Janumet 50 mg / 500 mg Tablet to Control High Blood Sugar Levels

Last updated on November 21st, 2022

The doctor prescribes Janumet for the elderly suffering from skeletal muscle dysfunction to control their blood sugar levels. Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet is a combination of two medications: Sitagliptin 50 mg and Metformin 500 mg. The chances of side effects like weight gain and low blood sugar levels are lesser with Janumet than other diabetes medications. You can get effective results in controlling blood sugar levels with Janumet by following a healthy diet and regular exercise. Read about Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet uses, side effects and dosage.

Risk of developing diabetes type-2 increases with your increasing age. It can cause senile skeletal muscle dysfunction. Muscle skeletal ageing leads to the modification in the activity of insulin sensitivity regulatory enzymes and causes diabetes type-2. Therefore, the development of diabetes type-2 in the elderly is closely related to skeletal muscle dysfunction. Well, some therapies give relief from pain due to skeletal muscle dysfunction and medications for controlling diabetes.

Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance in People With Diabetes Type-2

The development of diabetes type-2 is directly related to insulin resistance in your body. The skeletal muscle is an important site of glucose uptake after taking meals in humans. Under an insulin resistance test, approximately 80% of glucose uptake occurs in skeletal muscle. Insulin is also a potent inhibitor of protein degradation in skeletal muscle. Therefore, despite insulin resistance to diabetes, type-2 patients do not see significant changes in their body mass. However, their muscle performance is no longer the same as it degrades.

Medications for Controlling Diabetes Type-2

These days, diabetes medications from various brands are available in the market. One of the most trending diabetes type-2 medications is Janumet. It helps control blood sugar levels in elderly patients with diabetes type-2. Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet is a combination drug prescribed with proper diet and exercise to control high blood sugar levels. It also prevents the development of critical complications of diabetes type-2 such as kidney problems, blindness, and the risk of a heart attack.

About Janumet 50 mg /500 mg Tablet

Janumet is a combination of two diabetes medications: Metformin and Sitagliptin. They work together in different ways to lower your blood sugar levels. Metformin helps in restoring your body’s response to the insulin that it produces naturally. It decreases the amount of glucose production in your liver. It also limits the amount of glucose that your intestines absorb. On the other hand, the drug Sitagliptin increases the levels of incretins to regulate the insulin levels in your body. Thereby, it controls blood sugar levels.

Three important factors to reduce blood glucose:

• Help your pancreas produce more amount of insulin.
• It help your body to more efficiently make use of the insulin that the pancreas manufactures.
• Help reduce the quantity of glucose that your liver manufactures.

Therapeutic Indications

• Janumet can be used as an add-on to diet and exercise in order to improve glycaemic control in patients ineffectively controlled on their recommended dose of metformin alone or patients who already have been treated using sitagliptin and metformin.
• It can be used as a triple combination therapy with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist (i.e., a thiazolidinedione) as an adjunct to diet as well as exercise in patients incompetently controlled on their recommended dosage of metformin and a PPARγ agonist.
• Janumet can also be used in combination with a sulphonylurea (i.e., triple combination therapy) as an adjunct to diet as well as exercise in patients incompetently controlled on their recommended dose of metformin and a sulphonylurea.
• It is also indicated as an adjunct to insulin (i.e., triple combination therapy) as an adjunct to diet as well as exercise to make better the glycaemic control in patients when stable insulin doses and metformin doses alone fail to deliver a sufficient amount of glycaemic control.

How Janumet Works?

Janumet tablet is a combination of two antidiabetic drugs namely, Sitagliptin and Metformin. Sitagliptin falls under the category of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors that are found to act by increasing the amounts of natural substances to reduce the blood glucose when it is high. Another drug, Metformin falls under the category of drugs called biguanides which reduce the production of sugar in the liver, delays sugar absorption from intestines and enhances the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Both the medicines help in insulin production by the pancreas, also promotes effective use of insulin by the body, as well as lower down excess glucose that the liver manufactures. In combination, both the medicines offer an improved control of blood glucose.

Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet Composition

The active ingredients of Janumet are Metformin and Sitagliptin. They play a major role in maintaining the blood glucose levels in a person. The other inactive ingredients of Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet are microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sodium stearyl fumarate. The film coating of Janumet tablets contains inactive ingredients like polyvinyl alcohol, talc, polyethene glycol, red iron oxide, titanium dioxide, and black iron oxide.

Reasons to take Janumet to Manage Blood Sugar Levels

The reasons for taking Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet over the other pills for blood glucose control are:

• It combines the effects of two medications in one pill.
• On average, Janumet helps lower A1C levels up to 2.5%.
• It is available in immediate-release and extended-release forms. Therefore, it allows better control of your blood glucose levels.
• It reduces the risk of hypoglycemia that may occur with other diabetes medications.
• Janumet is a good option for diabetes control for those who do not want to take insulin injections.
• Patients need to take one tablet with a meal once a day, unlike the other diabetes medications that patients have to take twice a day.

