Details

Sitagliptin is used for treating type 2 diabetes in patients who cannot control blood sugar levels by diet and exercise alone. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other anti-diabetic medicines. Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. It works by increasing the amount of insulin released by your body and decreasing the amount of sugar made by your body. Do not use sitagliptin if you are allergic to any ingredient in sitagliptin, have type 1 diabetes or have high blood ketone levels (diabetic ketoacidosis). Before using sitagliptin, tell your doctor if you have a history of angioedema (swelling of the hands, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue difficulty swallowing or breathing or hoarseness) caused by another DPP-4 inhibitor (e.g., saxagliptin) if you have kidney problem if you have a history of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), stones in your gallbladder (gallstones), alcoholism, or high blood triglyceride levels.

Typical Uses

Sitagliptin is used with a proper diet and exercise program and possibly with other medications to control high blood sugar. It is used in people with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Sitagliptin is an anti-diabetic drug that works by increasing levels of natural substances called incretins. Incretins help to control blood sugar by increasing insulin release, especially after a meal. They also decrease the amount of sugar your liver makes.

Side Effects

Common sitagliptin side effects may include diarrhoea headache nausea symptoms of upper respiratory infection (e.g., cough, runny or stuffy nose sneezing sore throat) upset stomach.

Drug Interactions

• Sitagliptin+bexarotene- Using bexarotene together with sitagliptin may increase the risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.
• Sitagliptin+gatifloxacin- Gatifloxacin can affect blood glucose levels and should not be used in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) and, less frequently, hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose) have been reported. Severe cases of hypoglycaemia during treatment with gatifloxacin have resulted in coma and even death. You should learn to recognize the symptoms of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia, as well as what to do when these conditions occur.

Mechanism of action

Sitagliptin belongs to class of medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. This medicine helps to improve the levels of insulin after a meal and decreases the amount of sugar made by the body. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances that lower blood sugar when it is high.

Pregnancy Category : B