What is nateglinide?
Nateglinide is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your body respond better to insulin produced by your pancreas. Nateglinide is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with nateglinide if needed. Nateglinide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
| Starlix 120MG Tablets | NOVARTIS | 30/$53.48 or 90/$132.63 |
| Starlix 60MG Tablets | NOVARTIS | 30/$49.99 or 90/$130.97 |
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What are the possible side effects of nateglinide?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
Less serious side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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How should I take nateglinide?
Take nateglinide exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription. Your dose needs may change if you are ill, if you have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Do not change your dose of nateglinide without first talking to your doctor. Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Nateglinide is usually taken 3 times daily, within 30 minutes before eating a meal. Follow your doctor's instructions. If you skip a meal, do not take your dose of nateglinide. Wait until your next meal.
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What is the most important information I should know about nateglinide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to nateglinide, if you have type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them. Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. Severe hypoglycemia may cause loss of consciousness, seizures, or death. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but only if you are getting ready to eat a meal. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
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What other drugs will affect nateglinide?
You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking nateglinide with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include: isoniazid; diuretics (water pills); steroids (prednisone and others); phenothiazines (Compazine and others); thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others); birth control pills and other hormones; seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); and diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies. You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you are taking nateglinide with other drugs that lower blood sugar. Drugs that can lower blood sugar include:
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Nateglinide has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed adversely affected embryonic development. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. However, because elevated blood glucose levels during pregnancy may be associated with a higher incidence of congenital abnormalities, many experts recommend that insulin be used during pregnancy to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Nateglinide should only be given in pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk. The manufacturer states nateglinide should not be used during pregnancy.
There are no data on the excretion of nateglinide into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Nateglinide is excreted in the breast milk of nursing rats.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Known hypersensitivity to nateglinide or any ingredient in the formulation.
- Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis.
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include hunger, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats, weakness, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and coma.
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What should I discuss with my doctor before taking nateglinide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to nateglinide, if you have type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). Before taking nateglinide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications, or if you have liver disease or gout. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
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