Gliclazide+sitagliptin
About Gliclazide+sitagliptin
Gliclazide+sitagliptin is a prescription medicine used to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is prescribed when diet and exercise alone are not enough to keep blood glucose in a healthy range. By maintaining proper blood sugar control, this medicine helps prevent severe long-term health complications.
This medication is typically taken once or twice daily, and it is highly important to take it consistently at the same times every day. It should be taken with food, preferably with your breakfast, to help reduce the risk of low blood sugar. Incorporating a balanced, low-sugar diet and regular physical activity is essential to achieve the best results from this treatment.
While taking Gliclazide+sitagliptin, some people may experience mild side effects, such as a runny nose, headache, or mild digestive changes. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience signs of very low blood sugar, severe stomach pain that spreads to your back, or a serious allergic reaction.
Do not take this if you have type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, or severe kidney or liver damage. Before starting, talk to your doctor if you have a history of pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis), thyroid problems, or heart failure.
This medicine can interact with alcohol, which can unpredictably alter your blood sugar levels, as well as certain blood pressure medications and pain relievers. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an elderly individual, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine to ensure it is safe for you.
Uses of Gliclazide+sitagliptin
Gliclazide+sitagliptin is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The detailed uses of Gliclazide+sitagliptin are as follows: <br/> • Treatment of type 2 diabetes: Gliclazide+sitagliptin is used to treat type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin release from the pancreas, helping to decrease blood glucose levels effectively.<br/> • Regulation of blood sugar levels: Gliclazide+sitagliptin regulates blood sugar levels by maintaining proper glucose and insulin balance in the body.<br/>
Medicinal Benefits
Using Gliclazide+sitagliptin as prescribed helps improve blood sugar control and supports long-term diabetes management. Here are the key benefits you can expect:
- Provides stable blood sugar control: Gliclazide+sitagliptin helps lower fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels, reducing day-to-day fluctuations in blood sugar.
- Supports long-term health: Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels helps reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications affecting the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart, and blood vessels.
- Simplifies treatment: By combining two effective antidiabetic medicines in a single tablet, Gliclazide+sitagliptin helps reduce pill burden and makes it easier to follow your prescribed treatment plan.
- Improves overall diabetes management: When used alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise, and other lifestyle changes, Gliclazide+sitagliptin helps achieve better long-term blood sugar control and overall health.
Directions for Use
- Gliclazide+sitagliptin can be taken with food or as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safe and effective use.
- Swallow Gliclazide+sitagliptin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not break, crush or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Gliclazide+sitagliptin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can cause shakiness, sweating, and dizziness
- Upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhoea
- Headache
- Runny or stuffy nose and sore throat
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Signs of severe low blood sugar, such as confusion, extreme sleepiness, or fainting
- Severe, persistent pain in your stomach that may reach your back (a sign of pancreas inflammation)
- Yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe fatigue (signs of liver damage)
- Severe allergic reactions, including skin rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Watch for low blood sugar signs: Learn to recognise symptoms of low blood sugar, such as sweating, shaking, a fast heartbeat, and anxiety, especially when skipping meals or exercising heavily.
- Limit or avoid alcohol: Drinking alcohol while taking this medicine can increase your risk of severe low blood sugar and may lead to liver strain.
- Inform medical staff: Tell all healthcare providers, including dentists and surgeons, that you are taking Gliclazide+sitagliptin before undergoing any procedures, as physical stress can affect your blood sugar levels.
- Check your feet daily: Inspect your feet regularly for cuts, sores, or blisters, and report any changes to your healthcare provider immediately.
- Avoid driving if blood sugar is low: Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy, shaky, or weak, as these may be signs of hypoglycemia.
Drug Interactions
- Beta-blockers: May mask the warning signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid heart rate.
- Aspirin and NSAIDs: May increase the risk of low blood sugar when combined with this medicine.
- Steroids and diuretics: Can raise blood sugar levels, reducing the effectiveness of Gliclazide+sitagliptin.
- Azole antifungals (such as fluconazole): May increase gliclazide levels in the body, raising the risk of low blood sugar. Your doctor may recommend closer monitoring or adjust your treatment.
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin): May cause unpredictable changes in blood sugar, including severe hypoglycaemia or high blood sugar. Monitor your blood glucose closely while taking these medicines together.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consuming alcohol as it can cause hypoglycemia.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult the doctor if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. The doctor will decide if it is safe to take Gliclazide+sitagliptin during pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Consult the doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionLow/high blood glucose levels may impair your driving skills and concentration. Be cautious when driving or engaging in activities that require mental alertness.
