What Are The Important Side Effects Of Januvia
WARNING
- There have been postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis. If pancreatitis is suspected, promptly discontinue sitagliptin.
- There have been postmarketing reports of acute renal failure, sometimes requiring dialysis. Dosage adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate or severe renal insufficiency and in patients with ESRD. Assessment of renal function is recommended prior to initiating sitagliptin and periodically thereafter.
- There is an increased risk of hypoglycemia when sitagliptin is added to an insulin secretagogue or insulin therapy. Consider lowering the dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.
- There have been postmarketing reports of serious allergic and hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with sitagliptin such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. In such cases, promptly stop sitagliptin, assess for other potential causes, institute appropriate monitoring and treatment, and initiate alternative treatment for diabetes.
- There have been no clinical studies establishing conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction with sitagliptin or any other anti-diabetic drug.
Common side effects
The Side Effects Of Metformin
Metformin has proven to be safe and effective and is usually well tolerated. However, many patients cannot tolerate the medication due to its side effects. Therefore, optimal metformin use requires a clear understanding of its side effects and safety . Metformin oral tablets can cause side effects that can be mild or serious . The usual side effects include nausea, abdominal bloating, flatulence, vomiting, diarrhoea/constipation, heartburn, headache, agitation, chills, dizziness, tiredness, abdominal cramps or pain, loss of appetite, asthenia, myalgia, upper respiratory tract infection and an altered or metallic taste . However, evidence shows that the symptoms which are gastrointestinal and symptoms of the digestive tract are mostly observed with metformin treatment. GI symptoms were confirmed to be more in participants who had metformin compared to the ones who had placebo . The reason for this could be because the microbiome within the intestine changes due to metformin . One of the main sites of metformin action is the liver, however current research shows that metformin also affects the gut due to an association with the gut-brain-liver axis. The bile acids in the intestine increase with metformin, which can affect the microbiome and as a result, the secretion of GLP-1, cholesterol levels and stool consistency are affected .
Is Januvia Used For Weight Loss
Januvia isnt prescribed for weight loss. Instead, its prescribed together with diet and exercise for type 2 diabetes.
Like Januvia, diet and exercise can help control your blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in adults who have high blood sugar levels because of certain lifestyle and nutrition factors. Having healthy diet and exercise habits while taking Januvia may help you manage your weight. So you may notice changes in your weight during treatment.
Recommended Reading: When To Go To Hospital With Kidney Stones
Lactic Acidosis With Janumet
Metformin in Janumet can cause lactic acidosis, a serious condition caused by too much lactic acid in the blood, with symptoms such as malaise , body aches, breathing problems and abdominal pain. It can result in death, hypothermialow body temperatureand low blood pressure. Janumet has a black box warning for lactic acidosis.
Medically Reviewed
Board-certified physicians medically review Drugwatch content to ensure its accuracy and quality.
Drugwatch partners with Physicians Review Network Inc. to enlist specialists. PRN is a nationally recognized leader in providing independent medical reviews.
Reviewer specialties include internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, orthopedic surgery and psychiatry.
Does Januvia Have Any Contraindications
The only contraindication to taking Januvia is having a past allergic reaction to the drug or any of its ingredients. A contraindication is a factor or condition that prevents you from using a medication.
You can see a full list of Januvias ingredients in the drugs medication guide. You can also speak with your pharmacist or doctor if you have more questions about contraindications to Januvia.
You May Like: Can A Kidney Infection Kill Me
Does Januvia Cause Weight Loss
Weight loss wasnt a side effect reported in clinical trials for Januvia. However, two small clinical studies did find subjects that took Januvia also lost weight.
Not enough research has been conducted on Januvia weight loss to say more, however. Its not known with certainty how Januvia could cause this weight loss, and if it does, if it could help with weight loss in different groups of people. Januvia has also not been approved by the FDA for weight loss.
What Are The Drugs That Interact With Metformin Vs Januvia
Metformin
- Cimetidine , by decreasing the elimination of metformin from the body, can increase the amount of metformin in the blood by 40%. This may increase the frequency of side effects from metformin.
- Ioversol and other iodinated contrast media may reduce kidney function, which reduces elimination of metformin, leading to increased concentrations of metformin in the blood. Metformin should be stopped 48 hours before and after use of contrast media.
- Thiazide diuretics, steroids, estrogens, and oral contraceptives may increase blood glucose and reduce the effect of metformin. When these drugs are stopped, patients should be closely observed for signs of low blood glucose.
- Alcohol consumption increases the effect of metformin on lactate production, increasing the risk of lactic acidosis.
- Sitagliptin may slightly increase the concentration of digoxin in the body when both drugs are being taken. Digoxin concentrations should be monitored appropriately. The occurrence of low blood glucose increases when sitagliptin is combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin. The dose of insulin or sulfonylurea should be reduced.
Don’t Miss: What Is Good For Kidney Health
What Can Happen If I Take Victoza
Victoza is a GLP-1 analog used to help treat Type 2 Diabetes. It has made headlines lately and is known for causing many side effects in users. Common side effects you may experience when using this medication include:
- Headaches and dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting and stomach upset
- Indigestion, gas, bloating, loss of appetite
- Severe constipation
- Common symptoms of a cold
- Lethargy and tiredness
Will I Have Weight Gain Hair Loss Or Erectile Dysfunction With Januvia
No, these arent side effects of Januvia.
This drug doesnt affect your weight. But Januvia is meant to be used together with healthy diet and exercise habits. And these measures may lead to weight changes.
Hair loss isnt a reported side effect of Januvia. But it an early sign of type 2 diabetes, which Januvia is used to treat. More studies are needed to confirm the effects of blood sugar levels on hair loss.
Erectile dysfunction hasnt been reported as a side effect of Januvia. But this condition with diabetes thats not well managed.
If youre concerned about these conditions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Read Also: Do Females Have Kidney Stones
What Should I Know About Januvia Vs Metformin
Metformin is an active drug ingredient. It comes as a generic drug. Januvia is a brand-name drug that contains the ingredient sitagliptin.
Metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for type 2 diabetes. But it works differently than Januvia.
Sometimes, doctors prescribe both metformin and Januvia to manage diabetes. Depending on the prescribed doses of each drug, a doctor might prescribe the combination drug called Janumet. Janumet contains both metformin and sitagliptin.
If youd like to learn about the similarities and differences between Januvia and metformin, see this article. Talk with your doctor to see which drug is better for you.
What Do Januvia Studies Say About Weight Gain Or Loss
Compared to placebo
In two Phase III, 18 or 24 week, placebo controlled studies with 1262 patients with type 2 diabetes, the majority of those who received Januvia given by itself did not gain weight, compared to a small decrease in weight with the placebo group.
In combination with metformin
When used with metformin in studies, the decrease in body weight in the groups given Januvia plus metformin was similar to those given metformin alone.
Table 1: Weight loss for Januvia plus metformin compared to metformin alone
| Mean change from baseline at 24 weeks | |
|---|---|
| *Table adapted from manufacturers data | |
| Weight loss of 0.6 kg to 1.3 kg | |
| Metformin alone | Weight loss of 0.6 kg to 1.3 kg |
Sitagliptin is also approved for use in combination with metformin for treatment of type 2 diabetes. These products are known as Janumet and Janumet XR.
Compared to glipizide
When compared with the sulfonylureas glipizide, patients treated with Januvia plus metformin over 52-weeks had a significant mean body weight loss from baseline compared to a significant weight gain in patients administered glipizide .
Table 2: Weight loss for Januvia compared to glipizide
| Weight change at 52 weeks |
|---|
| *Table adapted from manufacturers data |
| Weight gain of 0.09 kg |
Recommended Reading: Can Dehydration Affect Kidney Function
How Long Does It Take To Work
After taking Januvia, it may be about a week until your blood sugar level starts to decrease. Your sugar-monitoring tests may be a good way for you to check the amount of sugar in your blood.
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition, so Januvia treatment is long term as well. If the amount of sugar in your blood decreases, dont stop taking Januvia unless your doctor tells you. If you suddenly stop taking the drug, your blood sugar level will increase again.
Using more than the recommended dosage of Januvia can lead to serious side effects.
Taking Januvia With Other Drugs
Januvia is used to treat type 2 diabetes. This condition sometimes requires many different medications for treatment.
Different types of diabetes medications can help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Your doctor will recommend which drugs youll need to take for your blood sugar levels.
Examples of drugs that your doctor may prescribe with Januvia include:
Read Also: What Causes Kidney Pain On Right Side
Complications Of Metformin In Diabetic Nephropathy
Another important issue regarding metformin use concerns kidney transplant patients. Nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients are at risk for developing new onset diabetes after transplant, a common complication associated with kidney transplant that can affect allograft and patient survival.49 To prevent complications associated with diabetes, proper glycaemic control is imperative however, the extent of metformin use among kidney transplant recipients is currently uncertain. In 2008, Kurian et al.50 demonstrated that metformin was safe in 24 kidney transplant recipients for a mean duration of 16.4 months up to a maximum of 55 months.50 Although the study found no cases of LA, eGFR decreased in all patients. Patients with pre-existing diabetes experienced significant changes in eGFR. More recently, an observational study showed that 9.8% of kidney transplant recipients who filed at least one prescription for an antiglycaemic agent also had at least one claim for metformin or a metformin-containing agent.51 Metformin was associated with lower adjusted HR for both living donors and deceased donor allograft survival at 3 years post-transplant, and with lower mortality.
Donât Miss: Whatâs A Kidney
The Need To Monitor Kidney Function With Certain Drugs
Experts have suggested that after the initial assessment of kidney function, physicians should consider regular monitoring after starting or increasing the dosage of drugs associated with nephrotoxicity, especially those used chronically in patients with multiple risk factors for impaired kidney function, Dr. Naughton noted. If there is any sign of kidney harm, the provider should review the medications you are taking in order to identify which one is causing the problem.
If multiple medications are present and the patient is clinically stable, physicians should start by discontinuing the drug most recently added to the patients medication regimen. Once that has been taken care of, further harm to the kidneys may be minimized by keeping blood pressure stable, staying hydrated, and temporarily avoiding the use of other medications that may cause nephrotoxicity.
These safety tips can ensure you get the care you need while keeping your kidneys safe. That way, they can tend to essential functions like keeping things flowing .Originally published May 11, 2017
Recommended Reading: Are Ketones Bad For Kidneys
How To Avoid Treat And Prevent Kidney Damage On Jardiance Explained
Free Delivery: Discreet Packaging:
This article will cover avoiding, treating, and preventing kidney damage that may occur while on treatment with Jardiance.
Are There Any New Treatments That Can Help Me
Yes. Some studies suggest that a group of high blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors may help to prevent or delay the progression of diabetic kidney disease. These drugs reduce blood pressure in your body, and they may lower the pressure within the kidney’s filtering apparatus . They also seem to have beneficial effects that are unrelated to changes in blood pressure. Patients who take these medicines may have less protein in their urine. SGLT2 inhibitors are a newer class of medicines, some of which can also help reduce the risk of heart or kidney disease in people with diabetic kidney disease. SGLT2 inhibitors can also reduce hospitalization risk from heart failure. Other medicines, such as GLP-1 agonists and MRAs, are also being studied for risk reduction of heart and kidney disease in people with diabetic kidney disease. You may want to speak to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team, to see if these medicines could help you
Recommended Reading: What Do Kidneys Do Alcohol
What Other Drugs Could Interact With This Medication
There may be an interaction between sitagliptin and any of the following:
- acetylsalicylic acid
- angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
- atypical antipsychotics
- “azole” antifungals
- bromocriptine
- oral corticosteroids
- cyclosporine
- diuretics
- doxorubicin
- estrogens
- everolimus
- other “gliptin” diabetes medications
- glucagon
- HIV protease inhibitors
- hydroxychloroquine
- macrolide antibiotics
- mifepristone
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- niacin
- progestins
- propafenone
- quinolone antibiotics
- repaglinide
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- sirolimus
- “statin” anti-cholesterol medications
- sulfonamide antibiotics
- sulfonylureas
- tacrolimus
- tyrosine kinase inhibitors
- velpatasvir
- vinblastine
- vorinostat
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Are There Tests That Can Be Done To Tell If I Have Kidney Disease
Yes. The diagnosis is based on the presence of abnormal amounts of protein in the urine. A variety of tests can be done to tell if a person has kidney disease, such as serum creatinine and BUN . The most widely used are serum creatinine and BUN . These are not very sensitive tests because they do not begin to change until the patient develops more severe disease. Other more sensitive tests are: creatinine clearance, glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin. Estimated of glomerular filtration rate is considered a better measure of kidney function compared to creatinine. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ration is also used to check for high protein in the urine , which is a sign of kidney disease.
In patients with Type I diabetes, a diagnosis of early kidney disease can be based on the presence of very small amounts of protein in the urine . Special methods are needed to measure these small amounts of protein. When the amount of protein in the urine becomes large enough to be detected by standard tests, the patient is said to have “clinical” diabetic kidney disease.
Don’t Miss: Does Water Cleanse The Kidneys
Study Design And Setting
We conducted a population-based cohort study using linked administrative health care databases in the province of Ontario, Canada . All Ontario residents have universal access to hospital care and physician services through a government-funded single-payer system . Those aged 65 years and older also receive universal prescription drug coverage. The use of data in this study was authorized under section 45 of Ontarios Personal Health Information Protection Act, which does not require review by a research ethics board. Study reporting follows recommended guidelines for observational studies that use routinely collected health data .
How Does This Medication Work What Will It Do For Me
Sitagliptin belongs to the group of diabetes medications called DPP-4 inhibitors. It works by increasing the amount of incretin released by the intestine. Incretin is a hormone that raises insulin levels when blood sugar is high and decreases the amount of sugar made by the body. Sitagliptin is used alone or in combination with other medications to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. This medication should be used as part of an overall diabetes management plan that includes a diet and exercise program.
This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
Don’t Miss: Where Do You Feel Pain When Passing A Kidney Stone