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Onglyza is a medication belonging to the family of oral hypoglycemic drugs known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors).
Specifically, an Onglyza prescription is used to help patients with type 2 diabetes to improve and help stabilize their blood sugar levels, in response to eating meals. It also helps to reduce blood sugar levels between meals, as well as reduce the amount of sugars that your body produces.
You may see Onglyza under the generic name saxagliptin, but they’re essentially the same medication. You may see saxagliptin under the brand name Onglyza, but they contain the same active ingredients and function the same way.
If you’d like to learn more about taking Onglyza for diabetes, you can click here to explore more product information.
For those wondering “how does Onglyza work?”, Onglyza pills help to quickly inactivate incretin hormones that are released by your intestines after a meal. These hormones help regulate glucose levels in your digestive system, which in turn, increase blood sugar levels if left to activate.
Onglyza medications prevent this activation, encouraging lower blood sugar levels after a meal, between meals, and generally decrease the amount of sugars created by your body.
What is Onglyza® used to treat?
If you’re curious about what Onglyza is used for, prescription for Onglyza is used in diabetes treatments for patients that have type 2 diabetes (alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen), in order to manage blood sugar levels.
You may see dosages of Onglyza prescribed by themselves, or as a combination treatment alongside other medications, including:
- Metformin
- A sulfonylurea
- Metformin and a sulfonylurea
- Insulin (either with or without Metformin)
Whether you’re recommended to use Onglyza pills by themselves or as part of a combination treatment will depend on the recommendations of your practitioner, based on your needs, health, and medical history.
How long does Onglyza® last after you take it?
The most common side effects of Onglyza may include:
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Headaches
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people taking insulin or a sulfonylurea
Be sure to let your practitioner know if any of the side effects of Onglyza become severe. They may be able to suggest an alternative medication to Onglyza, without interactions, or adjust your Onglyza dosage to reduce interactions.
In addition to these side effects of Onglyza, there are some more serious side effects to watch for. If you start to experience any of the following, be sure to let your practitioner know immediately:
- Severe disabling joint pain
- Pancreatitis
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
- Allergic reaction symptoms (i.e., anaphylaxis)
- Serious skin reactions
- Rhabdomyolysis (a breakdown of muscle tissues)
- Heart failure
They will want to evaluate your situation if you start to experience any of these potential interactions with Onglyza, so that they can determine if this is still a safe treatment option, while continuing to manage your blood sugar levels.
There are a number of people who shouldn’t take Onglyza pills, due to the fact that it may cause negative interactions. These people include:
- Patients under the age of 18
- Patients allergic to Onglyza (saxagliptin) or any of the other ingredients in Onglyza pills
- Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Patient with type 1 diabetes
On top of these patients, there are others who should be cautious about taking Onglyza pills. Be sure to talk to your doctor before accepting an Onglyza prescription if you:
- Have ever had a reaction to a DPP-4 inhibitor medication like Onglyza
- Have or have had kidney problems
- Have or have had liver problems
- Have or have had heart failure
- Have been told that you have a reduced immune system (i.e., after an organ transplant, HIV, etc.)
- Have pancreatic problems (i.e., pancreatitis, inflammation, etc.)
- Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are planning to breastfeed
- Are at a greater risk for heart failure
In these scenarios, your practitioner may be able to suggest an alternative Onglyza dosage, or medications that are less likely to cause negative interactions with you.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Onglyza?
You shouldn’t take Onglyza pills if you have end-stage renal disease, as you’ll be using dialysis treatments as well.
If you’re allergic to certain milk sugars, you should avoid taking this medication, as Onglyza pills contain lactose.
There are a number of potential drug interactions with Onglyza that may occur, so it’s extremely important that you let your practitioner know about any/all other medications and treatments that you may be using.
This way, they can help you avoid experiencing unnecessary side effects when taking Onglyza pills or comparable treatments.
Is It Safe to Take Onglyza During Pregnancy?
It is currently unknown whether dosages of Onglyza pass through to unborn or nursing children.
Therefore, to avoid any potential negative interactions with Onglyza, it is not recommended to use Onglyza when you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed.
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