Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be observed when taking Saxagliptin as follows:
- A rare, but serious side effect of using saxagliptin is acute inflammation of pancreas. Individuals with acute pancreatitis can present with severe upper abdominal pain, radiating to the back, along with severe nausea and vomiting. While taking saxagliptin, report to your physician at the earliest regarding any findings of acute pancreatitis for recommendations on management.
- Individuals with history of obesity, alcoholism, gallstones, and elevated triglycerides in the blood are naturally at increased risk for inflammation of pancreas. Intake of saxagliptin by individuals with history of any of these conditions can increase the risk for acute pancreatitis further. Individuals with history of any of these conditions must discuss with their physician regarding their safety with saxagliptin intake. Individuals with history of alcoholism must try observing abstinence on alcohol consumption while taking saxagliptin to avoid risk for pancreatitis. Obese individuals taking saxagliptin must observe compliance with any recommended weight loss measures. Also, observing compliance with other suggested management measures, such as, intake of low fat diet and cholesterol lowering medications, can also help reduce risk for inflammation of pancreas.
- Observe compliance with taking your daily blood sugar readings, as recommended. Log maintenance of all the blood sugar readings helps for a comparative feedback, as to how well the drug is helping control the blood sugars. This can help your physician make necessary changes on your medication dose and suggest other treatment measures to help your blood sugar numbers fall into the target range. Also, observe compliance with any other regular diabetic lab work ordered, such as, hemoglobin A1c, which tells how your average blood sugars have been doing over the past 2 to 3 months.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, which can result in toxicity and an episode of dangerous hypoglycemia. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
