Onglyza (Saxagliptin)
(See detailed Medicine Prescription Information here)
Saxagliptin is the chemical name for the Onglyza generic form of the drug.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Condition where insufficient insulin is produced by body or abnormal responses to the insulin that their bodies produce are symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Pancreas produces and releases insulin in blood stream allowing blood sugar into the cells that your body for use as energy.
When a person has type 2 diabetes, body cells become resistant to insulin. As a result, your body make more insulin to try to get cells to respond. This will lead to imbalance and your blood sugar will rise leading to type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar can cause serious health problems causing amputation or affecting your heart, vision, and kidneys
How will Onglyza Drug Class help?
It is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes when combined with a nutritious diet and regular exercise.
Note: Patients with type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes will not get help with it.
There are periods when blood sugar may spikes during a 24 hour day. In morning, blood sugar may rise because pancreas release higher level of glucagon which makes your liver produce more blood sugar Same way after meals, pancreas may not release enough insulin resulting into higher level of blood sugar. onglyza drug class helps body to increase and produce enough insulin manage appropriate blood sugar level.
What is Onglyza used for?
In adults with type 2 diabetes, Onglyza is used to help control and manage blood sugar levels. It is frequently used with one of the following anti-diabetic medications:
- Metformin;
- Sulfonylurea;
- Metformin and a sulfonylurea;
- Insulin withoutmetformin;
- Insulin with or without metformin, sulfonylurea
How does Onglyza medication work?
Our body has a group of gastrointestinal hormones called incretins. Incretins help production of insulin as and when body requires it for example after eating and also incretins reduces the production of glucagon by the liver as and when it is not needed for example during digestion. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) can damage incretins and body may not regulate blood glucose levels.
Saxagliptin is a class of gliptins, an oral diabetes that protect incretins from damage and are known as DDP-4 inhibitors. Gliptins help regulate blood glucose levels. Saxagliptins are usually prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes who have not responded well to drugs such as metformin and sulphonylureas.
DPP-4 inhibitors may help with weight loss besides decreasing blood sugar levels. They have also been linked with higher rates of pancreatitis.
Other medicines in class of gliptins are:
Onglyza is a member of the DPP-4 inhibitors class of diabetes medications (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors). They assist in lowering blood sugar levels between meals, enhancing blood sugar levels after meals, and reducing the quantity of sugar your body produces.
This medicine, like all DPP-4 inhibitors, reduces the breakdown of digestive hormones, increasing the overall level of these hormones. Some positive effects of Saxagliptin are
- increased insulin production in response to meals
- slower rate of gastric emptying (the time it takes for food to leave the stomach),
- decrease in appetite
- improved beta cell regeneration in the pancreas, are caused by this increased production of digestive hormones (the cells that store and produce insulin).
How to take Saxagliptin?
Only type 2 diabetes is treated with saxagliptin (Onglyza), and neither type 1 diabetes mellitus nor diabetic ketoacidosis are treated with this medication. Do not split or cut ONGLYZA tablets.
Your doctor should perform a blood test to gauge how well your kidneys are functioning both before and after your therapy before you start taking it. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, you might need to adjust your dose.
What is the dosage of Onglyza?
Onglyza comes in two strength tablets – 2.5 mg and 5 mg. Recommended dosage is 2.5 mg or 5 mg once daily taken regardless of meals. Assess renal function before starting ONGLYZA and periodically thereafter.
- Patients eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (with moderate or severe renal impairment, orend-stage renal disease): Recommended dosage is 2.5 mg once daily regardless of meals.
- 2.5 mg daily is recommended for patients also taking strong cytochromeP450 3A4/5 (CYP3A4/5) inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole).
In order to reduce the risk of low blood sugar, a lesser dose of the insulin secretagogue or insulin may be needed when this drug is combined with an insulin secretagogue (such as sulfonylurea) (hypoglycemia).
If missed doses of Tradjenta?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember if you happen to forget. Skip the missed dose and just resume taking your medication according to your regular schedule if you happen to forget until it is almost time for your next dose. Never take two doses at once.
Warnings and Precautions while using Tradjenta
Consult your doctor before to taking Onglyza if:
- You are allergic to other DPP-4 inhibitors
- You have or have had any kidney problem
- You have or have had liver complications
- You have or have had heart failure
- You have been told you have a reduced immune system; for example, you have had organ transplantation or have been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
- You are currently pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
- You are currently breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed
- You have or have had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- You start or stop taking other medications, including antibiotics, antifungals or HIV/AIDS medications
- Patients who require dialysis and have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) should not use Onglyza.
- If you have been diagnosed with galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption, do not take Onglyza because lactose monohydrate is one of the non-medicinal constituents in it.
Tradjenta Side effects
Common side effects
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Urinary tract infection
Not so common negative effects may include :
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Heart failure
- Low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia)
- Joint Pain
- Bullous pemphigoid (a skin reaction)
- Peripheral edema (fluid retention)
- High blood sugar level (hyperglycemia)
If you have any of the following heart failure symptoms, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, particularly while you are lying down, swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs, or a sudden rise in weight, you should see a doctor right away.Bullous pemphigoid occurs in people above 60 years of age. Bullous pemphigoid is a rare skin disease where fluid-filled blisters develop below outer layer of skin main where the skin flexes e.g., lower abdomen, upper thighs or armpits. The reason for occurrence of Bullous pemphigoid is unknown but takes long time to heal.
Bullous pemphigoid may be aggravated with the use of DPP-4, which can be serious and necessitate hospitalization. If you experience a breakdown of your skin’s outer layer, which would include blisters and hives, call your doctor right away.
Fluid retention may worsen when used with a thiazolidinedione (TZD), such as pioglitazone or rosiglitazone. Call your doctor right away if you experience any signs of peripheral edema, such as swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.
If you have a fever, an illness or underwent surgery, or were injured, your blood sugar level could become too high (hyperglycemia) (stressful conditions). In these situations, speak with your doctor right away because you might need to switch medications.
Discuss any adverse effect that bothers you or does not go away with your healthcare professional. These are not the only adverse consequences that could occur. For medical advice about side effects, contact your doctors
