What is Janumet?
Janumet is a combination drug of metformin and sitagliptin. Metformin is an oral diabetic medicine. It helps control blood sugar.
Metformin reduces glucose (sugar), both in the liver and the intestines. Sitagliptin regulates the insulin levels your body produces following a meal. When combined with diet and exercise, Janumet can help improve blood sugar levels in adults with type II diabetes. Janumet does not treat type 1 diabetics.
Warnings
Janumet should not be used if you suffer from severe kidney disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, or if your doctor has prescribed insulin.
Janumet can cause lactic acidosis. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience even mild symptoms, such as muscle pain or weakness; numbness or coldness in the arms or legs; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; slow or irregular heartbeats; dizziness; or feeling extremely weak or tired.
Janumet can also cause a serious condition known as pancreatitis. If you experience severe stomach pains, whether or not you are vomiting, call your doctor immediately.
Before you take this drug
Janumet should not be used if you're allergic to sitagliptin or metformin (januvia) or have severe kidney problems.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that janumet will be safe for you:
- Kidney disease (your kidney function will need to be tested before and during the time you take this medication);
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Pancreatitis;
- High triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood.
- Gallstones
If you're 65 years old or older, dehydrated, or drink excessive alcohol, you may have a higher risk of developing lactic acidosis. Speak to your doctor to determine your risk.
You may have to temporarily stop using Janumet if you are going to undergo surgery or a type of x-ray or CT scan that uses a dye injected directly into your veins. Tell your carers that you're taking this medication in advance.
You may need to adjust your dosage during each pregnancy trimester. High blood sugar can cause complications for both mother and baby.
Breastfeeding may not be possible while taking this medication. You should consult your doctor if you are concerned about any risks. You may need a different dose while breastfeeding. Janumet cannot be used by anyone under the age of 18.
How to take Janumet?
Follow the directions on your prescription label. Please follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally alter your dosage. Take this medication only as prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dose or take it longer. Janumet can be taken with food. No longer chew or crush the extended-release tablets. Take it as a whole.
Janumet tablets cannot dissolve completely in the body. You may find a small piece of the tablet on your stool. This is not a side effect and does not affect the effectiveness of Janumet.
If you notice a tablet in your stools several times, call your doctor. If you have hypoglycemia, you may feel very hungry or dizzy. You might also be confused, anxious, or If you want to treat hypoglycemia quickly, consume or drink something that will provide sugar fast (fruit juices, hard candies, crackers, or raisins). If you suffer from severe hypoglycemia, your doctor may prescribe an injection kit. Make sure that your family and friends are familiar with how to administer this injection.
Watch for other signs of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), such as an increased thirst or urination. Also, look out for blurred vision, headaches, and fatigue. Stress, illness, surgery, and alcohol consumption can affect blood sugar levels. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication or dose schedule.
Janumet may be part of a comprehensive treatment programme, which could also include diet, physical activity, weight management, regular blood glucose testing, and medical attention. You should follow your doctor's advice. Your blood will need to be tested regularly.. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
What happens if you miss a dose?
As soon as you recall, take the missed dose (make sure to take it with food). If your next scheduled dosage is approaching, skip the missed dose. You should not take more medicine to compensate for a missed dose.
What happens if you overdose?
Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care. You may be suffering from a severe low blood sugar level (extreme weakness or nausea, tremors and sweating, confusion, difficulty speaking, rapid heartbeats, or seizures).
Avoid this
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol lowers your blood sugar levels and can increase the risk of lactic acidosis.
Side effects of Janumet
If you experience any of the following: (hives) (burning in your eyes, a sore throat, a fever, or severe skin reactions (fever or skin rash with blistering or peeling, red or purple in colour, or burning in your throat),
If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor immediately: nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeats, and severe pain spreading from your upper stomach to your back.
Metformin can cause lactic acidosis in some people. This condition is fatal if the early symptoms are not treated. If you experience even mild symptoms, stop taking this medication and seek emergency medical attention.
- Unusual muscle pain;
- Feeling cold
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, tired, or very weak
- Vomiting and stomach pain;
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, call your doctor immediately.
- Itching, blisters, and breakdown of the outer skin layer
- You may experience severe pain or persistent joint pain
- Little or no urinating is acceptable.
- Shortness of breath, even when lying down; swelling of your legs or feet; rapid weight gain
- Signs of low blood glucose include headaches, sleepiness or dizziness, sweating, and feeling jittery. Other signs are hunger or a fast heartbeat.
Janumet may cause side effects such as:
- Low blood sugar (if using insulin or other oral diabetes medications);
- Upset stomach, indigestion, gas, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting;
- Headache, weakness, or
- Cold symptoms include a runny nose or stuffy nose. Sneezing and a sore throat are also common.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
Metformin and sitagliptin can interact with many drugs. Janumet's ability to control your blood sugar can be affected by some drugs. Some drugs can increase your risk of lactic acidosis.
Before taking Janumet, tell your doctor if any of the medications below are being taken.
- Anti-seizure medication (including topiramate, zonisamide, acetazolamide, phenytoin, and others)
- Antiviral medication for HIV or AIDS
- Antipsychotic medications, including chlorpromazine (especially prochlorperazine), thioridazine, and others.
- Dichlorphenamide;
- Cimetidine is an antacid medication.
- Ranolazine;
- Vandetanib;
- Corticosteroid medication (such as Prednisone)
- Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, including oestrogen-containing drugs.
- Heart or blood pressure medication (especially diuretics, water pills, calcium-channel blockers, and others);
- Other diabetes medications, including insulin, sulfonylureas, or others
This medication guide does not list all possible interactions. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you take, including those that you stop or start using. Provide a list to all healthcare providers who treat you.
