiabetic medications, especially when engaging in strenuous exercise or consuming low-calorie foods. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sudden sweating, blurred vision, shaking, hunger, increased heart rate, dizziness, or tingling sensations in the hands or feet. If you experience low blood sugar while taking Sitagliptin+metformin, consult your doctor.
To quickly increase your blood sugar, eat sugar, candy, honey, or drink fruit juice or non-diet soda if you have sudden sweating, blurry vision, shaking, dizziness, increased heartbeat, or hunger.
Long-term use of Sitagliptin+metformin can lead to Vitamin B12 deficiency. It interferes with the absorption of Vitamin B12 in the stomach. If left untreated, it may lead to anaemia and nerve problems, which can cause the patient to experience tingling sensations and numbness in the hands and feet, urinary problems, weakness, changes in mental status, and difficulty maintaining balance (ataxia). Some researchers recommend the intake of vitamin B12 from external sources at least once a year to avoid such problems.
Sitagliptin+metformin may cause side effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood sugar, or upper respiratory tract infection. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Sitagliptin+metformin should be avoided in patients with known allergy to any of the components or excipients in it and in patients with severe liver impairment, kidney impairment, congestive heart failure, diabetic ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis.
No, it is not safe to take alcohol while using Sitagliptin+metformin as it may increase the chance of a life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis.
Store Sitagliptin+metformin at room temperature. Protect from light and moisture. Keep it out of reach of children.
Yes, the use of Sitagliptin+metformin can lead to lactic acidosis. It is a life threatening condition caused by the increased levels of lactic acid in the blood. It is also known as MALA (Metformin associated lactic acidosis). It is a rare side effect of metformin and thus, it is avoided in patients with underlying kidney disease, elderly patients or who take large amounts of alcohol. Symptoms of lactic acidosis may include muscle pain or weakness, tiredness, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, feeling of cold in arms and legs, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or slow heart rate. If you have these symptoms, stop taking Sitagliptin+metformin and consult your doctor immediately.
Sitagliptin+metformin can lower the chance of severe complications such as nerve problems, kidney damage, blindness, limb amputations, and heart diseases by controlling high blood sugar.
You are recommended to consult your doctor before taking other medications with Sitagliptin+metformin to avoid drug interactions.
Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Sitagliptin+metformin and ensure regular monitoring of kidney function. Always take Sitagliptin+metformin as prescribed by your doctor.
