How Does Januvia Affect Your Kidneys?
Januvia is a Type 2 diabetes medication that is generally well-tolerated, though some have reported kidney-related side effects.
sitagliptin
Used for Diabetes Type 2
Used for Diabetes Type 2
Zituvio (sitagliptin) is a prescription medication that's used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. It's taken in addition to having a nutritious diet and exercising. Zituvio (sitagliptin) is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, also known as a gliptin. It helps your body make more insulin and less sugar. Zituvio (sitagliptin) is available as a tablet that's taken by mouth once daily. Common side effects are stuffy or runny nose and headache.
What is Zituvio (sitagliptin)?
What is Zituvio (sitagliptin) used for?
- Type 2 diabetes
How Zituvio (sitagliptin) works
Typically, your body controls your blood sugar levels by releasing certain hormones. These hormones tell your body to make more insulin and to produce less sugar. But a protein called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) breaks down these hormones. This causes your blood sugar levels to go up.
Zituvio (sitagliptin) is a DPP-4 inhibitor, which means that it blocks the action of DPP-4. It allows insulin to stick around longer in your body and tells your body to make less sugar. These actions lower your blood sugar levels.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Zituvio |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | DDP-4 inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Zituvio (sitagliptin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Common cold symptoms (e.g., runny or stuffy nose, sore throat; 5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Headache
Zituvio (sitagliptin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Inflamed pancreas: upper stomach pain, fever, nausea, vomiting
- Heart failure: sudden weight gain; trouble breathing; unusual tiredness; swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs
- Sudden kidney problems: not urinating, swelling in legs or ankles, feeling tired, trouble breathing, confusion, nausea
- Severe skin or allergic reactions: rash, blisters, sores, trouble breathing, swelling
The following Zituvio (sitagliptin) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
blurred vision
chills
cold sweats
confusion
cool, pale skin
dizziness
fast heartbeat
headache
increased hunger
loss of consciousness
nightmares
seizures
shakiness
slurred speech
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss of appetite
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
redness of the skin
severe joint pain
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Body aches or pain
difficulty with breathing
ear congestion
loss of voice
muscle aches
stuffy or runny nose
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$579.54
GoodRx discount
$110.18
Pros and cons of Zituvio (sitagliptin)
Pros
- Only taken once a day with or without food
- Can take if you have kidney problems
- Not as likely to cause low blood sugar compared to other diabetes medications
Cons
- Might cause inflamed pancreas
- Not a first-choice option for people with Type 2 diabetes and heart problems
- Not approved for people with Type 1 diabetes
Pharmacist tips for Zituvio (sitagliptin)
- Take Zituvio (sitagliptin) every day with or without food.
- It's important to plan balanced or nutritious meals and to exercise regularly. This helps keep your blood sugar levels under control in addition to medication. Work with your care team to come up with a meal and exercise plan during your diabetes treatment.
- Try to avoid alcohol when possible while you're taking Zituvio (sitagliptin). Drinking alcohol with this medication can cause low blood sugar levels. Speak with your primary care provider about your drinking habits. Ask them about ways to manage drinking if you drink alcohol regularly and it's difficult for you to cut it out completely.
- Make sure to check your blood sugar as instructed by your care team and write down your results. Share your blood sugar level readings with your primary care provider to help guide your diabetes treatment.
- If you're taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) with certain other diabetes medications, like insulin or glipizide, you might be at risk of having dangerously low blood sugar. Check your blood sugar level right away if you feel shaky or confused or if you have a fast heartbeat. Be sure you know how to treat low blood sugar — drink half a cup of fruit juice (a typical juice box) or take four glucose tablets and recheck your blood sugar in 15 minutes.
- Tell your primary care provider right away if you have severe stomach pain that doesn't go away. This can be a symptom of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis).
- Contact your care team right away if you're not urinating as much as usual; if you feel tired, nauseous, or confused; or if you have trouble breathing. These might be symptoms of a sudden kidney problem that requires medical attention. Make sure to get your routine blood work done to check your kidney health.
- Keep Zituvio (sitagliptin) in the original container to protect the medication from moisture. Throw away any unused Zituvio (sitagliptin) tablets after 3 months of opening the bottle.
