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Janumet is a medication that’s used to treat patients who are living with type 2 diabetes, along with a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen, to help control daily blood sugar levels; specifically, to reduce the chance of blood sugar spikes after meals.
There are two active ingredients in Janumet prescriptions:
- Metformin
- Sitagliptin
Dosages of Janumet may be prescribed alone, or in combination with other diabetes medications (i.e., pioglitazone, a sulfonylurea, etc.).
SIDE NOTE: The generic name for Janumet is simply Sitagliptin and Metformin hydrochloride. Janumet is the brand name for this medication.
If you’d like to learn more about Janumet and what it is used for, you can click here for more information.
If you’ve been wondering, “how does Janumet work?” Janumet works by helping to control blood sugar levels, alongside a healthy diet and exercise.
There are two specific ways that Janumet dosages work, and that involves each of its two main ingredients: Sitagliptin and Metformin.
Sitagliptin’s MOA (Mechanism of Action) involves decreasing sugars that are produced by your body, particularly after you eat a meal.
It does this by lowering the amount of insulin that’s produced by your body, both when sugar levels are high and to assist with keeping blood sugars stable between meals.
Metformin specifically functions by reducing the amount of sugars that are produced by your liver, thereby helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Together, these two medications (Sitagliptin doses with Metformin), can assist you with achieving better blood sugar control.
What is Janumet® used to treat?
For those curious about what Janumet is used for, its primary indicated use is as a treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, who cannot control their blood sugar levels with exercise and diet alone.
Not only is Janumet used for diabetes to help maintain stable, safe blood sugar levels day-to-day, but particularly, a prescription for Janumet will help maintain more stable blood sugar levels after eating meals.
Depending on the recommendations from your practitioner, Sitagliptin doses with Metformin (Janumet) may be used alone, or in combination with certain other diabetes medications.
SIDE NOTE: The best time to take Janumet is right before a meal. As it’s recommended to take Janumet tablets 2x each day, the potential best times to take Janumet, in order to space them out for the best effect, is right before breakfast and dinner.
How long does Janumet® last after you take it?
The most common side effects of Janumet prescriptions include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal bloating
- Gas
- Loss of appetite
When used in combination with other diabetes medications, Janumet may also cause side effects (particularly of low blood sugar) including:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Hunger
- Fast heartbeat
- Sweating
- Feeling jittery
Tell your practitioner right away if you start to experience any severe forms of the side effects of Janumet, as they may be able to suggest an alternative to your Janumet, without interactions.
Rarely, Janumet dosages may cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis, which is a build-up of lactic acid in your blood. This can be very serious, so be sure to let them know if you start to notice any symptoms or side effects of Janumet that you find troubling.
There are a number of people who shouldn’t use Janumet, as interactions may occur. These include:
- Patients under the age of 18
- Patients with type 1 diabetes
- Patients with a history of metabolic acidosis (i.e., DKA, lacticacidosis, etc.)
- Patients with liver or kidney problems
- Patients allergic to any of the ingredients in Janumet medications
- Patients who are stressed, have severe infections, have recently or are experiencing trauma, prior to surgery or during its recovery phase
- Patients who drink a lot of alcohol (i.e., regularly 3 or more alcoholic drinks in a day)
- Patients with cardiovascular collapse (abrupt blood circulation failure), or cardiovascular insufficiency
- Patients with severe dehydration
- Patients who are about to receive a dye or contrast injection before an x-ray
In addition to these concerns, there are some people who should be extra cautious while taking dosages of Janumet, these include patients who:
- Have or have had pancreatitis, or you’re at high risk for it to occur
- Have a high risk of low blood sugar, or you’re currently taking insulin (your practitioner may suggest blood work before offering Janumet prescriptions)
- Have had an allergic reaction to any of the active ingredients in Janumet
- Have liver problems
- Have or have had kidney problems
- Drink alcohol frequently or ‘binge’ drink
- Have heart problems (including congestive heart failure)
- Are older than 80 (your practitioner may suggest having your kidneys checked, before offering a Janumet prescription)
What Should I Avoid While Taking Janumet?
You may want to avoid taking Janumet for diabetes if you’re at high risk for lactic acidosis. This could include if you:
- Have kidney problems
- Have congestive heart failure (requiring medication)
- Drink a lot of alcohol (i.e., regularly 3 or more drinks in a day)
- Have certain x-rays that require injected dyes or contrasts
- Have surgery upcoming soon or recently had surgery
- Are over 80 and haven’t had your kidney function tested
- Have or have recently had a heart attack, stroke, or severe infection’
- Get dehydrated often (i.e., suffer from severe sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea)
If any of these apply to you, you should talk to your practitioner ahead of requesting a prescription for Janumet, as interactions or side effects may occur. Your practitioner may be able to suggest alternatives to Janumet without interactions, or adjust your Janumet dosage to reduce these issues.
You should avoid taking Janumet medications at all if you:
- Feel very weak or tired
- Have a slow or irregular heartbeat
- Feel dizzy or lightheaded
- Feel cold (particularly in the arms and legs)
- Have trouble breathing
- Have unusual muscle pains
- Have stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
You should also avoid taking Janumet if your medical condition changes, until you talk to your practitioner to ensure it's still a safe treatment option.
There are a number of different medications that could cause negative interactions with Janumet, so before you request an online prescription for Janumet from Felix, be sure to let your practitioner know any/all medications you’re currently taking, or planning to be taking during the course of your treatment.
This way, if your practitioner needs to suggest an alternative to Janumet without interactions, they can do so during your assessment.
Is It Safe to Take Janumet During Pregnancy?
No, there’s no studies that have been done to effectively show that Janumet is safe to use during pregnancy. Therefore, it’s not recommended to use Janumet when pregnant, or planning to become pregnant.
Additionally, people that are breastfeeding should avoid taking Janumet as it may interact with nursing children. At this time, it’s unknown whether Janumet medications pass through breast milk and could potentially harm nursing children.
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