Xigduo 5mg / 1000mg Tablet Uses, Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions

Last updated on September 26th, 2022

Being a combination of two medicines, Xigduo 5mg/1000mg helps in managing Type -2 diabetes by controlling high blood sugar levels. This process reduces the chances of complications of diabetes and also prevents the risk of heart diseases and stroke.

You can take this medicine with or without your meals but it is advised to take it at the same time every day. Your dosage of the drug has to be decided by your doctor. Do not stop consuming this medication on your own as it can put you at risk of severe problems and it can also raise the levels of blood sugar. Hence, make sure you eat healthily and perform the regular exercise with this medicine.

Some of the most common side effects a patient can suffer from include nasal congestion, sore throat, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, headache and diarrhea. Make sure you drink plenty of liquids as it will prevent dehydration. After consuming this drug, you may develop a fungal infection in the genital area. You are advised to discuss it with your doctor and get it treated on an immediate basis. You can only prevent this infection if you maintain good hygiene.

If you suffer from kidney or liver problems or urinary tract infections, immediately contact your doctor. Also, tell your doctor if you are on water pills or diuretics. Women who are lactating or pregnant are advised to see a doctor before beginning with this drug’s course. You should also consult your doctor if you wish to consume alcohol while being on this drug as it may raise the risk of developing side effects. Your medic will also suggest you keep a regular tab on your blood sugar levels while being on this medication.

Uses of Xigduo 5mg/1000mg Tablet

Xigduo 5mg/1000mg tablets control high blood sugar levels and help in getting rid of extra glucose from the human body via urine. As we all know, keeping blood sugar levels in control is the most critical part of diabetes management. Once you control the level, you will reduce the risk of getting serious complications of diabetes such as kidney damage, eye damage, and loss of limbs. This drug has also been proven to be extremely helpful in cutting down the chances of cardiovascular problems and stroke.

Once you start taking this medicine, continue it till the time suggested by the doctor. Eat a balanced diet along with proper exercise to live a healthy and happy life. Stopping the consumption of this drug before the course ends may not produce the desired results.

Also Read: Diabetes Can Be Reversed Permanently

How to Use Xigduo 5 mg/1000 mg Medicine ?

You are supposed to consume this medication as per the prescription of the doctor. The dosage and duration should never be changed without confirming with the doctor. It produces the best results when swallowed with water instead of being chewed or crushed. If your doctor advises you to consume it with food, then please follow the same.

Side Effects of Xigduo 5mg/1000mg Tablet

This medication may show a few side effects, and depending upon their severity, they may or may not require medical attention. Some side-effects may disappear on their own as soon as the body adjusts with it, while some of them might need intervention from a medical professional. Here are some of the side-effects Xigduo 5mg/1000mg  tablet may cause –

• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Genital fungal infection
• Dizziness

The other serious side-effects of taking Xigduo 5 mg/1000 mg may include –

• Dehydration: This drug can cause dehydration in some patients and can make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, weak or faint. Whenever you feel like any of these, you must contact your doctor immediately.

You should consider yourself at a bigger risk of suffering from dehydration if:

• You already have low blood pressure
• If you take medicines for Low BP, including water pills (diuretics)
• If your age is above 65 years
• If you are on low salt diet
• If you have kidney problems

Take medical help to know how you can control dehydration and how much liquid diet you must need on a day to day basis.

• Ketoacidosis: It happens when ketones increase in the patient’s blood or urine. Mostly, patients suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes suffer from ketoacidosis when they are undergoing treatment with dapagliflozin (one of the ingredients of Xigduo 5mg/1000mg ).

It also happens in diabetic patients who have undergone surgery. It is to be noted that Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that must be treated in the hospital, as it can be fatal.

You may suffer from this condition even if your blood sugar level is less than 250 mg/dL. You must stop taking this drug if you suffer from the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Tiredness
• Trouble breathing

If you suffer from any of these indications while undergoing treatment with this drug, then you must check for ketones in your urine, even if your blood sugar is less than 250 mg/dL.

• Kidney Problems: Many patients report sudden kidney injuries. Hence, you are advised to take immediate medical help if you have reduced the quantity of food you eat or the liquid you drink.
• Serious Urinary Tract Infections: This may lead to serious UTI if you are consuming Xigduo 5 mg/1000 mg medicine . Discuss with your doctor if you suffer from any symptoms of UTI, such as:

• Burning sensation while passing urine
• Need to urinate often
• Abdominal pain
• Pain in stomach
• Blood in urine
• Back pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

• Low Blood Sugar or Hypoglycemia: If you consume this drug with another medicine that is aimed at lowering blood sugar, such as sulfonylureas or insulin, you put yourself at a higher risk of suffering from low blood sugar. Your doctor may have to adjust your dosage of sulfonylurea medicine or insulin while you take this medication. Some of the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

• Headache
• Shaking
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Rapid heartbeat
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Irritability
• Hunger

Some of the more common side-effects of this drug may include:

• Yeast infection on vagina or penis
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Diarrhea
• UTI
• Headache

Inform your doctor if you suffer from any side-effect that bothers you or does not go away. Also, apart from the above mentioned side effects, you can suffer from many other mild to severe indications. Make sure, you immediately concern the doctor.

