What is repaglinide?
Repaglinide is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication lowers blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin. Repaglinide is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with repaglinide if needed. Repaglinide may also be used for other purposes not 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.
| Prandin 0.5MG Tablets | NOVO NORDISK | 30/$54.94 or 90/$151.29 |
| Prandin 1MG Tablets | NOVO NORDISK | 90/$147.47 or 270/$415.13 |
| Prandin 2MG Tablets | NOVO NORDISK | 90/$148.53 or 270/$415.42 |
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What are the possible side effects of repaglinide?
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 repaglinide?
Take repaglinide 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 repaglinide without first talking to your doctor. Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Repaglinide is usually taken 2 to 4 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 repaglinide. Wait until your next meal.
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What is the most important information I should know about repaglinide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to repaglinide, if you have type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use repaglinide together with NPH insulin (such as isophane 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 your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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What other drugs will affect repaglinide?
Before you take repaglinide, tell your doctor if you also take gemfibrozil (Lopid) or itraconazole (Sporanox). You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking repaglinide 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
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Repaglinide has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. 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. Repaglinide is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.
There are no data on the excretion of repaglinide 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 onto account the importance of the drug to the mother.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Sole therapy in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus or in patients with diabetes complicated by acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis with or without coma.
- Known hypersensitivity to repaglinide or any ingredient in the formulation.
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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 repaglinide?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to repaglinide, if you have type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use repaglinide together with NPH insulin (such as isophane insulin). Before taking repaglinide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications, or if you have liver disease. 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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