How should I take JANUMET XR?
Take JANUMET XR one time each day by mouth with a meal to help lower your chance of having an upset stomach. It is better to take JANUMET XR with your evening meal.
Take JANUMET XR exactly as your doctor tells you. Your doctor will tell you how many JANUMET XR tablets to take and when you should take them.
- Take JANUMET XR tablets whole. Do not break, cut, crush, or chew JANUMET XR tablets before swallowing. If you cannot swallow JANUMET XR tablets whole, tell your doctor.
- You may see something that looks like the JANUMET XR tablet in your stool (bowel movement). If you see tablets in your stool several times, talk to your doctor. Do not stop taking JANUMET XR without talking to your doctor.
- Continue to take JANUMET XR for as long as your doctor tells you
- If you take too much JANUMET XR, call your doctor or local Poison Control Center right away.
- If you miss a dose, take it with food as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses of JANUMET XR at the same time.
- You may need to stop taking JANUMET XR for a short time. Call your doctor for instructions if you:
- are dehydrated (have lost too much body fluid). Dehydration can occur if you are sick with severe vomiting, diarrhea or fever, or if you drink a lot less fluid than normal.
- plan to have surgery.
- are going to get an injection of dye or contrast agent for an x-ray procedure.
- When your body is under some types of stress, such as fever, trauma (such as a car accident), infection or surgery, the amount of diabetes medicine that you need may change. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these problems and follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Check your blood sugar as your doctor tells you to.
- Stay on your prescribed diet and exercise program while taking JANUMET XR.
- Talk to your doctor about how to prevent, recognize and manage low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and problems you have because of your diabetes.
- Your doctor will check your diabetes with regular blood tests, including your blood sugar levels and your hemoglobin A1C.
- Your doctor will do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working before and during your treatment with JANUMET XR.
Who should not take JANUMET XR?
Do not take JANUMET XR if you:
- have severe kidney problems.
- have diabetic ketoacidosis.
- are allergic to any of the ingredients in JANUMET XR. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in JANUMET XR.
Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to JANUMET XR may include rash, raised red patches on your skin (hives) or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
What should I tell my doctor before taking JANUMET XR?
Before you take JANUMET XR, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have or have had inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis).
- have kidney problems.
- have liver problems.
- have heart failure.
- drink alcohol very often or drink a lot of alcohol in short-term “binge” drinking.
- are going to get an injection of dye or contrast agents for an x-ray; JANUMET XR may need to be stopped for a short time. Talk to your doctor about when you should stop JANUMET XR and when you should start JANUMET XR again.
- have low levels of vitamin B12 in your blood.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if JANUMET XR will harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar while you are pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if JANUMET XR will pass into your breast milk. Talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking JANUMET XR.
- are a woman who has not gone through menopause (premenopausal) who does not have periods regularly or at all. JANUMET XR can cause the release of an egg from an ovary in a woman (ovulation). This can increase your chance of getting pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking JANUMET XR.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. JANUMET XR may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how JANUMET XR works.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.