Janumet
Generic Name: metformin and sitagliptin (met FOR min and SI ta glip tin)
What is Janumet?
 |
Janumet is an 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.
Janumet is for people with type 2 diabetes who do not use daily insulin injections. It is used along with diet and exercise. Janumet is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Janumet may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Janumet
Do not use Janumet if you are allergic to metformin or sitagliptin, if you have kidney disease, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
Before taking Janumet, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, a history of heart disease, or if you are over 80 years old and have not recently had your kidney function checked.
Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, slow or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Janumet.
If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into a vein, you may need to temporarily stop taking Janumet.
Before taking Janumet
Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis:muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, slow or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.
You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have liver disease, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, a stroke or heart attack, a serious infection, if you are dehydrated, or if you drink large amounts of alcohol. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.
Do not use Janumet if you are allergic to metformin (Actoplus Met, Avandamet, Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet) or sitagliptin (Januvia), if you have kidney disease, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
Before taking Janumet, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
-
liver disease;
-
kidney disease;
-
a history of heart disease; or
-
if you are over 80 years old and have not recently had your kidney function checked.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Janumet, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.Your name may need to be listed on a Janumet pregnancy registry if you become pregnant while you are taking this medication. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether Janumet had any effect on the baby.
It is not known whether Janumet passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Janumet should not be given to a child younger than 18 years old without a doctor's advice.
How should I take Janumet?
Take Janumet exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Janumet is usually taken twice daily with meals. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Janumet is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, and possibly other medications. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
To be sure Janumet is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking Janumet for a short time if any of these situations affect you.
Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress.
Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them:
-
hunger, headache, confusion, irritability;
-
drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors;
-
sweating, fast heartbeat;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).
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.
Your doctor may have you take extra vitamin B12 while you are taking Janumet. Take only the amount of vitamin B12 that your doctor has prescribed.
Store Janumet at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food if your doctor has instructed you to). If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma.
What should I avoid while taking Janumet?
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while taking Janumet. Alcohol may increase the risk of lactic acidosis while you are taking this medicine.
What are the possible side effects of Janumet?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: 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:
-
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
-
swelling or rapid weight gain;
-
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
-
a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.
Less serious Janumet side effects may include:
-
runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;
-
headache, weakness; or
-
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Janumet?
You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking Janumet with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include:
-
isoniazid;
-
diuretics (water pills);
-
steroids (prednisone and others);
-
phenothiazines (Compazine and others);
-
thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others);
-
birth control pills and other hormones;
-
seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); and
-
diet pills, or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies.
You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you are taking Janumet with other drugs that lower blood sugar. Drugs that can lower blood sugar include:
- some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
-
aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol);
-
sulfa drugs (Bactrim and others);
-
a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI);
- beta-blockers (Tenormin and others); or
-
probenecid (Benemid).
Some medications may interact with Janumet. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
amiloride (Midamor) or triamterene (Dyrenium);
-
cimetidine (Tagamet) or ranitidine (Zantac);
-
digoxin (Lanoxin);
-
furosemide (Lasix);
-
morphine (MS Contin, Kadian, Oramorph);
-
nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia);
-
procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl, Procanbid);
-
quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);
-
trimethoprim (Proloprim, Primsol, Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra); or
-
vancomycin (Vancocin, Lyphocin).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Janumet. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about Janumet.
What does my medication look like?
Metformin and sitagliptin is available with a prescription under the brand name Janumet. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
-
Janumet 50 mg/500 mg - light pink, capsule-shaped film-coated tablet
-
Janumet 50 mg/1000 mg - red, capsule-shaped film-coated tablet
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
 |
Link to Page |  |
Print Page |  |
Email Page |  | Add to List |
