DoseFacts

Januvia 100: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects

Also in: हिन्दी தமிழ் मराठी తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ বাংলা ગુજરાતી മലയാളം ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

Also known as: Januvia, Januvia 100 mg, Januvia 100 tablet, Sitagliptin 100 mg

Januvia 100 is a prescription tablet containing 100 mg of sitagliptin, used with diet and activity to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a group called DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins). It is taken only on a doctor's prescription, usually once a day and long term, and must not be started or stopped without a doctor. It is not used for type 1 diabetes.

Active ingredient
Sitagliptin 100 mg
Type of medicine
DPP-4 inhibitors
Used for
Type 2 diabetes
Starts working in
Blood sugar begins to fall after the first doses; your doctor checks progress with blood tests over weeks
Effect lasts
Works through the day, which is why it is taken once a day
With or without food
Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
Alcohol
Best avoided or kept low, because alcohol disturbs blood sugar and can add to pancreatitis risk; ask your doctor
Pregnancy
Not normally used; tell your doctor if you are or may become pregnant
Habit-forming
No
Made by
MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
Januvia 100 at a glance. Used for: Type 2 diabetes in adults. Ask a doctor first: History of pancreatitis or gallstones, Heavy alcohol use, Kidney disease, Heart failure, Insulin or sulfonylurea use, Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Get medical help quickly for: Severe, lasting stomach pain, Swelling of the face, lips or throat, Blisters or peeling skin, Passing much less urine, Swollen legs or breathlessness. Taking too much: One extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to be serious, but if much more was taken call 112 or go to the nearest hospital. Dose: follow the label or your doctor's advice.

Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.

Last updated: · Report an error

On this page
  1. What is Januvia 100 used for?
  2. How does Januvia 100 work?
  3. How to take Januvia 100
  4. Side effects of Januvia 100
  5. Who should be careful
  6. Medicines and things that interact with Januvia 100
  7. If someone takes too much
  8. Storage
  9. Regulatory status in India
  10. Other brands with the same medicine
  11. Other strengths and forms
  12. Common questions

What is Januvia 100 used for?

Januvia 100 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

  • Lowering blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, together with diet and physical activity
  • Used alone or together with other diabetes medicines, including insulin, when a doctor judges it suitable
  • Not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis

How does Januvia 100 work?

After a meal the gut releases hormones called incretins that tell the pancreas to release insulin. Sitagliptin blocks an enzyme (DPP-4) that breaks these hormones down, so they last longer. The pancreas then releases more insulin when blood sugar is high, and the liver releases less sugar.

What happens in your body after you take it

  1. You swallow the tablet

    The tablet dissolves in the gut and sitagliptin is absorbed into the blood. It can be taken with or without food.

  2. It reaches the DPP-4 enzyme

    Sitagliptin travels in the blood and attaches to the DPP-4 enzyme, which normally breaks down the gut hormones called incretins.

  3. Incretin hormones last longer

    With the enzyme blocked, the incretin hormones released after eating stay active for longer.

  4. Insulin rises, liver sugar falls

    The pancreas releases more insulin when blood sugar is high, and the liver releases less sugar, so blood sugar falls. This action fades when blood sugar is low.

  5. The body clears it

    Sitagliptin leaves the body mostly unchanged in the urine, which is why kidney function matters. One dose a day keeps the effect going.

How to take Januvia 100

Take Januvia 100 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and may change it if your kidneys are not working well.

  • It is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day.
  • It can be taken with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
  • If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
  • Do not stop taking it on your own, because blood sugar may rise again; talk to your doctor first.
  • Your doctor will arrange regular blood sugar, HbA1c and kidney function tests.

Side effects of Januvia 100

Most people take sitagliptin without serious problems. Some side effects are mild, but a few need medical help.

