Metformin and Sitagliptin tablet

What is this medicine?

METFORMIN and SITAGLIPTIN and sitagliptin are oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels.

Metformin works by decreasing glucose (sugar) production in the liver and decreasing absorption of glucose by the intestines. Sitagliptin works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

This medicine is used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

What should my health care professional know before I take cephalexin?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to metformin (Actoplus Met, Avandamet, Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet) or sitagliptin (Januvia), or if you have:

kidney or liver disease; or
if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking metformin. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have liver or kidney disease, congestive heart failure, a severe infection, if you are dehydrated, or if you drink large amounts of alcohol. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

To make sure you can safely take this medicine, tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease or pancreatitis, or if you are over 80 years old and have not recently had your kidney function checked.

If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you will need to temporarily stop taking this medicine. Be sure your caregivers know ahead of time that you are using this medication.

Certain oral diabetes medications may increase your risk of serious heart problems. However, not treating your diabetes can damage your heart and other organs.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medicine is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether metformin or sitagliptin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take this medicine?

Take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office.

Take this medicine with meals. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them: headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating.

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.

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.

Ask your doctor how to adjust your this medicine dose if needed. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

This medicine is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, and eye care. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

What 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 drug(s) may interact with cephalexin?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• acetazolamide (Diamox);
• cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac);
• morphine (MS Contin, Kadian, Oramorph);
• ranitidine (Zantac);
• topiramate (Topamax);
• trimethoprim (Proloprim, Primsol, Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra) or vancomycin (Vancocin, Lyphocin);
• glipizide (Glucotrol, Metaglip), glimepiride (Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glucovance); or
• heart or blood pressure medications such as amiloride (Midamor), digoxin (Lanoxin), furosemide (Lasix), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl, Procanbid), quinidine (Quin-G), triamterene (Dyrenium).

You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take this medicine with other drugs that can raise blood sugar, such as:

• isoniazid;
• diuretics (water pills);
• steroids (prednisone and others);
• heart or blood pressure medication (Cartia, Cardizem, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan, and others);
• niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others);
• phenothiazines (Compazine and others);
• thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others);
• birth control pills and other hormones;
• seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); or
• diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies.

These lists are not complete and there are many other medicines that can increase or decrease the effects of this medicine on lowering your blood sugar. 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.

What should I watch for while taking this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may increase your risk of lactic acidosis.

What side effects may I notice from this medicine?

This medicine may cause lactic acidosis (a build-up of lactic acid in the body, which can be fatal). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and get worse over time. Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms of lactic acidosis, such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, slow or irregular heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• pancreatitis - severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fast heart rate;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion) swelling or rapid weight gain; or
• severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Less serious this side effects may include:

• diarrhea, constipation, mild nausea, upset stomach;
• headache, weakness, back pain, joint or mucle pain; or
• cold symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.