Repaglinide

Repaglinide is used to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Repaglinide helps your body regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Repaglinide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. The tablets are taken before meals, any time from 30 minutes before a meal to just before the meal. If you skip a meal, you need to skip the dose of repaglinide. If you add an extra meal, you need to take an extra dose of repaglinide. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose, depending on your response to repaglinide. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take repaglinide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than directed by the package label or prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take repaglinide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking repaglinide without talking to your doctor.

<p>This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms.</p> <p>You may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are taking this medication. Your doctor will tell you what you should do if you develop hypoglycemia. He or she may tell you to check your blood sugar, eat or drink a food or beverage that contains sugar, such as hard candy or fruit juice, or get medical care. Follow these directions carefully if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia:

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shakiness</li>
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dizziness or lightheadedness</li>
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sweating </li>
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nervousness or irritability</li>
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sudden changes in behavior or mood</li>
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headache</li>
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numbness or tingling around the mouth</li>
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weakness</li>
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pale skin </li>
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hunger</li>
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clumsy or jerky movements</li></ul>If hypoglycemia is not treated, severe symptoms may develop. Be sure that your family, friends, and other people who spend time with you know that if you have any of the following symptoms, they should get medical treatment for you immediately.

<ul>
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confusion</li>
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seizures</li>
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loss of consciousness</li></ul></p> <p>Repaglinide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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headache</li>
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nasal congestion</li>
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joint aches</li>
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back pain</li>
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constipation</li>
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diarrhea</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p></p>

Before taking repaglinide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to repaglinide or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially acetophenazine (Tindal), aspirin, blood pressure medicines, carbamazepine (Tegretol), chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), corticosteroids, diuretics ('water pills'), drugs for arthritis, erythromycin, troglitazone (Rezulin), estrogens, fluphenazine (Prolixin), isoniazid (Rifamate), ketoconazole (Nizoral), mesoridazine (Serentil), oral contraceptives, perphenazine (Trilafon), phenelzine (Nardil), phenobarbital (Luminal), phenytoin (Dilantin), probenecid (Benemid), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), promethazine (Phenergan), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), thioridazine (Mellaril), tranylcypromine (Parnate), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), triflupromazine (Vesprin), trimeprazine (Temaril), vitamins, or warfarin (Coumadin). tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease or if you have been told you have type I diabetes mellitus. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking repaglinide.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.