Januvia (Sitagliptin) Side Effects

Januvia Side Effects: Januvia which is also known as Sitagliptin, is a diabetes medicine that can be consumed orally, which helps to control blood sugar levels. It works by controlling levels of insulin which is produced by the body. Januvia belongs to the group of diabetes medications known as DPP-4 inhibitors. It works by increasing the proportion of incretin released by the intestine. Incretin is a hormone which can raise insulin levels when the blood sugar level is high and decreases the amount of sugar produced by the body.

Common Side effects of Januvia

Januvia Sitagliptin has Long Term and Short Term Side Effects which are Listed Below: This drug is used to control the sugar levels of type 2 diabetes. Januvia should be used as a part of overall diabetes management which includes physical activity and diet plan. This medicine helps to increase the levels of insulin produced after a meal and decreases the amount of sugar made by the body.

Read About: Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms and Causes

Your doctor has prescribed this medicine to help lower your blood sugar, which can be very high because of your type 2 diabetes. This medicine can be used alone or in combination with other medicines such as insulin, metformin, sulphonylureas, or glitazones that lower blood sugar, which you may be already consuming for your diabetes.

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Common Side effects of Januvia (Sitagliptin)

Every medicine has its own side effects. Medicines are beneficial as well as they can be a problem to the patient if the side effects are serious. Some of the side effects of Januvia are as follows:

  • Severe pain in the upper stomach
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Rising heartbeats
  • Little or no urination
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss
  • Skin reactions

Call your doctor immediately if you suffer from any of the above signs. Stop taking Januvia and rush to seek medical check-up if you have side effects like difficulty in breathing, swelling on your face, lips or tongue. Although most of these side effects listed below don’t happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

A highly harmful allergic side effect to this medicine is rare. This is not the entire listing of possible unwanted side effects, if you found and feel of any additional unwanted side effects which are not mentioned above then call your medical professional without delay.

Weight Loss as a Side Effect of Januvia?

Most of the people who took Januvia did not gain weight by themselves. Keeping a good and healthy weight through exercise and diet is an important part of any diabetic patient. One should check the weight on a regular basis, especially those who are suffering from diabetes. However, some people experienced weight loss while taking Januvia; this is due to excess of gas, diarrhea, and lack of appetite.

Januvia and Hair Loss 

It is generally noticed that people who consume Januvia become victim of hair loss. The cases of hair loss are identified more in women than in men. This side effect is mostly seen in the women who are 60+ and have been taking the drug for 1-6 months, also take medication known as metformin and are suffering from high blood sugar. People suffering from the deficiency of vitamin B12 can notice hair loss. Hair loss is not a common side effect of Januvia. More on, Januvia helps in brain development and fights cholesterol.

Is Joint pain a Side Effect of Januvia?

Yes, but it is in very rare cases. If the patient starts feeling severe and persistent joint pain, then he should stop taking Januvia and call your doctor immediately. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that type 2 diabetes medicines such as Januvia and others can cause joint pain. A study by the FDA found out that people suffered from joint pain from day 1, but after stopping it for some time, this side effect also went away.

Side Effects of Januvia with Metformin

Januvia and metformin consumed together are known as Janumet. Janumet combines two favorites into one formulation: one is metformin, a veteran of diabetes drug; and the other is Januvia, a most promising rookie. Metformin decreases the production of glucose by the liver, whereas Januvia increases the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. You should stop taking metformin if you are allergic to this medication or if you have severe kidney disease. Some people taking metformin to develop a serious condition called lactic acidosis. This may be more likely if you have liver or kidney disease, or a heart attack. Consult your doctor immediately. This medicine is not approved for people less than 18 years of age.

See Here:  Metformin Side Effects for Short Term & Long Term

Januvia Side Effects Law Suit

Men and women who started to take Januvia have dangerous problems as they established pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Because of this rising amount of patients has filed a case against the makers of Januvia. An area of law called product liability makes these lawsuits possible. These are generally individual lawsuits that may compensate sufferers, keep companies responsible, and bring the public’s alertness about harmful and high-risk items. Harmed sufferers start by submitting a product liability coverage legal action against the appropriate maker. Lawsuits must progress several “claims” against the maker – legal reasons for keeping the vendor subject to the plaintiff’s damages.

Common claims consist of that the maker failed to alert the doctors and people concerning a known unwanted side effect, that the manufacturer designed the item defectively getting it too dangerous for users. All of these claims are actually made in Janumet and Januvia lawsuits.

In What Forms do Januvia (sitagliptin) Come?

Januvia Medicine Comes in Three Forms:

  • 25mg
  • 50mg
  • 100mg

25mg: Each pink, round, film-coated tablet, with “221” on one side, contains 25 mg sitagliptin. Non-medicinal ingredients such as microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate (calcium hydrogen phosphate, anhydrous), magnesium stearate, and sodium stearyl fumarate; the film is coated with polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol (macrogol), talc, titanium dioxide, red iron oxide, and yellow iron oxide.

50mg: Each light beige, round, film-coated tablet, with “112” on one side, contains 50 mg sitagliptin. Non-medicinal ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate (calcium hydrogen phosphate, anhydrous), croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and sodium stearyl fumarate; the film is coated with polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol (macrogol), talc, titanium dioxide, red iron oxide, and yellow iron oxide.

100mg: Each beige, round, film-coated tablet, with “277” on one side, contains 100 mg sitagliptin. Non-medicinal ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate (calcium hydrogen phosphate, anhydrous), croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and sodium stearyl fumarate; the film is coated with polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol (macrogol), talc, titanium dioxide, red iron oxide, and yellow iron oxide.

What is Januvia 100mg used for?

Always take the medicine as your doctor has prescribed you. Ask your doctor or chemist if you are not sure about the dosage. The usual recommended dose is one 100mg tablet film-coated by mouth once a day. If you are suffering from kidney problems then your doctor may prescribe you with lower dosages such as 25mg or 50mg. you can consume this medicine with food or without food and with a drink or without a drink. Your doctor may give you some other medications along with this. It is very necessary to stay on a diet and do exercises and physical activity while taking Januvia. Diet and exercise will help you to maintain blood sugar levels.

If you forgot to take Januvia then take it as soon as you remember about it, if you remember the next day when it is the time of the next dose then don’t worry, you can skip your missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose of this medicine, as it may harm your body.

Januvia is not for treating diabetes type 1.


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