Saxagliptin
About
Saxagliptin contains saxagliptin which belongs to the class of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. Saxagliptin is prescribed for the condition of type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise alone cannot control their blood sugar levels. It is the first-line therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes that restores the body's response to insulin. Insulin is the hormone that controls sugar levels in your blood. People with type 2 diabetes either do not produce enough insulin or the insulin produced is unable to perform its function in the body (insulin resistance). Middle-aged or older individuals are most likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, so it is also known as adult-onset diabetes.
Saxagliptin work by blocking the action of DPP-4 (an enzyme which destroys hormone ‘Incretin’). The enzyme ‘Incretins’ help to produce more insulin only when required and reduce blood sugar level produced by the liver when not needed. Saxagliptin should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes and for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Saxagliptin should be taken with food or empty stomach. However, it should be taken at the same time of the day each time for best results. For better advice, your doctor will decide, what dose should be taken and it can change timely depending upon your condition. The most common side effect of Saxagliptin are hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels), upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis (infection of nose and throat with common cold) and headache.
Prolonged intake of Saxagliptin may cause acute pancreatitis (swollen pancreas), and critical kidney problem. Increased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) can occur when Saxagliptin is added to other anti-diabetic agents or insulin therapy. In this case, your doctor may adjust the dose of Saxagliptin. Severe allergic reactions might occur in some patients taking Saxagliptin like anaphylaxis, angioedema (swelling under the skin), and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Safety and efficacy of Saxagliptin in children under 18 years have not been established, so it should not be given to them. Patients taking digoxin (a heart medicine) with Saxagliptin should be closely monitored as severe drug interaction has been observed.
Uses of Saxagliptin
Medicinal Benefits
Saxagliptin work by blocking the action of DPP-4 (an enzyme which destroys hormone ‘Incretin’). The enzyme ‘Incretins’ help to produce more insulin only when required and reduce blood sugar level produced by the liver when not needed. Thus, Saxagliptin plays a vital role in controlling blood sugar levels and prevents serious complications of diabetes like eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), diabetic foot ulcer and delayed wound healing.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Saxagliptin
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels)
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Nasopharyngitis (infection of nose and throat with common cold)
- Headache
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Increased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) can occur when Saxagliptin is added to other anti-diabetic agents or insulin therapy. In this case, your doctor may adjust the dose of Saxagliptin. Prolonged intake of Saxagliptin may cause acute pancreatitis (swollen pancreas), and critical kidney problem. Severe allergic reactions might occur in some patients taking Saxagliptin like anaphylaxis, angioedema (swelling under the skin), and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Safety and efficacy of Saxagliptin in children under 18 years have not been established, so it should not be given to them. Patients taking digoxin (a heart medicine) with Saxagliptin should be closely monitored as severe drug interaction has been observed.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Saxagliptin interacts with an anti-depressant (bupropion), drugs used to treat glaucoma, antibiotics (cephalexin, ciprofloxacin), anti-acidity drugs (cimetidine), heart condition drugs (digoxin), anti-HIV drugs (dolutegravir), ethanol, saliva reducing drugs (glycopyrrolate), iodinated X-ray contrast agents, anti-epileptic drugs (topiramate, lamotrigine), heart-related chest medicine (ranolazine). Other drug interactions can contribute to an increased low blood sugar including sex hormones (androgens), anti-oxidant (alpha-lipoic acid), painkillers (aspirin), anti TB drugs (prothionamide), growth hormones (pegvisomant), and other antidiabetic medicines.
Drug-Food Interaction: Intake of excessive alcoholic beverages may increase the chance of a life-threatening condition known as Lactic Acidosis. So, avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Saxagliptin.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Saxagliptin should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis/pancreatic disease and renal dysfunction.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeSaxagliptin is not advised to be taken with alcohol as it causes bizarre interactions. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink.
Pregnancy
cautionNo harmful interaction has been reported in pregnant mothers yet the patient is advised to consult a doctor before taking this drug during pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
cautionNo harmful interaction has been reported in breastfeeding mothers yet the patient is advised to consult a doctor before taking this drug.
Driving
cautionCaution is to be taken. If a patient feels dizzy while taking Saxagliptin, do not drive or use any tools or machines. Hypoglycaemia may affect your ability to drive and use machines or work with a safe foothold and there is a risk of hypoglycaemia after taking this medicine in combination with other medicines known to cause hypoglycaemia such as insulin and sulphonylureas.
Liver
cautionCaution is to be taken in liver patients. Patients with severe liver problems are not advised to take this drug without doctor's consultation.
Kidney
cautionCaution is to be taken in kidney patients. Patients with reduced kidney function are advised to consult with a doctor before taking Saxagliptin as the doctor may decrease the dose as per his own judgment.
Children
cautionSaxagliptin is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years. It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective when used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age,thus doctors consultation is required.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Invest at least 150 min of your week in moderate-intensity physical activity or one hour and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise every week.
- Losing weight gradually to achieve a healthy body mass index (18.5 to 24.9).
- Replacing refined carbohydrates containing foods with whole grain foods and increase intake of fruits and veggies and other fibre enriched foods.
- Reduce intake of saturated fat (or hidden fats) in the food like chips, crisps, pastries, biscuits and samosas. Choose omega 3 fatty acid-containing oils for daily cooking. For frying, you can use palm oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, rice bran oil, and safflower oil.
- Avoid taking too much stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You can adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness to control stress-related blood sugar changes or meditation or yoga.
- Opt for low-fat dairy products (low-fat yoghurt, fat-free milk and cheese etc.).
- Keep your blood pressure as normal (140/90) as possible as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to make sufficient insulin, or the insulin that it makes doesn't work properly or utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, there may be weight gain while in rare cases weight loss may be observed. The complication of type 2 diabetes also includes neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems), and retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction, and increase the chance of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Yes, Saxagliptin is known to cause stomach upset, indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea. To avoid these side effects please take Saxagliptin with a meal. Also, Saxagliptin should be taken at evenly spaced intervals to avoid any unpleasant side effects and for best results.
Not recommended in patients with high levels of blood cholesterol as Saxagliptin has been reported to increase blood cholesterol levels in a normal patient and thus not recommended in patients with hyperlipidemia.
The patient is advised to take the missed dose as soon as possible, otherwise, jump to next dose. A patient should never take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose. It may aggravate harmful side effects.
According to American Diabetes Association, most of the studies carried out on Saxagliptin and its ability to cause cancer resulted in a conclusion that Saxagliptin is not associated with any form of cancer& hence is safe to use in patients.
A patient if accidentally takes an overdose of Saxagliptin may experience collapse, seizure attack, troubled breathing. In such a case without any delay, emergency health services must be contacted and medical help should be sought.
