Repaglinide (By mouth)

re-PAG-li-nide

Treats type 2 diabetes. Used together with a proper diet and exercise to help control high blood sugar.

Drug classes

Hypoglycemic (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Repaglinide is used to treat type 2 diabetes. When you have type 2 diabetes, insulin is still being produced by your pancreas. Sometimes the amount of insulin you produce may not be enough or your body may not be using it properly and you may still need more. Repaglinide works by causing your pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream. Repaglinide may be used alone or with another oral diabetes medicine called metformin.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Tablet

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Take this medicine before each meal, up to 4 times per day. You make take it up to 30 minutes before the meal.

Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about any special diet or exercise program. Test your blood sugar regularly.

If a dose is missed:

Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not take this medicine if you skip a meal.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not take gemfibrozil while you are taking this medicine.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using insulin (especially NPH insulin), carbamazepine (Tegretol®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), deferasirox (Exjade®), montelukast (Singulair®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), probenecid (Benemid®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifater®), simvastatin (Zocor®), or niacin (Niaspan®). Tell your doctor if you are also using certain blood pressure medicine (such as atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, timolol, verapamil, Lotrel®, Norvasc®, or Toprol®) or diuretics (water pills such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, torsemide, Demadex®, or Lasix®).

Tell your doctor if you are using medicine to treat an infection, such as chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, erythromycin (Ery-Tab®), trimethoprim (Trimpex®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), miconazole (Monistat®), or isoniazid (Nydrazid®).

Tell your doctor if you are also using NSAID pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, Aleve®, Celebrex®, or Motrin®), an MAO inhibitor (such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate®), a sulfa drug (such as sulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine, Bactrim®, or Septra®), or a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®). Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), a phenothiazine medicine (such as prochlorperazine, Compazine®, Phenergan®, Thorazine®, or Trilafon®), thyroid medicine, or birth control pills.

When Not To Use

Do not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to repaglinide. Do not use this medicine if you have type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Do not use this medicine if you are also using gemfibrozil (Lopid®).

Warnings

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or adrenal or pituitary problems.

You may develop low blood sugar while you are taking this medicine. You may feel weak, drowsy, confused, anxious, or very hungry. You may have trouble seeing or have a headache that won’t go away. Tell your doctor if this happens. Low blood sugar may be caused by exercising more than normal or waiting too long to eat.

Your blood sugar level may be harder to control if you are injured, sick, or having surgery. You may need to stop using this medicine and use insulin if your blood sugar cannot be controlled. Tell your doctor if you have trouble controlling your blood sugar level when you are injured or sick, especially if you have a fever.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. You will also need to check your blood sugar regularly at home.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash

Dizziness, shakiness, hunger, lightheadedness, fainting, cold sweats, or confusion

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and body aches

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Prandin

There may be other brand names for this medicine.