Vildagliptin for diabetes

About vildagliptin

Insulin is a hormone which is made naturally in your body, in the pancreas. It helps to control the levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood. If your body does not make enough insulin, or if it does not use the insulin it makes effectively, this results in the condition called diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

People with diabetes need treatment to control the amount of sugar in their blood. This is because good control of blood sugar levels reduces the risk of complications later on. Some people can control the sugar in their blood by making changes to the food they eat but, for other people, medicines like vildagliptin are given alongside the changes in diet.

Vildagliptin works in part by increasing the amount of insulin produced by your body. It also reduces the amount of a substance called glucagon being produced by your pancreas. Glucagon causes your liver to produce more sugar, so by reducing the amount of glucagon in your body, this also helps to reduce the levels of sugar in your blood.

Vildagliptin can be used by itself or alongside other medicines for diabetes, to help control your blood sugar level in different ways. Vildagliptin is available in a combination tablet with metformin to reduce the number of tablets you need to take each day.

Before taking vildagliptin

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking vildagliptin it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding.

• If you have any problems with the way your liver works, or with the way your kidneys work.

• If you have a condition where your heart is not working as well as it should, known as heart failure.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

How to take vildagliptin

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about vildagliptin tablets and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking them.

• Take vildagliptin exactly as your doctor tells you to. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.

• The usual dose is one 50 mg tablet taken twice a day (Galvus® brand), although sometimes only one dose a day is needed depending on what other medicines you are taking. Your doctor will tell you how many doses you should take and this information will also be printed on the label of the pack of tablets to remind you. If you have been told to take one dose of vildagliptin each day, take it in the morning. If you have been told to take two doses each day, take your first dose in the morning and the second dose in the evening. You can take the vildagliptin tablets before, during or after meals.

• If you have been prescribed a combination tablet of vildagliptin with metformin (Eucreas® brand) you should take one tablet twice a day, just after meals. Taking the tablets with food will reduce the risk of stomach upset which is a side-effect of metformin. There are two strengths of Eucreas® tablet - both strengths contain the same amount of vildagliptin but the amount of metformin differs. You will be prescribed the strength of tablet that fits with your current metformin dose.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• It is important that you keep your regular doctor's and clinic appointments. This is so that your progress can be monitored. You will need to have blood tests from time to time to make sure that your liver is working well. This is because vildagliptin can occasionally cause liver problems. The symptoms of this are feeling sick, being very tired, abdominal pain and dark-coloured urine - you must tell your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms.

• Your doctor may recommend that you test for sugar (glucose) in your blood or urine regularly to check that your diabetes is being controlled. Your doctor or diabetes nurse will show you how to do this.

• If you have been given advice by your doctor about changes to your diet, stopping smoking or taking regular exercise, it is important for you to follow the advice you have been given.

• Do not drink alcohol, as it can affect the control of your blood sugar. Ask your doctor if you need further advice about this.

• If you are a driver you should take special care, as your ability to concentrate may be affected if your diabetes is not well controlled. You may be advised to check your blood sugar levels before you travel and to have a snack with you on long journeys.

• Check with your doctor before taking up any new physical exercise, as this will have an effect on your blood sugar levels and you may need to check your blood or urine levels more regularly.

• Make sure you know what it feels like if your blood sugar is low. This is known as hypoglycaemia, or a 'hypo'. Although vildagliptin is unlikely to cause low blood sugar, other medicines that you are taking for diabetes alongside it may. The first signs of hypoglycaemia are feeling shaky or anxious, sweating, looking pale, feeling hungry, having a feeling that your heart is pounding (palpitations), and feeling dizzy.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, you should tell the person carrying out the treatment that you have diabetes and that you are taking vildagliptin.

• If you get unusually thirsty, pass urine more frequently than normal, or feel very tired, you should let your doctor know. These are signs that there is too much sugar in your blood and your treatment may need adjusting.

• Treatment for diabetes is usually lifelong. Continue to take vildagliptin tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Can vildagliptin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with vildagliptin. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store vildagliptin

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines