Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for Saxagliptin use as follows:
- Saxagliptin should be avoided in individuals with history of serious allergic reactions to prior saxagliptin use.
- Heart failure: Heart failure is a condition when the heart muscle goes weak and is unable to pump blood efficiently. Individuals with heart failure present with reduced blood supply to many vital organs in the body, thus compromising their function. Use of saxagliptin can sometimes contribute to significant fluid retention in the body. Retained fluid can increase the blood volume and add extra load on the failing heart in individuals with congestive heart failure and can lead to worsening of heart failure symptoms and cardiac function. This can profoundly reduce blood supply to many vital organs in the body, thus grossly compromising their function. Patients can present with findings such as, increasing edema, sharp weight gain from retained fluid, progressively increasing shortness of breath, compromised endurance, and worsening fatigue. Any new development or worsening of these findings while taking saxagliptin must be reported to the physician for appropriate interventions. Saxagliptin could be avoided for a safer alternative in individuals with poor cardiac function.
- Saxagliptin helps blood sugar regulation by contributing to overall increase in the secretion of insulin from pancreas. This medication will help lower blood sugars only in people whose pancreas is producing insulin naturally. So, use of saxagliptin does not help in individuals having type I diabetes, with total failure of pancreas to secrete any insulin at all.
