Onglyza 5 mg, reduces blood sugar levels and protects against diabetes complications - 30 tablets
Scientific name
Saxagliptin 5 mg tablets
Onglyza 5 mg tablets belongs to
oral diabetes medications
How saxagliptin works
Saxagliptin is an inhibitor of DPP-4, an enzyme that breaks down incretin hormones, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Incretin helps the body produce more insulin only when it is needed and reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
Medical uses of Onglyza 5 mg tablets
Your doctor has prescribed this medication to help lower your blood sugar, which is too high due to your diabetes.
This medicine may be used alone or in combination with certain other medicines (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, or glitazones) that lower blood sugar, which you may already be taking for your diabetes along with diet and exercise.
How to use Onglyza 5 mg tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose of saxagliptin is 5 mg once a day.
If you have impaired kidney function, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose, one 2.5 mg tablet once a day.
Do not split or cut the tablets. Swallow the tablet whole with a little water. You can take the tablets with or without food.
The tablets can be taken at any time of day. However, try to take the tablets at the same time each day. This will help you remember to take them.
Doses may be changed under special circumstances, so always follow your doctor or pharmacist's instructions.
If you take more medicine than you should, talk to a doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose.
Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a missed dose.
Side effects of Onglyza 5 mg tablets
Although the following side effects are not common to everyone, some patients may experience:
Use of Onglyza 5 mg tablets during pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Your doctor will discuss the potential risks and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Helpful tips for diabetics
All carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels, so it's important to know which foods contain carbohydrates. Choose healthy carbohydrate-containing foods and be aware of the portion size (amount of carbohydrates) required.
Reduce your salt intake. Eating too much salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. When you have diabetes, you're already at greater risk for all of these conditions.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. This can help you get the vitamins, minerals, and fiber your body needs daily to maintain your health.
If you experience symptoms of low blood sugar such as weakness, dizziness, increased sweating, rapid heartbeat, blurred vision, or difficulty concentrating, eating or drinking something containing sugar usually helps.
Warnings and precautions while using Onglyza 5 mg tablets
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking saxagliptin:
If you are taking insulin
If you have type 1 diabetes (your body doesn't produce any insulin) or diabetic ketoacidosis
If you have or have had pancreatic disease
If you are taking insulin or an anti-diabetic medicine known as a sulfonylurea
If you have a condition that reduces your defense against infection
If you have heart failure or other risk factors for heart failure
kidney problems
If you have kidney failure
If you have moderate or severe liver problems
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, including non-prescription medicines, prescription medicines, herbal supplements, vitamins, and nutritional supplements.
How to store Onglyza 5 mg tablets
Store below 25°C.
Do not refrigerate the medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Must be stored in the original container to protect from moisture.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the carton/blister/label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Your health in numbers
Random blood sugar test: A blood sample will be taken at a random time. Regardless of when you last ate, a blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher indicates diabetes. A blood sugar level below 140 mg/dL is considered normal, and a reading between 140 and 199 mg/dL indicates diabetes risk.
Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken after you fast overnight. A fasting blood sugar level below 100 mg/dL is normal. A fasting blood sugar level of 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes. If the level is 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests, you may have diabetes.
Oral glucose tolerance test: For this test, you fast overnight, and your fasting blood sugar level is measured. You then drink a sugary liquid, and your blood sugar levels are tested periodically for the next two hours.
For more information about saxagliptin
Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Through the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's Tamenni app