How Does Xigduo 5mg/1000mg Works?

Being a combination of two antibiotic medicines, it works by removing excess sugar from the body through urine. Consuming this on a regular basis works by lowering sugar production in the liver and delaying glucose absorption from the intestines. This medication also increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin.

TIPS:

• Your doctor will prescribe this drug as it controls blood sugar levels
• This drug reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems
• While being on this drug, you are suggested to do regular exercising and stick to a healthy diet plan
• If your doctor advises taking this drug with food, then please do not ignore it
• This drug might cause Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), therefore, drink plenty of fluids and practise good genital hygiene
• If your body loses too much fluid or you urinate too often, try to consume as much fluid as you can to stay hydrated
• It can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) when you consume it with other antidiabetic drugs
• Do not consume alcohol and drive while being on this drug
• Make sure you carry sugary food, chocolate or fruit juice handy, in case you experience hypoglycemia symptoms

Safety Advice

Alcohol:

You are not supposed to drink alcohol while being on this drug unless your doctor has allowed you to. Doing so may lead to some side effects. Even if you have been allowed to consume alcohol, you should not overdo it as the complication may get severe.

Interaction With Alcohol

The medicine may interact with alcohol and hence, may cause complications. You should not consume it without consulting with your doctor as it may increase the risk of other diseases.

Also Read: How to Lower Blood Sugar?

Interaction With Medicine

Drug interactions may vary in different patients depending upon their overall health. The functioning of your medications may change after taking Xigduo 5mg/1000mg or you may also have an increased risk of serious side effects.

You are also not supposed to self start, stop or increase or decrease the dosage of any of the medicines you are already taking. You have to consult with your doctor first.

There are a lot of drugs that may affect your blood glucose levels. It can make it very tough to keep them under control. You should talk to your doctor first before you start, stop or change the dose of any medication to ensure that it will not affect your blood sugar levels. You must keep checking your blood sugar levels as recommended by the doctor and share the results with him. If you see any signs of high or low blood sugar, you should immediately seek medical help so that your doctor can change your diabetes medications, change your exercise regime or add or omit some food items from your diet.

Medications like propranolol, glaucoma eye drops such as timolol and metoprolol, may reduce the chances of you having a fast heartbeat that you usually go through when your sugar levels fall below normal levels. These drugs, however, do not change the other symptoms of low blood sugar that include – hunger, sweating or dizziness.

You will also have a positive test for glucose in urine. You must inform the lab officials and your doctor about being on this drug.

Onset of Action

We do not have enough research available to ascertain how much time the medicine will take to show the desired results.

Duration Of Effect

The research is still underway to determine the duration of effect of this medicine inside a patient’s body.

Is this drug habit forming?

There has been sufficient research proof that people who were put on this medication did not show any signs of habit-forming.

Also read: Fruit for diabetes patient

Some Important Advice You Must Know Before Taking Xigduo 5mg/1000mg

In some cases, Xigduo 5mg/1000mg can cause some severe side effects. One of the major complications this drug can cause is lactic acidosis, which can be fatal. It is to be noted that lactic acidosis is a very severe medical condition that needs to be addressed immediately to reduce the chances of any serious damage.

You must call your healthcare provider immediately if you feel:

• Cold in hands and feet
• Dizziness or lightheaded
• Slow heartbeat
• Weak
• Tired
• Unusual (not normal) muscle pain
• Trouble breathing
• Sleeplessness or you are sleeping longer than usual
• Nausea
• Vomiting

In most of the cases where people suffer from lactic acidosis with metformin is caused because of other things too, which just increases the risk of it. You are suggested to inform your doctor if you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms as the chances of you suffering from lactic acidosis increase when you are taking Xigduo 5mg/1000mg :

There are many cases in which people who take this drug with metformin suffer from lactic acidosis, which can be fatal. It is advised to immediately discuss it with your doctor. The patient who can suffer from lactic acidosis are:

• If the patient suffers kidney problems
• If the patient has liver disease
• If the patient is alcoholic
• If the patient has undergone surgery
• If the patient has a heart attack or stroke

Dehydration can also lead to lactic acidosis. Dehydration can happen if the patient is suffering from fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Another reason Dehydration can happen is when the person sweats a lot or does not consume enough liquid. Immediately discuss with your doctor in such cases.

Also read: Post prandial blood sugar level

FAQs:

References:

1. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7612/pil#gref

Last Updated on September 26, 2022 by Dr. Damanjit Duggal