What is sitagliptin?

What is sitagliptin?

Sitagliptin is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet.Sitagliptin oral tablet is available as the brand-name drug Januvia. It’s not available as a generic drug.Sitagliptin may be used as part of a combination therapy. That means you may need to take it with other drugs.

Why it's used？

Sitagliptin is used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. It’s used along with lifestyle changes such as improved diet and exercise, and avoiding smoking.

How it works？

Sitagliptin belongs to a class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

Insulin is a chemical in your body that helps remove sugar from your blood and moves it to cells, where it can be used for energy. Hormones in your body called incretins regulate the production and release of insulin. Sitagliptin works by protecting incretin hormones so they aren’t broken down too quickly. This helps your body use insulin better and lowers your blood sugar.

What are the possible side effects of sitagliptin?

Like all medicines, sitagliptin can cause side effects in some people. But many people have no side effects, or only minor ones.

Common side effects

The most common side effects, which happen in more than 1 in 100 people, are headaches.
Talk to your doctor if headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
If taking sitagliptin gives you a headache, make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people may have serious side effects after taking sitagliptin.Call your doctor straight away if you have:
severe stomach pains；yellowing of your skin, or the whites of your eyes turn yellow