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Januvia really works for me!

Discussion in 'Diabetes Medication and Drugs' started by Daibell, Mar 27, 2011.

  1. Daibell

    Daibell Type 1.5 · Expert

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    I've been on maximum dose Metformin and Gliclazide for 6 years or so and at my GP appointment last week my HBA1C was 7.7 up from 6.7 last time and my own BS readings showed my BS going anything up to 15 two hours after a meal. I expected and even suggested that I go on to insulin as I was having to be extremely careful with food quantities and carbs to maintain even 7.7 HBA1C. My GP said I should I should not be trying to eat 'abnormally' (or be using a meter!) and after a some 'discussion' we agreed I would go onto Sitagliptin (Januvia). My GP warned me to be careful of hypos. I wasn't too worried as Gliclazide had not really worked for me and what I read about Sitagliptin is that it is self-controlling and doesn't itself add to hypo risk as it stops working as BS reaches normal levels. Anyway my BS measurements over the last week show a dramatic drop in my BS levels e.g. 6 to 7 two hours after a meal and also 6 after a gym workout after a small breakfast showing hypos not being an issue. For me Januvia is amazing (so far) with no apparent side effects. Perhaps it won't last and as my Type 1.5'ish diabetes, my diagnosis, doesn't exhibit the typical Type 2 insulin resistant symptoms it may not work for others. Anyone else any experience of Januvia?
     
    • Like Like x 2
    #1 Daibell, Mar 27, 2011 at 10:56 PM
  2. bowell

    bowell · Well-Known Member

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    GP added JANUVIA 100mg
    on top of my
    Metformin 2000 mg
    Gliclazide 240mg

    Because I am having a few odd high BG readings 2hr+ meals I have been hitting 17 ish also odd 9+ before meals
    Since Operation Dec my BG levels bit by bit are coming up both Met and Glit have been increased
    Always had good BG control odd blip with other Meds and Operations
    Diet is much the same always been lower ish Carb, Now smaller meals ,as less active in the wheels
    finding it harder to keep weight level .(less active more glit)?
    Gp has now placed me on JANUVIA on top of the other BG meds


    Anyone else experience of Januvia good bad indifferent ?
     
    #2 bowell, Apr 5, 2011 at 5:00 PM
  3. Unbeliever

    Unbeliever · Well-Known Member

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    Januvia really worked on my spikes.

    For he first 3 weeks or so I fell asleep about 10 minutes after taking it but that has settled now.
    it also caused hypos because I was takibg 6md of glimepiride but I have reduced this and should be able to do without it compleely soon.

    No more spikes! Almost immmediately too.

    I have some reservations about long term effects but as I have macular oedema the short term effects concern my opthamologist more. Ironically the drop in my Bs has caused renewed retinal bleeding, Still the "threat" of insulin has now receded [and it was a threat} and I am on track o cut out the glimepirides which have caused weight gain.

    I hope it works for you. well worth a try I think. I was told to go back IMMEDIATELY should i suffer ANY side effects but {cynical old me} I had a feeling that this could be related to cost {prescribed by the hospital and paid for by the doctor. I don't remember such concern ever being shown for other drugs!
     
    #3 Unbeliever, Apr 5, 2011 at 7:06 PM
  4. Daibell

    Daibell Type 1.5 · Expert

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    Thanks for the comments. I did have a headache during the night for 3 days but that has now gone. I suffered a light nose bleed today in addtion to a runny nose over the last week. Both the headache and runny nose are listed side-effects. I hope the nose bleed stays away as my BS readings continue to be a lot lower with Januvia. Two house after last night's Indian main meal I was only 6.8 which would normally have been 9+
     
    #4 Daibell, Apr 6, 2011 at 10:17 PM
  5. Unbeliever

    Unbeliever · Well-Known Member

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    I totally forgot abou he headaches until I read your last post Daibell. I had them too but they disappeared quickly/ I do occasionally have what feels like he beginning of a headache but it always clears quickly.

    I was a lile worried about he runny nose thing as i do suffer from hayfever but have not yet noticed any increased symptoms.
    I hope that also clears quickly for you.

    I am very pleased that the side effects seemed to disappear so quickly. It took 3 years for the unwelcome effects of metformin to subside.
     
    #5 Unbeliever, Apr 6, 2011 at 10:58 PM
  6. bowell

    bowell · Well-Known Member

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    What time do you take yours ? GP told me i could take it same time each day that suited me
    I am dropping mine at mid day lunch
    Thats mainly because thats one time i take fewer tablets
    50+tablets @day :?

    so far so good

    Thanks for the feed back doesn't look like there are many taking this ?