Uncommon or mild

  • Headache
  • Stuffy or runny nose, or sore throat
  • Upset stomach or diarrhoea
  • Low blood sugar when taken together with insulin or a sulfonylurea: shaking, sweating, hunger, dizziness
  • Swelling of the hands or feet

Rare but serious: get medical help

  • Severe, lasting pain in the stomach that may spread to the back, with or without vomiting (possible inflammation of the pancreas, pancreatitis). Get medical help immediately
  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, a severe rash or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
  • Blisters or peeling skin (possible serious skin reaction)
  • Severe or disabling joint pain
  • Shortness of breath, rapid weight gain or swelling of the legs (possible heart failure, reported with some medicines of this group)
  • Passing much less urine than usual (possible kidney problems)

Who should be careful

Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Januvia 100, or need extra care while taking it.

When the label says not to use it

  • Allergy to sitagliptin or a similar medicine
  • Type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Past pancreatitis, unless your doctor decides otherwise
  • Pancreatitis: tell your doctor if you have had pancreatitis, gallstones or a drinking problem, as these raise the risk
  • Kidney disease: the dose may need to change and kidney function is checked from time to time
  • Heart failure: tell your doctor if you have it or have had it
  • Low blood sugar when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea: the doses of those may need to be lowered. Know the warning signs
  • Illness with vomiting, diarrhoea or fever: contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice about your diabetes medicines. Do not stop on your own unless told
  • Past allergic reaction to sitagliptin or a similar medicine
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not normally used; tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a baby or breastfeeding
  • Alcohol: best avoided or kept low

Medicines and things that interact with Januvia 100

Januvia 100 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.

  • Insulin, sulfonylurea tablets (such as gliclazide or glimepiride) and other diabetes medicines: low blood sugar becomes more likely and doses may need to change
  • Digoxin: its level may be affected, so your doctor may check it
  • Steroids (corticosteroids), thiazide water tablets and oestrogens: they can raise blood sugar
  • Alcohol: it disturbs blood sugar and can add to pancreatitis risk

Effects on lab tests

  • Kidney function test: checked before and during treatment
  • Blood sugar and HbA1c tests: used to check how well the diabetes is controlled

If someone takes too much

Taking one extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to be serious, but larger amounts should be treated as a medical matter. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.

Storage

Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.

Regulatory status in India

Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient sitagliptin is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Januvia 100 contains sitagliptin only.

Other brands with the same medicine

Sitagliptin 100 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some products in the same brand family also contain metformin, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.

Other strengths and forms

Sitagliptin is sold in different strengths, and in combination tablets with metformin. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.

Common questions

Is Januvia 100 a prescription medicine?

Yes. Sitagliptin is a prescription-only medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice. Keep taking it as directed even when you feel well.

Is Januvia 100 a medicine for sugar (diabetes)?

Yes. Januvia 100 contains sitagliptin, which is used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and activity. It is not used for type 1 diabetes. Your doctor decides whether it suits you.

Does Januvia 100 cause low blood sugar?

On its own it rarely does, because it works mainly when blood sugar is high. Low blood sugar is more likely when it is taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea. Know the warning signs and follow your doctor's plan.

What are the warning signs of pancreatitis?

Severe stomach pain that does not go away, sometimes spreading to the back, with or without vomiting. It is rare but serious. Get medical help straight away and tell the doctor you take sitagliptin.

Can I take Januvia 100 if I have kidney problems?

Sitagliptin leaves the body through the kidneys, so the dose may need to change. Your doctor checks kidney function before and during treatment. Tell your doctor about any kidney disease, and do not change the dose yourself.

Can I take Januvia 100 if I am ill or not eating?

Illness with vomiting, diarrhoea or fever, or not eating, can change blood sugar. Contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice about your diabetes medicines on those days. Do not stop or change it on your own unless you have been told how.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Januvia 100?

Alcohol disturbs blood sugar and heavy drinking raises the risk of pancreatitis. It is best avoided or kept low. Ask your doctor what is reasonable for you.

What is the difference between Januvia 100 and sitagliptin 100 mg?

Januvia is a brand name, and sitagliptin is the medicine inside it. Generic sitagliptin 100 mg tablets contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching products.

Sources

  1. Sitagliptin: a medicine for type 2 diabetes. NHS (UK)
  2. Sitagliptin and metformin tablets (Zituvimet): prescribing information, openFDA record. openFDA, US Food and Drug Administration
  3. Type 2 diabetes: treatment. NHS (UK)
  4. List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
  5. National Formulary of India. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission