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Repaglinide |
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What is Repaglinide and why is it prescribed? Repaglinide is used to reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It's prescribed when diet and exercise alone fail to correct the problem. A combination of Repaglinide and a second diabetes drug called Glucophage can be prescribed if either drug alone proves insufficient. Chronically high glucose levels have been implicated in the kidney failure, blindness, and loss of sensation that plague many people with long-standing diabetes. A low-calorie diet, weight loss, and exercise are your first line of defense against these problems. Medications such as Repaglinide are prescribed only as a back-up when these other measures still leave sugar too high. If diet, exercise, and a combination of Repaglinide and Glucophage all fail to do the job, your doctor may have to start you on insulin. How should you take Repaglinide? Follow your doctors directions for taking Repaglinide. Repaglinide should be taken shortly before each meal. You can take it 30 minutes ahead of time or wait until just before starting; a 15-minute period is typical. You can take Repaglinide 2, 3, or 4 times a day, depending on the number of meals you have. If you skip a meal (or add an extra meal), skip (or add) a dose accordingly. If you miss a dose wait until your next meal, then take your regular dose. Do not take two doses at once. Store Repaglinide at room temperature away from moisture in a tightly closed container. Are there any Repaglinide side effects? Repaglinide side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. More common Repaglinide side effects may include back pain, bronchitis, chest pain, constipation, diarrhea, headache, indigestion, joint pain, low blood sugar, nasal inflammation, nausea, sinus inflammation, skin tingling, upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, and vomiting. Less common and rare Repaglinide side effects may include allergic reactions, angina, and tooth problems. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Repaglinide? If Repaglinide is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Repaglinide with Airway-opening medications (such as Alupent, Proventil, and Ventolin), Alcohol (excessive amounts can cause low blood sugar), Aspirin, Barbiturates (such as the sedatives Seconal and Nembutal), Beta blockers (such as the blood pressure medications Inderal and Tenormin), Blood thinners (such as Dicumarol and Miradon), Calcium channel blockers (such as the blood pressure medications Cardizem and Procardia), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), Erythromycin (Eryc, Ery-Tab, PCE), Estrogens (such as Premarin), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), Furosemide (Lasix), Glucose lowering agents (such as Glucotrol and Micronase), Isoniazid, Major tranquilizers (such as Mellaril and Stelazine), MAO inhibitors (such as the antidepressants Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate), Niacin (Nicobid), Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Voltaren), Oral contraceptives, Phenytoin (Dilantin), Probenecid (Benemid, ColBENEMID), Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), Steroids (such as prednisone), Sulfa drugs (such as Gantanol), Thyroid medications (such as Synthroid), or Water pills (such as the thiazide diuretics Dyazide and HydroDIURIL). Are there any special warnings about Repaglinide? While taking Repaglinide, you should check your blood sugar regularly. Your doctor will also watch it; and to measure long-term glucose control, he will probably give you a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) test as well. Too much Repaglinide can cause low blood sugar, marked by shaking, sweating, and cold-clammy skin. If you develop these symptoms, take some orange juice or suck on a hard candy. The problem is more likely to surface if you are elderly, debilitated, or malnourished, have liver problems, or suffer from poor adrenal or pituitary function. |
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