Repaglinide is a medication to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In order for treatment to be more effective, the use of repaglinide must be balanced with the adoption of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Repaglinide works by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin. Insulin is a hormone that plays an important role in sugar metabolism and sugar absorption in the blood. With increasing insulin levels, blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes can be more controlled.
Repaglinide can be combined with other antidiabetic drugs, such as metformin. Keep in mind, repaglinide can only help control blood sugar levels, not cure type 2 diabetes.
Trademark repaglinide: Dexanorm
What is Repaglinide
| group | Prescription drugs |
| Category | Antidiabetic |
| Benefit | Treating type 2 diabetes |
| Consumed by | Mature |
| Repaglinide for pregnant and lactating women | Category C: Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. Drugs should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. It is not known whether repaglinide is absorbed into breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Tablet |
Precautions Before Taking Repaglinide
There are several things you should pay attention to before using repaglinide, including:
- Tell your doctor about any allergies you have. Repaglinide should not be given to patients who are allergic to this drug.
- Repaglinide is not intended for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
- This medicine should not be taken with gemfibrozil. Tell your doctor if you are taking certain supplements, medications, or herbal products.
- Tell your doctor if you have or are currently suffering from kidney disease, infection, or liver disease.
- Limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages while undergoing treatment with repaglinide, because it can increase the risk of low blood sugar levels.
- Repaglinide may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery after taking repaglinide.
- See your doctor right away if you experience an allergic drug reaction, overdose, or serious side effect after using repaglinide.
Dosage and Instructions for Use of Repaglinide
The dose of repaglinide will be adjusted according to the patient's condition. The following are repaglinide doses for treating type 2 diabetes in adults.
As monotherapy or in combination with other drugs, the initial dose is 0.5 mg. If the patient has previously taken other antidiabetic drugs, the initial dose is 1 mg. This drug is taken 2–4 times a day, before meals.
Follow-up doses can be readjusted within 1–2 weeks after initial treatment. The maximum dose is 16 mg per day.
Method Taking Repaglinide Correctly
Always follow your doctor's instructions and read the information on the medicine package before taking repaglinide.
Repaglinide is taken 15–30 minutes before a meal. Do not take ripaglinide if you miss meals. Swallow the repaglinide tablet whole with the help of a glass of water. Do not crush, split, or chew the medicine as this may affect its effectiveness.
Take repaglinide regularly. Do not start or stop taking the drug or increase or decrease the dose of the drug without consulting your doctor first.
If you forget to take repaglinide tablets, take them as soon as you remember if the distance to the next consumption schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.
During treatment with repaglinide, you will be asked to have your blood sugar level tested regularly to monitor your condition and your body's response to treatment.
Repaglinide cannot cure type 2 diabetes. For treatment to be more effective, you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, not consuming alcoholic beverages, adjusting your diet as needed, and exercising regularly.
Store repaglinide in a dry place, away from direct sunlight, and at room temperature. Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
Repaglinide Interactions with Other Drugs
Some of the effects of interactions that can occur if repaglinide is used together with other drugs are:
- Increased effect of the drug repaglinide which can be fatal when used with gemfibrozil
- Increased repaglinide metabolism when used with rifampicin, barbiturates, or carbamazepine
- Enhanced effect of repaglinide when used with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), salicylates, sulfonamides, phenylbutazone, oral anticoagulants, or hydantoins
- Increased blood levels of repaglinide when used with ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, or erythromycin
Repaglinide Side Effects and Dangers
One of the common side effects after taking repaglinide is hypoglycemia. In addition, there are several other side effects that can occur after taking repaglinide, including:
- Weight gain
- Joint pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Headache
- Back pain
- Nasal congestion
Check with your doctor if these side effects don't get better or get worse. See your doctor right away if you have an allergic drug reaction or any of the following serious side effects:
- Impaired liver function, which can be characterized by symptoms such as yellow skin, dark urine, confusion, or weakness
- Pancreatitis, which can be characterized by symptoms in the form of pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back, nausea, or vomiting
