Janumet is a prescription medication that was formulated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The fixed combination of two drugs – sitagliptin and metformin – can help adults with type 2 diabetes control their symptoms of high blood sugar. Usually, this medication is prescribed after diet, exercise, and metformin treatment have proven insufficient as the first-line treatment for the management of high blood sugar levels. Many people who take sitagliptin and metformin as separate tablets switch to this medication to reduce the cost and number of pills that they have to take daily. This makes it easier to manage the medications that an individual takes on a day to day basis. The benefits of Janumet cannot be ignored, as it controls strong fluctuations in blood sugar levels; this helps prevent long-term complications that can arise from chronically low or high blood sugar levels.

Janumet Dosing

Apples can help control high blood sugar.

The dosing of Janumet is dependent on an individual’s weight, gender, blood sugar levels, current exercise/diet regimen, and their tolerability to the medication. The recommended maximum daily dose of sitagliptin is 100mg, while the recommended maximum dose of metformin is 2000mg. Generally, the starting dose is one tablet of Janumet XR, dosed at 100mg sitagliptin/1000mg metformin hydrochloride in two tablets taken once daily.  For the instant release version, patients that are not currently treated with metformin may start with one Janumet 50/500mg tablet, twice daily. For patients that are already on metformin 500mg/twice daily, start with 1 tablet of Janumet 50/500mg, twice daily.

How Does Janumet Work?

Janumet controls blood sugar after meals and throughout the day by helping your pancreas produce more insulin, helping your body effectively use the insulin that it makes, and decreasing the excess sugar that is produced by your liver. Janumet can help lower your high blood sugar levels more than metformin alone. In a clinical study, it was shown that more than twice the patients reached an A1C (average blood glucose levels) of less than 7% while taking Janumet, compared to the group that was taking metformin alone.

Side Effects of Janumet

A healthy diet can help control symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes.

While uncommon, there are serious side effects that can arise from Janumet. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms, which could be a sign of Lactic Acidosis:

• Stomach pains, nausea, or vomiting
• Feeling sleepy or drowsy
• Unusual muscle pain
• Feeling cold in your hands or feet
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Unusual feelings of weakness or tiredness
• A slow or irregular heartbeat; heart palpitations

Lactic acidosis is a buildup of acid in the blood that can cause serious health complications, including death. If you experience any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor immediately, as lactic acidosis must be treated in a hospital. There are certain factors that can increase the chances of lactic acidosis development, such as:

• Heavy alcohol consumption or binge drinking
• History of heart attack, stroke, serious surgery, severe infections, or liver problems
• Chronic or severe dehydration. Can occur due to excessive exercise, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea

Pancreatitis and heart failure are also incredibly rare but possible side effects of Januvia. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a history of alcoholism, high blood triglyceride levels, gallstones, or pancreatitis. If you have severe stomach pain that travels through your abdomen and back that will not go away, stop taking Januvia immediately and contact your doctor. Other side effects of Janumet may include serious allergic reactions, joint pain, a skin reaction, kidney problems, or swelling of the hands and legs.

The most common side effects of Janumet include diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, gas, upset stomach, weakness, low blood sugar, and a stuffy or runny nose. Always contact your doctor if you experience any of the above side effects.

Janumet Cost

Janumet is an expensive drug. Until it becomes available as a generic in 2027, uninsured Americans will have to pay around $455 per 60 tablets of Janumet (this includes the discount that the manufacturer’s coupon can provide). The main reason that over a 1/3 of Americans report skipping doses or missing doses is due to the cost of their prescription medications.

Prescription Assistance for Janumet

We believe that everyone should have the right to inexpensive treatment options for type 2 diabetes. Janumet can be an incredibly effective first-line of treatment against type 2 diabetes when paired with a strict diet and exercise regimen. Advocate My Meds was founded on the belief that everyone deserves affordable treatment options for expensive medications. Life-threatening diseases are hard enough to deal with without the threat of bankruptcy. This is why we facilitate the enrollment of prescription assistance programs. These programs help uninsured and under-insured Americans pay for medications like Janumet. To find out if you qualify for our programs, give us a call at (877) 870-0851 or visit our contact page by clicking here.