What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Using Saxagliptin?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
saxagliptin (
Onglyza™) if you have:
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Type 1 diabetes
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Saxagliptin Precautions and Warnings
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with saxagliptin include the following:
- Saxagliptin should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, as it is ineffective for such conditions.
- Saxagliptin is cleared from the body using the kidneys, and people with kidney problems (including people on dialysis) need to take lower doses of saxagliptin. Your healthcare provider should test your kidney function (using a simple blood test) before you start this medicine.
- The risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is low for saxagliptin. Also, taking this drug with metformin (Fortamet®, Glucophage®, Glucophage XR®, Glumetza®, or Riomet®), pioglitazone (Actos®), or rosiglitazone (Avandia®) usually does not appear to substantially increase the risk of low blood sugar.
- Combining saxagliptin with sulfonylureas increases the risk of low blood sugar (see Drug Interactions With Saxagliptin). Your healthcare provider may need to lower the dosage of your sulfonylurea. Sulfonylureas include:
- Saxagliptin is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for use in pregnant women, although the full risks are not known. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking saxagliptin during pregnancy (see Onglyza and Pregnancy).
- It is unknown if saxagliptin passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider (see Onglyza and Breastfeeding).