    Bob
     
    #6 bowell, Apr 7, 2011 at 12:27 AM
  7. daisy1

    daisy1 Type 2 · Guru
    Retired Moderator

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    I took Januvia once for a very short while. No side effects but I started putting on weight so I went back to the Metformin. No noticeable change in levels. At that time I also tried a short period without any medication at all. Also put on weight. I was trying to investigate whether Metformin gave me increased headaches (always had migraines) but I had them the same with Januvia and also without any medication so I concluded they were not increased by either medication.
     
    #7 daisy1, Apr 7, 2011 at 6:23 AM
  8. Daibell

    Daibell Type 1.5 · Expert

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    I currently take my Januvia in the evening with my other diabetes tablets but I may move it to a few hours earlier? I've read on the web that Januvia has an active half-life of 12 hours and it's most active period is between 1 and 4 hours after taking it. That implies it's probably best taken an hour or two before the largest meal of the day? All the instructions on the web and from the GP is take it any time once a day but logic says it's best timed to suit the largest meal. BTW my nose bleed has stopped and no runny nose today so that's looking good and also no headache!
     
    #8 Daibell, Apr 7, 2011 at 9:44 PM
  9. solutionsearch

    solutionsearch · Newbie

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    Hi,

    Can any one of you please state for how long have you been taking Januvia.

    thanks
     
    #9 solutionsearch, Jun 16, 2011 at 8:18 PM
  10. Unbeliever

    Unbeliever · Well-Known Member

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    I have been taking Januvia since October 2010
     
    #10 Unbeliever, Jun 16, 2011 at 8:22 PM
  11. bowell

    bowell · Well-Known Member

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    Started April this year All OK
     
    #11 bowell, Jun 17, 2011 at 11:56 PM
  12. relgycandy

    relgycandy · Newbie

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    I hope it works for you. well worth a try I think. I was told to go back IMMEDIATELY should i suffer ANY side effects but {cynical old me} I had a feeling that this could be related to cost {prescribed by the hospital and paid for by the doctor. I don't remember such concern ever being shown for other drugs!


    ___________________________________________
    [link removed]
     
    #12 relgycandy, Dec 30, 2012 at 8:31 AM
  13. Daibell

    Daibell Type 1.5 · Expert

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    Sitagliptin is quite expensive so isn't the first drug to be prescribed. Sadly it has now stopped working for me after almost 2 years. My pancreas has pretty well stopped producing insulin so I guess this drug can no longer extend the time of production for islet cells that don't produce anything anyway.
     
    #13 Daibell, Jan 2, 2013 at 5:24 PM
  14. Ali H

    Ali H Type 2 · Well-Known Member

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    I have been taking it since last summer and it helped to lower me back down to 6.4 my best ever A1C. Interesting that it is at its most potent after about 4 hours, I wonder if I should shift to taking it at lunchtime then so it is working strongly for my evening meal?

    Ali
     
    #14 Ali H, Jan 27, 2013 at 5:45 PM
  15. stillo

    stillo Type 2 · Well-Known Member

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    My GP would not give me a straight answer when i asked him if this medication caused pancreatic cancer so there and then i told him no more

    Stillo
     
    #15 stillo, Aug 29, 2013 at 5:08 PM
  16. dk12

    dk12 Type 2 · Member

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    Just starting on Januvia today. Have to say I'm scared to death about taking more medication. I always have horrible side effects, My doctor is very understanding with me and knows my concerns, the hospital doctors, not so much. I hope this works for me without too much trouble I'm also on novomix insulin as well. It is quite worrying when reading the posts quite a few people have had trouble with them.
     
    #16 dk12, Jan 28, 2017 at 5:42 PM
  17. evelygtc

    evelygtc Type 2 · Well-Known Member

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    GOOD MORNING!!
    I have three quarter pancrease left.
    Now 66 years old.
    What am I? Type 1, 2 or ?
    My GP classified me as Type 2
    Have been diabetic for 7 years now.
    May I ask - which medication is better - JANUVIA or TRAJENTA (LINAGLIPTIN)
    I am now on 80 mg Gliclazide 15 minutes before breakfast and 15 minutes before dinner + 5 mg TRAJENTA.
    My next visit to my GP will be in another 4 months time.
    I will go HYPO if I forget to eat in between meals.
    Is 80 mg Gliclazide twice a day too much?
    Should I also reduce to 40 mg twice a day?
    What are the side effects of TRAJENTA?
     
    #17 evelygtc, May 4, 2017 at 10:57 PM
  18. Annette100

    Annette100 Type 2 · Newbie

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    I developed telangiectasia on my feet, which my dermatologist attributed to Januvia. It's not normally on the symptoms list as it's quite rare, but I was taken off Januvia for this reason. The telangiectasia has never cleared up, and this was about 6 years ago.
     
    #18 Annette100, May 16, 2017 at 8:24 PM
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