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Sitagliptin medications belong to the family of drugs known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4).
Prescription Sitagliptin medications are primarily indicated for use either alone or as a combination treatment to improve blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, who are unable to control their blood sugars effectively using a healthy diet and exercise alone.
You may be prescribed Sitagliptin as a treatment by itself, or:
- Alongside Metformin
- Alongside Metformin and other diabetes medications (i.e., a sulfonylurea, pioglitazone, etc.)
SIDE NOTE: In some cases, you may see Sitagliptin under the brand name Januvia. It’s important to remember that Januvia is simply the brand name for Sitagliptin (the generic medication name), but that both of these treatments contain the same active ingredients.
If you’d like to learn more about Sitagliptin, you can explore the product monograph for more information by clicking here.
Sitagliptin medications work by helping to improve your levels of insulin when your blood sugar levels are too high, as well as lowers the amount of sugar that your body produces on its own.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which your body doesn’t produce enough insulin and/or your body isn’t using the insulin you're producing naturally effectively enough to control your blood sugar levels.
Using treatments like Sitagliptin does this without putting you at risk for hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reactions.
What is Sitagliptin used to treat?
If you’ve been wondering “what is Sitagliptin used for?”, the simple answer is that Sitagliptin medications are used to treat people who struggle to control blood sugar levels with type 2 diabetes, even with a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.
Using Sitagliption also decreases the amount of sugar that is produced by your body, without the likelihood of causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
How long does Sitagliptin last after you take it?
The most common side effects of Sitagliptin medications used alone include a stuffy or runny nose and/or a sore throat.
When used as a combination treatment, there are some other side effects of Sitagliptin to be mindful of, including:
- Kidney problems
- Constipation
- Headache
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- Arm or leg pain
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Blisters
- Hypoglycemia (less commonly occurring)
If you start to experience any of the side effects of Sitagliptin that are listed above, or any other concerning issues (i.e., Pancreatitis, allergic reactions, etc.), be sure to let your practitioner know right away.
They may be able to suggest an alternative Sitagliptin dosage, or medication that may not cause you the same types of side effects as Sitagliptin.
Prescription Sitagliptin medications aren’t recommended for people certain people to use, including:
- Patients under the age of 18
- Patients with type 1 diabetes
- Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Patients with severe kidney issues
- Patients who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
- Patients with hepatic insufficiency
In addition to these people, there are some other conditions which may be more likely to cause negative interactions with Sitagliptin. They include people who:
- Have or have had pancreatitis
- Are allergic to any of the ingredients in Sitagliptin
- Have or had have kidney issues in the past
- Have liver problems
- Have immune system disorders
- Have renal or urinary disorders
- Have gastrointestinal disorders
- Have musculoskeletal and/or connective tissue disorders
- Skin or subcutaneous tissue disorders
In these situations, your practitioner may suggest alternative medications less likely to cause interactions with Sitagliptin, or adjust your dosage to help reduce negative Sitagliptin side effects.
How Does Sitagliptin Help Treat Diabetes?
One of the hardest challenges for people that are living with type 2 diabetes is finding a healthy routine that can control their blood sugar levels.
In some people, diet and exercise may be enough to manage their sugar levels but for others, prescriptions like Sitagliptin medications may be necessary to safely control blood sugar in the long-term.
Because Sitagliptin medications can be used either alone or in combination with other treatments, it's a valuable part of a variety of different diabetes treatment plans.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Sitagliptin?
There are a number of drug interactions with Sitagliptin prescriptions that could occur; especially if your practitioner is unaware of certain medications or treatments you may already be using.
This is why it’s really important to let your clinician know all of your current medications, before requesting prescription Sitagliptin, so that they can help you with avoidable negative Sitagliptin interactions.
Specifically, people taking Sitagliptin should avoid:
- Metformin (without oversight from a practitioner)
- Simvastatin
- Sulfonylureas
- Warfarin
- Thiazolidinediones
- Oral Contraceptives
- Digoxin
- Cyclosporine
There are no known food or herbal interactions with Sitagliptin at this time.
Is It Safe to Take Sitagliptin During Pregnancy?
No, if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it’s not recommended to take Sitagliptin as negative interactions may occur with the fetus.
The same concern exists for interactions with Sitagliptin while breastfeeding, as it has been shown that this type of medication does pass through breast milk to the child.
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