SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA is a tablet that contains two prescription medicines, sitagliptin and metformin, which lower blood sugar levels. Sitagliptin, a member of a class of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) and metformin, a member of the biguanide class of medicines, work together to control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM. Along with diet and exercise, this medicine helps lower your blood sugar. This medicine can be used alone or with certain other medicines for diabetes (insulin, sulphonylureas, or glitazones). Your doctor has prescribed SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA, along with diet and exercise, to help lower your blood sugar levels. If you have any questions about how SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA works or why this medicine has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor.
1) What SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA is and what it is used for
2) What you need to know before you take SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA
DO NOT TAKE SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA:
- If you have certain kidney problems
- If you have recently had a heart attack or have severe circulatory problems, such as ‘shock’ or breathing difficulties.
- If you are allergic to sitagliptin, metformin hydrochloride or any other components of SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA
- If you are going to get or receive an injection of dye or contrast agent for an x-ray procedure. Talk to your doctor about when to stop SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA and when to start again.
- If you have uncontrolled diabetes, with e.g. severe hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose), nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid weight loss, lactic acidosis (see “Risk of lactic acidosis” below) or ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which substances called ‘ketone bodies’ accumulate in the blood and which can lead to diabetic pre-coma. Symptoms include stomach pain, fast and deep breathing, sleepiness or your breath developing an unusual fruity smell.
- If you are breast-feeding
- If you have liver problems
- If you drink alcohol to excess (either every day or only from time to time)
Warnings and precautions
Hypersensitivity Reactions: There have been post-marketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with sitagliptin, one of the components of SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA. These reactions include an acute life threatening hypersensitivity disorder, swelling under the skin and shedding of the skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rare serious disorder of the skin and mucous membrane, a reaction to medication that start with flu-like symptoms followed by a painful rash that spreads and blisters). Onset of these reactions occurred within the first 3 months after initiation of treatment with sitagliptin, with some reports occurring after the first dose. If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, discontinue combination of sitagliptin and metformin immediately, and institute an alternative class of medicines for treatment for diabetes.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA:
- If you have kidney problems
- If you have type 1 diabetes. This is sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes
- If you have liver problems
- If you have heart problems
- If you are older than 80 years. Patients over 80 years should not take SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA unless their kidney function is checked and it is normal.
- If you drink alcohol a lot (all the time or short-term “binge” drinking)
3) How to take SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA
Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.
Take one tablet:
- Twice daily by mouth
- With meals to lower your chance of an upset stomach.
- Your doctor may need to increase your dose to control your blood sugar.
- If you have reduced kidney function, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.
- You should continue the diet recommended by your doctor during treatment with this medicine and take care that your carbohydrate intake is equally distributed over the day.
This medicine alone is unlikely to cause abnormally low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). When this medicine is used with a sulphonylurea medicine or with insulin, low blood sugar can occur and your doctor may reduce the dose of your sulphonylurea or insulin.
Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose you need to take, as well as if and when you need to stop treatment with SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Method of administration
Take SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA with meals to lower your chance of an upset stomach.
If you take more SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA than you should: If you take more than the prescribed dosage of this medicine, contact your doctor immediately. Go to the hospital if you have symptoms of lactic acidosis such as feeling cold or uncomfortable, severe nausea or vomiting, stomach ache, unexplained weight loss, muscular cramps, or rapid breathing.
If you forget to take SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA: Do not worry. If you remember later on that day, take that day’s dose as usual. If you miss a whole day’s dose take the normal dose on the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. If you are not sure ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you stop taking SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA: Continue to take this medicine as long as your doctor prescribes it so you can continue to help control your blood sugar. You should not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor first. If you stop taking SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA, your blood sugar may rise again.
4) Possible side effects
SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA, please consult your health care provider for advice.
If any of the following happens, stop taking SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
- Severe and persistent pain in the abdomen (stomach area) which might reach through to your back with or without nausea and vomiting, as these could be signs of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis).
- Lactic acidosis (lactic acid build up in the bloodstream)
- If you have a serious allergic reaction, including rash, hives, blisters on the skin/peeling skin and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing, stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away. Your doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat your allergic reaction and a different medicine for your diabetes.
These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
Frequent side effects:
- Nausea
- Flatulence
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Metallic taste (An altered or impaired sense of taste)
- Abdominal pain and loss of appetite
Less frequent side effects:
- Low blood sugar
- Somnolence
- Diarrhoea
- A low number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
- A group of disorders that cause progressive scarring of lung tissue (interstitial lung disease)
- Joint pain (Arthralgia)
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- Pain in extremity
- Back pain
- A disease or abnormality of a joint (arthropathy)
- Impaired or acute renal function
- Increase in white blood cell count
If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get side effects, talk to your doctor or, pharmacist or nurse. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the Med Safety APP (Medsafety X SAHPRA) and eReporting platform (who-umc.org) found on SAHPRA website. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA.
5) How to store SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA
Store all medicines out of reach of children.
• Store at or below 25 °C in the original package, protected from light and moisture.
• Do not remove the blisters from the carton until required for use.
• Remove your SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA from the blister only immediately prior to intake.
• Do not take SITAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN 50/500; 50/850; 50/1000 SUN PHARMA after the expiry date stated on the blister strips and carton.
• Return all unused or expired medicines to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
• Do not dispose of unused medicines in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).