Metformin+vildagliptin
About Metformin+vildagliptin
Metformin+vildagliptin is a combination drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the body's insulin does not work as well as it should. It can also develop if the body produces too much glucagon. Insulin is a substance which helps to lower the level of sugar in your blood, especially after meals.
Metformin+vildagliptin contains metformin and vildagliptin, which help control blood sugar levels. It works by causing the pancreas to produce more insulin and less glucagon (the effect of vildagliptin) and also by helping the body utilise insulin more effectively (the effect of metformin).
Not everyone who is taking Metformin+vildagliptin will get these side effects. The most common side effect of Metformin+vildagliptin is hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels), characterised by dizziness, sweating, hunger pangs, dry mouth and skin, etc. Other side effects include changes in taste, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, and upper respiratory symptoms.
Metformin+vildagliptin should be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach. For optimal results, it is recommended to take it at the same time each day. For better advice, your doctor will determine the appropriate dose, which can change quickly depending on your condition. Do not skip your meals, and also carry a form of sugar with you to prevent low blood sugar levels.
Avoid taking Metformin+vildagliptin if you are allergic to it. Metformin+vildagliptin should not be stopped even if you feel better without consulting your doctor, as sugar levels may change. If you stop taking Metformin+vildagliptin abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels, which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney damage (nephropathy) and nerve damage (neuropathy). Metformin+vildagliptin should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or severe kidney or liver disease. Please inform your doctor if you have any heart disease or are planning to get pregnant or breastfeed.
You must continue following the diet and exercise recommended for you whilst on treatment with Metformin+vildagliptin. Metformin+vildagliptin is not a substitute for insulin. It is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (where your body does not produce insulin), diabetic ketoacidosis, or severe kidney/liver disease.
Uses of Metformin+vildagliptin
• Diabetes Management: Metformin+vildagliptin is frequently prescribed to manage blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
• Cardiovascular Health: By enhancing blood sugar control, Metformin+vildagliptin contributes to better cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of heart disease in diabetic patients.
• Improving Energy Levels: Stabilizing blood sugar levels with Metformin+vildagliptin helps boost energy levels and supports overall well-being in those managing diabetes.
Medicinal Benefits
- Metformin+vildagliptin helps your pancreas produce more insulin, effectively utilise insulin, and decrease the excess sugar that your liver makes.
- It helps control the rise of blood sugar levels in your body after a meal.
- Metformin+vildagliptin 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
- Take Metformin+vildagliptin with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- It is advised to take Metformin+vildagliptin twice daily; however, follow your doctor’s recommendation regarding the dosage and duration.
- Swallow Metformin+vildagliptin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Metformin+vildagliptin
- Low blood sugar
- Nausea
- Headache
- Shaking
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Joint pain
- Tiredness
- Constipation
Drug Warnings
- Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Metformin+vildagliptin.
- This medicine should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis. Some diabetic patients, while taking Metformin+vildagliptin, might develop a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (too much lactic acid accumulated in the blood) that can damage the working of your liver and kidneys, which are required for the elimination of excess lactic acid from the blood.
- Before you start taking Metformin+vildagliptin, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney disease, or a low vitamin B12 level.
- Metformin+vildagliptin, when used with insulin, may extremely lower the blood sugar level, leading to a hypoglycemic condition, which can be fatal.
- Prolonged intake of Metformin+vildagliptin may lower your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); hence, an annual check-up of TSH is recommended.
- In rare cases, you may also develop a serious skin reaction known as bullous pemphigoid that requires immediate medical attention.
- Tell your doctor if you are going to have a diagnostic test with an injection of dye or X-ray contrast agent. The use of Metformin+vildagliptin should be stopped for a short time before having an X-ray procedure.
- It is always important to check for the expiry of the medicine. Discard the medicine if it reaches the expiry date.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Metformin+vildagliptin interacts with pain killers (aspirin, ibuprofen, and celecoxib), high blood pressure-lowering pills (nifedipine, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril), thyroid hormones (thyroxine), antacid (cimetidine) or certain medicines affecting the nervous system.
Drug-Food Interactions: Intake of excessive alcoholic beverages may increase the chance of life-threatening condition known as Lactic Acidosis. So, avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Metformin+vildagliptin.
Drug-Disease Interactions: People affected with heart diseases (like congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction), vitamin B12 deficiency, and alcoholism should avoid intake of Metformin+vildagliptin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is best to avoid alcohol while taking medication.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorPlease consult your doctor for advice before using Metformin+vildagliptin.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorPlease consult your doctor for advice before using Metformin+vildagliptin.
Driving
unsafeDrive only if you are physically stable and mentally focussed, If you experience drowsiness after taking these medications you should not drive or operate any machinery or vehicles.
Liver
consult your doctorIf u have or had history or evidence of any liver-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking the medicine.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf u have or had history or evidence of any kidney-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking the medicine.
Children
consult your doctorIt is advisable to consult a doctor before using it.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Fill your half plate with starchy veggies, a quarter with proteins, and a quarter with whole grains.
