How Effective is Onglyza and what are It’s Side Effects

Onglyza is used to treat diabetes. It is an oral medicine for diabetes and it helps to control blood sugar levels. The medicine works by regulating the amounts or levels of insulin that your body can produce after eating.

This medicine is for patients with type 2 diabetes. Sometimes, Onglyza is used alongside other diabetes medicines. However, it is not for people with type 1 diabetes.

• Anyone in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis should not use this medicine. If you are in this state, contact your doctor at once for treatment with insulin.
• This medicine is not for treating people with type 1 diabetes.
• Before you take this medication, you must inform your doctor if you currently have kidney disease or if you are currently on dialysis.

This medication is just but on part of an entire program of treatment, which also include weight control, exercise, diet, and other possible medications. You should use Onglyza on a regular basis for you to get the most benefit. You should not completely run out of your medicine. Instead, get your prescription refilled in advance.

You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to it, or if you are currently in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis.

To be sure that you can take this medicine safely, inform your doctor if you have:

• Pancreatitis;
• Kidney disease, or if you are currently on dialysis;
• Gallstone;
• Heart disease;
• A history of drug or alcohol addiction; or
• High triglycerides

Your doctor will give you instructions on how to use this medicine if you are breast-feeding a baby, or if you are pregnant. Follow the instructions carefully. Blood sugar control is extremely important during pregnancy, and the dose needs of a pregnant woman may change after every trimester. On the same note, your dose needs may also keep on changing as you breast-feed your baby.

It is not clear whether Onglyza can pass into breast milk. It is also known whether it could harm the nursing baby. Be sure to inform your doctor if you are currently breast-feeding.

The medicine has not been approved for use by people under the age of 18.

Take this medication as per the prescription by your doctor. Stick to the directions included in your prescription label. The doctor may decide to change your dose regularly to ensure that you are getting the most benefit. Do not take Onglyza in smaller or larger amounts or for a loner time than recommended.

• You can take Onglyza with or without food. Be sure to stick to the instructions of your doctor.
• Do not break, crush, or chew an Onglyza tablet. Instead, swallow them whole.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood sugar regularly. Your doctor may also conduct other blood tests on you at his or her office.

Low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) can actually happen to any person who has diabetes. Common symptoms include sweating, hunger, headache, irritability, pale skin, trouble concentrating, feeling shaky, or dizziness. You should always have a source of sugar wherever you are in case your blood sugar level drops significantly. Sugar sources include crackers, fruit juice, non-diet soda, raisins, and hard candy. Make sure that your friends and family know how they can help you in case of an emergency.

• In case you have a life-threatening hypoglycemia and you cannot be able to drink or eat, use a glucagon injection. The doctor will prescribe for you a glucagon emergency injection kit and inform you how you should use it.
• Be sure to check your blood sugar regularly and carefully in times of medical emergency, illness, stress, travel, if you skip meals or drink alcohol. Such things can change your dose need because they usually affect sugar levels. You should never change your medication schedule or dose without the advice of your doctor.
• If you have an infection, or fever, or if you become ill, your doctor may advice you to stop taking this medicine.
• Store Onglyza at room temperature away from heat and moisture

Seek for emergency medical help in case you notice any allergic reaction to this medicine such as difficulty breathing, swelling of your tongue, throat, or face, hives, red or purple skin rash that spreads rapidly and causes peeling and blistering.

Stop taking this medication and contact your doctor at once if you have any symptoms of pancreatitis, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fast heartbeats, or life-threatening pain in upper stomach and spreading to the back.

Contact your doctor right away if you have the below severe side effects of Onglyza:

• Ongoing or severe joint pain;
• Heart problems – swelling in your midsection, or legs and feet, rapid weight gain, feeling tired or weak, shortness of breath even when you are lying down; or
• Burning or pain when urinating.

Most common side effects of Onglyza may include:

• Headache; or
• Sore throat, cough, or stuffy or running nose.