As with all medicines, the risks must be compared to how much a medication will help you. This is a decision that you and your doctor will make together. For this medication, there are many things that need to be considered:
Allergies: Inform your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to doxorubicin or to any other medications. It is also important to inform your doctor of any non-medicine allergies such as foods, dyes, preservatives or animals.
Pediatric: No appropriate studies have been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of this medication in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric: No appropriate studies have been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of this medication in the elderly. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Pregnancy: This medication is listed as Pregnancy Category B. This means that animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the unborn baby, however there are are no studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have showed an adverse affect to the unborn baby, but studies in pregnant women have not shown a risk to the unborn baby.
Breastfeeding: There are no up-to-date studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential risks with the benefits before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions: Certain medications should not be used together. However, in certain cases, two medications may be used together, even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change your dose or take other precautions. When taking this medication, it is important that you inform your doctor if you are taking any of the medications listed below. The following interactions were selected on the basis of potential significance and are not all-inclusive.
Using this medication with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, or change some of the other medications you take:
- Acetrizoic Acid
- Diatrizoate
- Ethiodized Oil
- Iobenzamic Acid
- Iobitridol
- Iocarmic Acid
- Iocetamic Acid
- Iodamide
- Iodipamide
- Iodixanol
- Iodohippuric Acid
- Iodopyracet
- Iodoxamic Acid
- Ioglicic Acid
- Ioglycamic Acid
- Iohexol
- Iomeprol
- Iopamidol
- Iopanoic Acid
- Iopentol
- Iophendylate
- Iopromide
- Iopronic Acid
- Ioseric Acid
- Iosimide
- Iotasul
- Iothalamate
- Iotrolan
- Iotroxic Acid
- Ioversol
- Ioxaglate
- Ioxitalamic Acid
- Ipodate
- Metrizamide
- Metrizoic Acid
- Tyropanoate Sodium
Using this medication with any of the following medication is not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. Your doctor may make the decision not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medications you take:
- Acetazolamide
- Balofloxacin
- Besifloxacin
- Bupropion
- Ciprofloxacin
- Dichlorphenamide
- Dofetilide
- Dolutegravir
- Enoxacin
- Fleroxacin
- Flumequine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Lanreotide
- Levofloxacin
- Lomefloxacin
- Moxifloxacin
- Nadifloxacin
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Pasireotide
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Prulifloxacin
- Rufloxacin
- Sparfloxacin
- Tosufloxacin
- Vandetanib
- Zonisamide
Using this medication with any of the following medications may increase your risk of side effects. However, using both medications may be the best treatment for you. If both medications are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you take one or both medications:
- Acebutolol
- Atenolol
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bitter Melon
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Esmolol
- Fenugreek
- Furazolidone
- Glucomannan
- Guar Gum
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Labetalol
- Levobunolol
- Linezolid
- Methylene Blue
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Moclobemide
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nialamide
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Phenelzine
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Procarbazine
- Propranolol
- Psyllium
- Ranolazine
- Rasagiline
- Rifampin
- Safinamide
- Selegiline
- Sotalol
- Timolol
- Tranylcypromine
Other Interactions: Certain medications should not be used while eating, or while eating certain foods in case of negative interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain mediations may also cause negative interactions. Talk with your doctor about the use of your medication with food, alcohol or tobacco.
Using this medication with any of the following is not normally recommended, but may be unavoidable. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you take your medication, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol or tobacco:
Other Medical Problems: Pre-existing medical problems may affect the use of this medication. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Adrenal gland problem
- Congestive heart failure
- Dehydration (severe)
- Heart attack
- Heart or blood vessel problems
- Hypoxemia (decreased oxygen in the blood)
- Liver disease
- Poorly nourished condition
- Sepsis (severe blood infection)
- Shock (low blood pressure, blood circulation is poor)
- Weakened physical condition - Use with caution. May increase the risk of serious side effects.
- Alcohol (excessive use)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis or metabolic acidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood)
- Kidney disease
- Type 1 diabetes - Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
- Anemia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency - Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
- Angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, or legs), history with other dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors - Use with caution. May increase the risk of this condition occurring again.
- Gallbladder stones
- Pancreas problems - Use with caution. May increase risk for getting pancreatitis (swelling and inflammation of the pancreas).