- Eat at regular intervals. Do not take a long gap between a meal or snack.
- Monitor your blood sugar level regularly, especially when there are lots of fluctuations.
- Invest at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or one hour and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise weekly.
- Lose weight gradually to achieve a healthy body mass index (18.5 to 24.9).
- Replace refined carbohydrate-containing foods with whole grain foods and increase the intake of fruits, veggies, and other fibre-enriched foods.
- Limit saturated fat (or hidden intake fats) in 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.
- Do not take stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You can adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness to control stress-related blood sugar changes.
- Opt for low-fat dairy products (low-fat yoghurt, fat-free milk, cheese, etc.).
- Maintaining a normal blood pressure (140/90) is crucial, as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.
Special Advise
Contact your doctor immediately if you have nausea, vomiting, kussmaul breathing (laboured and deep), and generalised weakness which are symptoms of Lactic acidosis, a very rare but serious metabolic complication.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 Diabetes: 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 is utilized by our body. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia). Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination at night, slow wound healing, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some cases, weight gain may occur, while in rare instances, weight loss may be observed. The complications of type 2 diabetes also include neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems), retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
Metformin+vildagliptin is an antidiabetic medicine used in addition to diet and exercise to improve control of blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Metformin+vildagliptin help to control the level of sugar in the blood. The substance vildagliptin works by making the pancreas produce more insulin and less glucagon. The substance metformin works by helping the body to make better use of insulin. This medicine has been shown to reduce blood sugar, which may help to prevent complications from your diabetes.
If you have symptoms like increased hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination (usually at night), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow wound/sores healing, and frequent infections, contact doctor as it can be a condition of type 2 diabetes.
In case you feel that your blood sugar level is going down and you are feeling weak, immediately eat sugar candies or drink sugary beverages. It will help to balance the blood sugar level in your body. So, it is advisable to keep sugar candies with you.
No. Metformin+vildagliptin is only prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes also called as 'non-insulin-dependent diabetes'.
Type 2 diabetes is a common form of diabetes in which the blood sugar-lowering hormone called insulin produced by the body does not function properly. Due to this, the blood glucose level increases, and symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger start. Diabetes, if left untreated or not treated properly, can cause long-term complications such as nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot problems, and also poses a high risk of developing heart diseases.
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will check your progress to make sure the medicine is working and will discuss with you how long your treatment should continue. Do not stop taking Metformin+vildagliptin unless your doctor tells you to.
The medicine should be swallowed as a whole with water. Do not crush, break or chew it.
Include a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, oats, barley, and quinoa. Non-fat or low-fat dairy and proteins like chicken, lean meats, nuts, beans, tofu, lentils, eggs, fish, and turkey can also be included.
Do not stop taking Metformin+vildagliptin on your own as it might cause an increase in blood sugar levels. Consult the doctor if you have any difficulty while taking the medicine.
Metformin+vildagliptin contains two anti-diabetic medicines, Vildagliptin (DPP-4 inhibitor) and Metformin (biguanides) which help manage blood glucose levels.
Take Metformin+vildagliptin as advised by the doctor. It can be taken in the morning and evening with or just after food. Taking Metformin+vildagliptin with food helps lower the risk of stomach upset.
Metformin+vildagliptin may cause side effects such as nausea, headache, shaking or quivering, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, joint pain, tiredness, constipation, and oedema.
Metformin+vildagliptin may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels), which is characterised by dizziness, sweating, palpitations, hunger pangs, dry mouth and skin. Regularly monitor blood glucose levels and consume glucose tablets, juice or candy if you experience these symptoms.
Metformin+vildagliptin may cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting. If you experience these symptoms eat smaller meals more often and avoid hard-to-digest food. Take small, frequent sips of water or any other fluids. Consult the doctor if the condition persists or worsens.
Metformin+vildagliptin is contraindicated in people who are allergic to any of its components. It is not recommended for people with uncontrolled diabetes, ketoacidosis, severely reduced kidney function, severe infection, heart failure, or serious blood circulation problems.
Metformin+vildagliptin should be stored at room temperature (below 30°C). Keep it away from the reach and sight of children.
Metformin+vildagliptin is an anti-diabetic medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Metformin+vildagliptin may cause lactic acidosis (a very rare, but very serious side effect in which lactic acid builds up in the blood), particularly if your kidneys are not working properly. The risk of developing lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, prolonged fasting or alcohol intake, serious infections, dehydration, liver problems and any medical conditions in which a part of the body has a reduced supply of oxygen (such as acute severe heart disease). Consult the doctor if you notice symptoms of lactic acidosis like abdominal pain, vomiting, muscle cramps, difficulty breathing, reduced body temperature and heartbeat, and a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness.
Metformin+vildagliptin may interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 leading to its deficiency on long-term use. Consult the doctor if you notice signs of vitamin B12 deficiency like pale/yellow skin, headache, fatigue, anaemia, and depression.
Yes, it is safe to use Metformin+vildagliptin if prescribed by the doctor. Metformin+vildagliptin has a good safety profile with robust glucose-lowering efficacy.