Risks and warnings for Zituvio (sitagliptin)
Zituvio (sitagliptin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Pancreas problems
Although rare, some people who took Zituvio (sitagliptin) developed inflammation in their pancreas (pancreatitis). It's not known whether people who already have problems with their pancreas are at higher risk during treatment. Stop taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) and let your primary care provider know right away if you have symptoms of an inflamed pancreas, such as pain in the upper stomach, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Heart failure
- Risk factors: Heart failure | Heart problems | Kidney problems
Some clinical studies suggest that there might be a link between treatment with a DPP-4 inhibitor like Zituvio (sitagliptin) and heart failure. But it's unclear whether Zituvio (sitagliptin) specifically carries this same risk.
To be safe, tell your primary care provider if you have medical conditions that raise your risk for heart failure, including heart or kidney problems. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms related to heart failure, such as trouble breathing, tiredness, swelling in the legs or belly, or sudden weight gain.
Sudden kidney problems
- Risk factors: History of kidney problems | Taking a higher-than-recommended dose of Zituvio (sitagliptin)
Some people who took Zituvio (sitagliptin) developed sudden kidney injury, which at times required dialysis. Your primary care provider might order blood work before you start treatment and while you take Zituvio (sitagliptin) to check your kidney health, especially if you already have kidney problems. You might need to stop taking this medication if you develop any kidney problems during treatment. Talk with your primary care provider if you're urinating less than usual while you're taking Zituvio (sitagliptin).
Serious allergic reaction
- Risk factor: History of allergy to DPP-4 inhibitors (also called "gliptins")
Rarely, Zituvio (sitagliptin) can cause serious allergic reactions, such as rash, peeling or blistering skin, swelling, trouble breathing, and dizziness. This is more likely to happen within the first three months after starting this medication. Stop taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) and get medical care right away if you have an allergic reaction to the medication.
Tell your primary care provider if you've had an allergic reaction to other DPP-4 inhibitors or "gliptins", such as Tradjenta (linagliptin). Though unclear, it's possible that you might have an allergic reaction to taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) as well. Watch out for an allergic reaction while you're taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) and get medical help right away if you have a reaction to the medication.
Joint pain
Some people who've taken diabetes medications similar to Zituvio (sitagliptin) have experienced severe joint pain. This joint pain can happen anytime from a day to many years after starting the medication. For most people, the pain goes away after they stop the medication. Speak to your primary care provider if you have any discomfort in your joints.
Severe skin reactions
Some people taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) have had an itchy, blistering rash called bullous pemphigoid). Typically, the blisters or sores go away with appropriate treatment and once you stop taking the medication. Talk to your care team right away and stop taking Zituvio (sitagliptin) if you have itchy skin, rash with blisters, or sores.
Zituvio (sitagliptin) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 100mg of Zituvio (sitagliptin) is $110.18 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 81.01% off the average retail price of $580.21. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25mg | 30 tablets | $110.18 | $3.67 |
| 50mg | 30 tablets | $110.18 | $3.67 |
| 100mg | 30 tablets | $110.18 | $3.67 |
Typical dosage for Zituvio (sitagliptin)
The typical dose is 100 mg by mouth once daily.
Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.
Interactions between Zituvio (sitagliptin) and other drugs
Zituvio (sitagliptin) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Zituvio (sitagliptin). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acarbose
- Balofloxacin
- Besifloxacin
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpropamide
- Ciprofloxacin
- Enoxacin
- Fleroxacin
- Flumequine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Glyburide
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Lanreotide
- Levofloxacin
- Lomefloxacin
- Metformin
- Moxifloxacin
- Nadifloxacin
- Nateglinide
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Pasireotide
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Prulifloxacin
- Repaglinide
- Rufloxacin
- Simeprevir
- Sparfloxacin
- Thioctic Acid
- Tolazamide
- Tolbutamide
- Tosufloxacin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Atenolol
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Esmolol
- Labetalol
- Levobunolol
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Propranolol
- Sotalol
- Timolol
How much does Zituvio (sitagliptin) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
What are alternatives to Zituvio (sitagliptin)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Zituvio (sitagliptin). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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