Sitagliptin phosphate Januvia
benefit side effects
Sitagliptin is a
pharmaceutical drug to lower
blood sugar in patients with type 2
diabetes mellitus.
Sitagliptin may be taken alone or along with certain other medicines to control blood
sugar. Sitagliptin Sitagliptin Phosphate is first
in new class of oral treatments known as DPP-4 Inhibitors. Sitagliptin is a
registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.
Sitagliptin and incretins
Sitagliptin is an oral, once-daily, selective DPP-4 inhibitor. DPP-4 inhibitors work
by enhancing a natural body process that lowers blood sugar, the incretin
system. When blood sugar is elevated, incretins work in two ways to help the
body regulate high blood sugar levels: they trigger the pancreas to increase the
release of insulin and signal the liver to reduce its production of glucose.
DPP-4 inhibitors enhance the body's own ability to control blood sugar levels by
increasing the active levels of these incretin hormones in the body, helping to
decrease blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Sitagliptin benefit
Sitagliptin lowers blood sugar when blood sugar is high, especially after a meal.
Helps to improve the levels of insulin produced by your own body after
a meal.
Sitagliptin decreases the amount of sugar made by the body.
Has not been studied with medicines known to cause low blood sugar, such
as sulfonylureas or insulin.
Sitagliptin for Type 2 Diabetes
Treatment
Sitagliptin (Sitagliptin phosphate, Merck & Co., Inc.'s treatment for patients with
type 2 diabetes, is the first prescription medication in a new class of drugs
known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, which enhance the body's own
ability to lower blood sugar (glucose) when it is elevated.
Sitagliptin FDA approval
In October 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
sitagliptin as
monotherapy and as add-on therapy to either of two other types of oral diabetes
medications, metformin or thiazolidinediones (TZDs), to improve blood sugar
(glucose) control in patients with type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise are
not enough.
Sitagliptin dosage
The recommended dose of sitagliptin is 100 mg once daily with or without food.
Sitagliptin should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment
of diabetic ketoacidosis, as it would not be effective in these settings.
According to Merck, no sitagliptin dosage adjustment is needed for patients with
mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency or in patients with mild renal
insufficiency. To achieve plasma concentrations of Sitagliptin similar to those in
patients with normal renal function, lower dosages are recommended in patients
with moderate and severe renal insufficiency as well as in ESRD patients
requiring hemodialysis. Because there is a need for dosage adjustment based upon
renal function, assessment of renal function is recommended prior to initiation
of Sitagliptin and periodically thereafter. Because elderly patients are more likely
to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in Sitagliptin dose selection
in the elderly and it may be useful to assess renal function in these patients
prior to initiating dosing and periodically thereafter.
Sitagliptin and metformin
Sitagliptin has been investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes to improve
glycemic control in combination with metformin when diet and exercise, plus
metformin, do not provide adequate glycemic control.
Sitagliptin phosphate is also being investigated as part of Merck's
single tablet combination with metformin. Janumet is the proposed trademark for
the combination tablet. The mechanism of action of DPP-4 inhibitors is distinct
from that of metformin and other drugs in the currently available classes of
glucose-lowering agents.
Sitagliptin and PPAR drug
Sitagliptin has also been studied as add-on therapy with PPAR agonists in patients
with type 2 diabetes in whom use of a PPAR agonist (e.g. a thiazolidinedione) is
appropriate.
Sitagliptin side effects
According to Merck, in clinical trials, sitagliptin demonstrated an overall
incidence of side effects comparable to placebo. The most common sitagliptin side
effects greater than 5 percent and higher than placebo were stuffy or
runny nose and sore throat, upper respiratory infection, and headache. The
incidence of selected gastrointestinal Sitagliptin side effects was as
follows: abdominal pain (2.3 percent; placebo, 2.1 percent), nausea (1.4
percent; placebo, 0.6 percent) and diarrhea (3.0 percent; placebo, 2.3 percent).
Sitagliptin in pregnancy and nursing
Sitagliptin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Caution should
be exercised when sitagliptin is administered to a nursing woman.
Expanding clinical trial program for Sitagliptin
Merck's clinical development program for sitagliptin is robust and continues to
expand with 43 studies completed or under way, and four more studies set to
begin this year. There are about 6,700 patients in the Company's clinical
studies with about 4,700 of these patients being treated with sitagliptin.
Additionally, about 1,100 patients have been treated with Sitagliptin for more than
a year.
Sitagliptin phosphate emails
Q. I have been on sitagliptin for aprox. 4 months. To be honest, I have felt
lethargic, upset stomach (nauseous, acid reflux) spacey. This is in the a.m.
when I take the medication. By p.m. I perk up and feel better in the head BUT I
still have to watch what I eat as I get an upset stomach and do not want to set
it off. I have taken Pepcid Complete to help the affects. Along with that med. I
take glucophage, glyburide, avandia and humalog injection right before dinner. I
did try Byetta but could only take it for three days as the stomach reaction was
worse than the Sitagliptin.. The reason I started Sitagliptin was to lose weight as no
matter how much I tried It would not come off. At this point I have lost 10lbs.
which is not a lot but better than nothing. I see my Dr. tomorrow and I am
anxious to see what she has to say about all of this.