What Is Januvia? Everything You Need to Know About Januvia and Its Benefits
Category: Drug Information
According to a HealthDay report, 1 in 7 Americans has diabetes. Although this blood sugar disease is chronic, many treatment options help manage it. In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know about diabetes medication Januvia.
What is Januvia?
Januvia is a brand name prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Doctors may also prescribe other medicines for diabetes along with Januvia. This medication is intended to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise.
Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-4) inhibitor. This means that it balances insulin levels and decreases the amount of blood sugar your body produces.
Unlike many other treatments for diabetes, Januvia comes in a tablet form. It is available in three strengths: 25mg 50mg, 100mg. It is usually prescribed in one 100mg dosage.
How Does Januvia Work?
Managing blood sugar is an essential part of living with diabetes. Your body helps control blood sugar levels with a hormone called insulin.
Those with diabetes develop resistance to this hormone. This means that your body can’t use insulin to control blood glucose levels. Januvia works by increasing the amount of insulin in the body, which lowers blood sugar levels.
It may take about a week after taking sitagliptin until blood glucose levels begin to decrease. It helps to monitor your blood sugar to see when the medication starts to take effect.
Januvia is a long-term treatment for type 2 diabetes— it doesn’t cure it. Therefore, when you notice a dip in blood sugar levels, don’t stop taking it — unless told to by a doctor. If you stop this blood sugar medication suddenly, your blood sugar levels will increase.
Is Januvia Effective?
Januvia is proven to be useful for people with type 2 diabetes.
In an 18-week clinical trial, 193 people who had not taken diabetes for seven weeks, took Januvia. At the end of the study, participants showed an improvement in blood sugar levels. Specifically, their AC1 levels were 0.5% lower than before the study — AC1 is a test that measures blood sugar levels.
Another clinical study, participants took sitagliptin for 24 weeks. The results showed that Januvia reduced AC1 levels by 0.8% more than the placebo group.
Also, Januvia was found to be no more effective than other medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. In a review of studies that compared the effectiveness of Januvia and Tradjenta, Januvia was found to be effective as Tradjenta.
What are the Side Effects of Januvia?
The side effects of Januvia range from mild to severe. For more information on all of the side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist — they will be able to give you advice on how to manage them.
Most Common Side Effects
The common side effects include the following:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Ear congestion
- sneezing
These side effects usually clear up within a few days or weeks. If they persist or worsen, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Severe Side Effects
Severe side effects are rare, but they can occur. They include the following:
Hypoglycemia
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Jitteriness
- Hunger
- Irritability
- Sweating
- Weakness
Dangerous Allergic Reactions
- Painful sores in the mouth
- Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction that includes low pulse rate, trouble breathing, and sudden drop in blood pressure)
- Angioedema (swelling under the skin, usually in eyelids, lips, hands or feet)
Kidney Issues
- Coma
- Confusion
- Extreme fatigue
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Reduced urine output
- Seizures
- Leg swelling
- Shortness of breath
Pancreatitis
- Tender and swollen abdomen
- Indigestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hiccups
- Weight loss
- Upper body pain
- Fever
Is it Possible to Overdose on Januvia?
Taking more than the prescribed amount can result in severe side effects. Some of the signs of an overdose include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Sweating
- Trouble speaking
- Stomach pain
- Tremors
- Confusion
- Seizures
If you suspect you’ve overdosed, call your doctor or American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222.
Drug Interactions
Januvia is known to interact with other medications. Additionally, it can interact with some supplements and herbs. Some drugs and supplements affect the way Januvia works, while other drugs increase side effects.
Januvia could interact with the following drugs:
- Trulicity
- Birth control
- Digoxin
- Furosemide
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Lantus
- Lisinopril
Supplement interactions include:
- Aloe vera
- Ginseng
- Olive leaf extract
- Sesame oil
- St. John’s Wart
- Prickly pear cactus
- ginger
This isn’t the complete list of drug and supplement interactions. Before taking Juvania, talk to your doctor about the possible interactions.
Can You Take Januvia While Pregnant or Breastfeeding?
Not much is known about the safety of taking Januvia while pregnant. However, in animal studies, no issues were found in the mother or fetus when given Januvia. It’s worth mentioning that animal studies are not indicative of how the medication will affect humans.
If you become pregnant while taking this medication, tell your physician. They will be able to give you alternative treatment options.
In addition, there is not much research about Januvia being in the breast milk of humans. But in studies done on animals, the medication was present in breast milk. The study also showed that the medication has no adverse effects on the baby animals.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Januvia?
There are no known interactions between sitagliptin and alcohol. However, heavy drinking will result in a decrease in blood sugar and lead to hypoglycemia. Therefore, if you have diabetes it is advised to drink alcohol in moderation.
Ask Your Doctor If Januvia is Right for You
Januvia is an excellent treatment option for those with type 2 diabetes. It is proven to be effective in treating the condition and is generally safe.
Not sure how you can order your Januvia prescription on Pricepro Pharmacy? View our guide on how to order a prescription.
