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Why is this medication prescribed?
Repaglinide is used to treat type II (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes (formerly 'adult-onset'). Repaglinide helps your body regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be used?
Repaglinide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. The tablets are taken before meals, any time from 30 minutes before a meal to just before the meal. If you skip a meal, you need to skip the dose of repaglinide. If you add an extra meal, you need to take an extra dose of repaglinide. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose, depending on your response to repaglinide. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take repaglinide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than directed by the package label or prescribed by your doctor.
Continue to take repaglinide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking repaglinide without talking to your doctor.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking repaglinide,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to repaglinide or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially acetophenazine (Tindal), aspirin, blood pressure medicines, carbamazepine (Tegretol), chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), corticosteroids, diuretics ('water pills'), drugs for arthritis, erythromycin, troglitazone (Rezulin), estrogens, fluphenazine (Prolixin), isoniazid (Rifamate), ketoconazole (Nizoral), mesoridazine (Serentil), oral contraceptives, perphenazine (Trilafon), phenelzine (Nardil), phenobarbital (Luminal), phenytoin (Dilantin), probenecid (Benemid), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Sparine), promethazine (Phenergan), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), thioridazine (Mellaril), tranylcypromine (Parnate), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), triflupromazine (Vesprin), trimeprazine (Temaril), vitamins, or warfarin (Coumadin).
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease or if you have been told you have type I diabetes mellitus.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking repaglinide, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking repaglinide.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. It is important to eat a healthful diet. Alcohol increases blood sugar; ask your doctor for information on how much is safe to drink.
Repaglinide must be taken prior to meals (any time within thirty minutes of starting the meal). If a meal is missed, the dose of repaglinide should be skipped. If an extra meal is added, an additional repaglinide dose will need to be added.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you have just begun to eat a meal, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if you have finished eating, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
If you have any of the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), eat or drink a food or beverage with sugar in it, such as hard candy or fruit juice, and call your doctor immediately. The symptoms of low blood sugar include:
- shakiness
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- sweating or confusion
- blurred vision
- headache
- numbness or tingling of the mouth
- weakness
- fatigue
- pale color
- sudden hunger
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
Although side effects from repaglinide are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- nasal congestion
- joint aches
- back pain
- upset stomach
- constipation
- diarrhea
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison controlcenter at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsedor is not breathing, call local emergency services at911.
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c) should be checked regularly to determine your response to repaglinide.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
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