Saxagliptin

Saxagliptin is used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (condition in which blood sugar is too high because the body does not produce or use insulin normally). Saxagliptin is in a class of medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. It works by increasing the amount of insulin produced by the body after meals when blood sugar is high. Saxagliptin is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated).

Saxagliptin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take saxagliptin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take saxagliptin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Saxagliptin controls type 2 diabetes but does not cure it. Continue to take saxagliptin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking saxagliptin without talking to your doctor. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

<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></p> <p></p> <p>Saxagliptin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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stuffed or runny nose</li>
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sore throat</li>
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headache</li>
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painful, burning urination</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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nausea</li>
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vomiting</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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bloating</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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rash</li>
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hives</li>
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swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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hoarseness</li></ul>Saxagliptin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking saxagliptin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to saxagliptin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in saxagliptin tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the manufacturer's patient information for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: certain antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); clarithromycin (Biaxin); certain medications for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Invirase); insulin or oral medications for diabetes such as acetohexamide, chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl, in Avandaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol, in Metaglip), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase, in Glucovance), nateglinide (Starlix), pioglitazone (Actos, in Actoplus Met, in Duetact), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia, in Avandamet, in Avandaryl), tolazamide, and tolbutamide; nefazodone; and telithromycin (Ketek). You doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have ever had diabetic ketoacidosis and if you have or have ever had HIV or kidney disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking saxagliptin. talk to your doctor about what you should do if you get hurt or if you develop a fever or infection. These conditions may affect your blood sugar and the amount of saxagliptin you may need.

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.