Difference Between Janumet and Janumet XR

Janumet and Janumet XR are the prescription medicines to control blood glucose levels in diabetes type-2 patients. Janumet is the immediate-release metformin HCl. It is the first-line treatment for diabetes type-2. Janumet shows effective results when you combine it with the correct diet and an exercise routine. The doctor often recommends taking Janumet two times a day with meals. Janumet-XR is an extended-release tablet that contains Sitagliptin and extended-release Metformin. Its effects last longer than Janumet. The doctor recommends taking this medicine once a day.

Also Read: Side Effects of Metformin

Details About the Dosage of Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet

The doctor recommends dosage to individuals based on the patient’s current regimen, tolerability, and blood sugar levels. The maximum daily dosage is 100 mg of Sitagliptin and 2000 mg of Metformin HCl. The starting dose for the patients, who are not taking Sitagliptin or Metformin, is 50 mg Sitagliptin and 500 mg Metformin.

• Dosage for the elderly: The dosage gradually may increase depending upon your body’s requirement. Elderly patients have a higher risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis, so the correct dosage is vital for them. Patients who are already taking Metformin immediate-release tablets of 850 mg or 1000 mg twice a day should start Janumet after consultation. Probably, the doctor recommends them to begin with Janumet having two 50 mg Sitagliptin/1000 mg metformin extended-release tablets once a day.
• Overdosing can be fatal: If someone has taken the overdose of this medication, he/she may develop symptoms like passing out, breathing difficulty, severe drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, etc. In such a case, you should immediately call a doctor for help; otherwise, it can be fatal for the patient. If you miss the dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take more than one dose at a time or in close time.

Take Janumet 50 500 Mg Medicine Correctly

It is essential to take the Janumet tablet precisely as your doctor prescribes. Your doctor will prescribe you the correct dosage according to your blood sugar levels and health conditions. Your doctor will also tell you what other medicines you can take along with Janumet. Take Janumet with the meals. It will prevent stomach upset. Avoid cutting or breaking Janumet. You need to swallow it as a whole. Also, do not take two or more doses of Janumet together. It will suddenly lower your blood glucose levels and deters your health.

Also Read: Indian Diet For Diabetes

Interaction of Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet with Other Drugs

Many drugs are there that easily interact with Metformin and Sitagliptin. Therefore, the same medicines will interact with Janumet also. Some of those drugs affect the effectiveness of Janumet to control blood glucose levels, while others may increase the risk of lactic acidosis. It is significant to tell your doctor about the medicines you are already taking before starting Janumet. Some of the drugs that easily interact with Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet include:

• Insulin
• Vandetanib
• Anti-seizure medications like topiramate, zonisamide, and acetazolamide.
• Antacid drugs like cimetidine
• Anti-viral medicines for HIV or AIDS
• Antipsychotic drugs like chlorpromazine, thioridazine, and prochlorperazine.
• Dichlorphenamide
• Ranolazine
• Corticosteroid medications
• Heart or blood pressure drugs
• Estrogen-containing medications such as birth control pills and hormone replacement.

There are many more medications that can interact with Janumet. Hence, you have to inform your doctor about medicines for senile skeletal muscle dysfunction that you are taking. It will prevent Janumet interactions and gives effective results.

Side effects of Janumet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet

Janumet side effects are not significant on your health. Some people may notice the side effects, but their symptoms go away as their body adjusts to the medicine. However, if the symptoms pertain for a longer time or it is a matter of worry, immediately consult your doctor. Some of the possible side effects of Janumet tablets are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Respiratory tract infection
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhoea
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Sore throat
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) in combination with insulin or sulphonylurea

You should immediately get emergency medical help if:

• You have any sign of allergic reaction to Janumet. Symptoms of allergic reaction to Janumet are breathing difficulty, hives, swelling in your face or throat.
• You have a severe skin reaction. The symptoms include sore throat, fever, burning sensation in your eyes, or red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering.
• You have pancreatitis. Its symptoms include severe pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your back, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, or fast heartbeats.

Also Read: Can Quitting Smoking Reverses Diabetes?

Limit Alcohol Use When Taking Janumet 50 mg /500 mg Tablet

When a doctor prescribes Janumet 50 mg Tablet to patients having skeletal muscle dysfunction, they should limit alcohol use. It increases the risk of lactic acidosis in the elderly and develops low blood sugar levels. Lactic acidosis is a critical metabolic complication as it can result in hypotension, hypothermia, or death of the patient. People who are 65 years old or more and have renal impairment are at a higher risk of developing lactic acidosis, so they should strictly avoid alcohol.

Also Read: HbA1c Test For Diabetes

Storage Instructions for Janumet

Store Janumet at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep Janumet away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Do not freeze Janumet and keep it away from the reach of children. Do not eat any tablet if you notice torn packing or there is moisture in the tablet. Please Do not share your Janumet 50 mg Tablet with someone else having diabetes type-2. If you are travelling with Janumet, keep the tablets in their original packing. Properly dispose of the Janumet upon the expiration date.

Also Read: Galvus Met Tablet For High Blood Sugar

FAQs:

References:

1. https://dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13098-020-0523-x
2. https://www.1mg.com/drugs/janumet-50-mg-500-mg-tablet-173029
3. https://www.drugs.com/janumet.html#interactions
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128015858000075

Last Updated on November 21, 2022 by Dr. Damanjit Duggal