- Radiologic procedures (eg, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs) that require dyes to be injected in your vein - This medicine should be stopped before you have one of these procedures.
Only take this medication as directed by your doctor. Do not take more, less or for a longer or shorter period of time than your doctor tells you. Your dose may be changed several times in order to discover what dose works best for you.
This medication comes with a patient information brochure. It is very important that your read this information. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
It is important to carefully follow the special meal plan your doctor gives you. This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes and is necessary for the medication to work properly. Exercise regularly and test your blood or urine sugar levels as directed. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break or chew it. Take this medication with food.
Dosing:
Different patients will be given a different dose of this medication based on the strength of the medication. The number of doses you take each day, the time between doses and the length of time you take this medication depends on the reason you are taking this medication. The following information only includes the average dose of this medication. If your dose is different, do not change it without first speaking to your doctor.
- Adults - Start with one tablet (either alogliptan 12.5mg and metformin 500mg or alogliptin 12.5mg and metformin 1,000mg) twice a day. Your doctor will adjust the dose as needed. Dose is not normally more than alogliptin 25mg and metformin 2,000mg per day.
- Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose:
If you miss a dose of this medication, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal dosing schedule. Do not double dose.
Storage:
Store this medication in a closed container at room temperature. Keep it away from heat, moisture and direct light. Do not freeze.
Keep our of the reach of children
Do not keep expired medication or medication you no longer need. Ask your doctor how to dispose of any medication you do not use.
It is very important that your doctor checks in with the you often while you are receiving this medication to make sure that it is working properly. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Under certain conditions, too much metforming can cause lactic acidosis. The symptoms of this condition appear swiftly and severely and normally occur when other health problems unrelated to the medication are present and very severe, such as heart attack or kidney failure.
Symptoms of lactic acidosis include abdominal or stomach discomfort, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fast and shallow breathing, a general feeling of discomfort (malaise), muscle pain or cramping and unusual sleepiness, fatigue or weakness. If symptoms of lactic acidosis occur, you should seek immediately emergency medical help.
This medication may cause serious and life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, angioedema or certain skin conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. These conditions require immediate emergency medical attention.
Inform your doctor immediately if you experience a rash, itching, blistering, peeling or loose skin, fever or chills, difficulty breathing or swallowing or any swelling of the hands, face, mouth or throat while using this medication.
Pancreatitis (swelling and inflammation of the pancreas) may occur while using this medication. Inform your doctor immediately if you have a sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever or lightheadedness.
Inform your doctor immediately if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stool, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or yellow eyes or skin (jaundice). These may be signs of a serious liver problem.
This medication may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypoglycemia can also occur if you delay or miss a meal or snack, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, are unable to eat due to nausea or vomiting, take certain medications or take alogliptin with another type of diabetes medication (insulin, glipizide, glyburide, metformin or pioglitazone).
Symptoms of hypoglycemia must be treated before they cause unconciousness. The symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from person to person. It is important that you learn which symptoms you have so you can treat it quickly.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include anxiety attacks, behaviour changes similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool, pale skin, difficulty thinking, drowsiness, excessive hunger, fast heartbeat (tachycardia), continuous headaches, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, restless sleep, shakiness, slurred speech or unusual fatigue or weakness.
If symptoms of hypoglycemia occur, check your blood sugar level. If you have hypoglycemia, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey or sugar cubes or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drinks or sugar dissolved in water.
Glucagon is a medication that is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe and needle and know how to use it. The members of your family should also know how to use glucagon.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your medication, overeat or do not follow your diet plan, have a fever or infection or do not exercise as much as usual.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia include blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed dry skin, fruit-like breath odor, increased urination (frequency and amount), loss of appetite, sleepiness, stomachache, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, difficulty breathing (rapid and deep), unconsciousness or unusual thirst (polydipsia).
If symptoms of hyperglycemia occur, check your blood sugar level and call your doctor for instructions.
There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. It is important to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical ID bracelet or neck chain at all times.
Carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says you have diabetes with a list of all your medications. It is important to inform the doctor in charge of any medical or surgical procedures that you are taking this medication.
This medication may cause severe and disabling joint pain. Inform your doctor immediately if you have severe joint pain while using this medication.