Liver
cautionGliclazide+sitagliptin should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Consult the doctor if you have liver problems.
Kidney
cautionGliclazide+sitagliptin should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Consult the doctor if you have kidney problems.
Children
cautionGliclazide+sitagliptin is not recommended for use in children. Please consult the doctor if you have any concerns.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Track your carbohydrates: Eat a consistent amount of complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, vegetables, and oats, at regular intervals to keep your blood sugar steady.
- Carry a quick source of sugar: Always keep fast-acting sugar with you, such as glucose tablets, fruit juice, or hard candy, in case your blood sugar drops too low.
- Engage in regular physical activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, per week to help your body use insulin more efficiently.
- Monitor your blood glucose: Check your blood sugar levels regularly as advised by your doctor to track your progress.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support kidney health and overall hydration.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by insulin resistance and potential insulin deficiency. As the body struggles to use insulin effectively, it resorts to alternative energy sources. Symptoms include increased hunger, fatigue, weight loss, excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, itchy skin, and blurred vision. Type 2 diabetes is commonly known as adult-onset diabetes as it typically affects middle-aged and older adults. If left unmanaged, type 2 diabetes poses serious complications, including blindness, amputation, nerve damage, kidney problems, sexual dysfunction, and a heightened risk of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Gliclazide+sitagliptin belongs to the category of 'anti-diabetic' medications used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Gliclazide+sitagliptin contains Gliclazide and Sitagliptin. Gliclazide stimulates the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells, increasing insulin secretion and reducing glucose levels in the blood. Sitagliptin enhances the body's natural response to high blood sugar by increasing the levels of incretin hormones, which in turn boosts insulin release and decreases glucagon levels in the circulation. Together, Gliclazide+sitagliptin helps treat type 2 diabetes.
Gliclazide+sitagliptin may not be recommended for children as the safety and efficacy have not been established. Please consult the doctor if you have any concerns.
Gliclazide+sitagliptin may cause side effects like stomach ache, indigestion, constipation, nausea, vomiting, upper respiratory tract infections, headache, and nasopharyngitis (inflammation of nasal passages). Most of these side effects of Gliclazide+sitagliptin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, consult the doctor if you experience any of these side effects persistently.
No. Gliclazide+sitagliptin is not recommended for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. It is only indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
If you have symptoms like increased hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination (usually at night), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow wound/sores healing, and frequent infections, contact a doctor, as it may indicate that you have diabetes.
Include a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, oats, barley, and quinoa. Non-fat or low-fat dairy and proteins like chicken, lean meats, nuts, beans, tofu, lentils, eggs, fish, and turkey can also be included.
Cut back on foods high in sodium, alcohol, fried foods, and high-carb food and drinks like sugary drinks, drinks with added sugar, white rice and starchy vegetables if you have diabetes.
It is generally not recommended to take Gliclazide+sitagliptin during pregnancy. Managing blood sugar is critical during pregnancy, but your doctor will likely switch you to a different treatment, such as insulin. Talk to your doctor for guidance.
If you feel shaky, sweaty, or dizzy, eat or drink a fast-acting sugar source immediately, such as a glass of fruit juice, non-diet soda, or 3 to 4 glucose tablets. Recheck your blood sugar after 15 minutes. Talk to your doctor if this happens frequently.
It is best to avoid or strictly limit alcohol while taking Gliclazide+sitagliptin. Alcohol can interfere with blood sugar levels, increasing your risk of dangerously low blood sugar and making your condition harder to manage. Talk to your doctor about safe alcohol consumption limits.
Some components of this medicine, like gliclazide, can occasionally lead to mild weight gain because they help your body use sugar more effectively. However, the other component, sitagliptin, is generally weight-neutral. Following a healthy diet and active lifestyle can help manage your weight. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about weight changes.
It is usually best to take Gliclazide+sitagliptin with your breakfast or your first main meal of the day. Taking it with food helps reduce the chance of experiencing an upset stomach and protects you against low blood sugar during the day. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to confirm the best schedule for you.
No, you should not stop taking Gliclazide+sitagliptin even if your blood sugar levels are normal. Normal levels mean the medication is working. Stopping it suddenly can cause your blood sugar to spike again, increasing the risk of long-term complications. Always talk to your doctor before making any changes.
Yes, but elderly patients may be more sensitive to the blood sugar-lowering effects of this medicine, which increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Kidney function should also be checked regularly in older adults taking this medication. Talk to your doctor to determine if this is the safest option for you.
