Saxagliptin
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons
living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common
questions about . It does
not contain all the information that is known about
. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks
and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine
against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have
any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What ONGLYZA is used for
ONGLYZA is used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ONGLYZA is used in combination with
certain other medicines (metformin, medicines such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, or a sulfonylurea medicines such as
glimepiride and glibenclamide) to help lower blood sugar levels. ONGLYZA is used when diet plus exercise and the single medicine
do not provide adequate blood sugar level control.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition in which your body does not make enough insulin and the insulin that your body produces
does not work as well as it should. Your body can also make too much sugar. When this happens, sugar (glucose) builds up
in the blood and can lead to serious medical problems.
The main goal of treating diabetes is to lower your blood sugar to a normal level. Lowering and controlling blood sugar may
help prevent or delay complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and amputation.
ONGLYZA is a member of a class of medicines you take by mouth called DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors)
that lowers blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is also called non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM.
ONGLYZA helps to improve the levels of insulin after a meal.
ONGLYZA decreases the amount of sugar made by the body.
ONGLYZA works when blood sugar is high, especially after a meal. This is when the body needs the greatest amount of help in
lowering blood sugar. ONGLYZA also lowers blood sugar between meals.
ONGLYZA by itself is unlikely to cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) because it does not work when your blood sugar is low.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why ONGLYZA
has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
ONGLYZA is not addictive.
Before you take ONGLYZA
When you must not take it
Do not take ONGLYZA if you have an allergy to:
saxagliptin, the active ingredient in ONGLYZA or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
any other DPP-4 inhibitor.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of
the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin or you may feel faint.
Do not take ONGLYZA after the use by (expiry) date printed on the pack.
Do not take ONGLYZA if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
ONGLYZA is not recommended for use in children.
There is not enough information on its effects in children.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking ONGLYZA, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances such as foods, dyes or preservatives
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
type 1 diabetes mellitus or a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis
kidney problems
Your doctor will do some tests for kidney function at the start of treatment and regularly while you are on treatment.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
ONGLYZA is not recommended for use during pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
ONGLYZA should not be used while breastfeeding or if planning to breastfeed.
Tell your doctor if you are lactose intolerant.
ONGLYZA tablets contain lactose.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
ONGLYZA can be taken with most other medicines.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you take any ONGLYZA.
How to take ONGLYZA
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it
Swallow your ONGLYZA tablets with a full glass of water.
How much to take
The usual dose of ONGLYZA is one 5 mg tablet once a day.
Your doctor will prescribe ONGLYZA along with certain other medicines that lower blood sugar.
When to take it
ONGLYZA should be taken once a day, at approximately the same time each day.
Taking your tablets at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the
tablets.
ONGLYZA tablets can be taken with or without food.
How long to take it
Continue taking the tablets for as long as your doctor tells you. Make sure you keep enough ONGLYZA to last over weekends
and holidays.
ONGLYZA helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you must take ONGLYZA every day.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency
at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much ONGLYZA. Do this even if there are
no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking ONGLYZA
Things you must do
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking ONGLYZA.
If you are about to be started on any new medicines, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are taking ONGLYZA.
If you become pregnant while taking ONGLYZA, tell your doctor immediately.
If you need to have any medical tests while you are taking ONGLYZA, tell your doctor.
ONGLYZA may affect the results of some tests.
Things you must not do
Do not take ONGLYZA to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar or they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ONGLYZA affects you.
ONGLYZA may cause dizziness in some people. Low blood sugar levels may also slow your reaction time and affect your ability
to drive or operate machinery.
Make sure you know how you react to ONGLYZA before you drive a car, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous
if you are dizzy or lightheaded.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ONGLYZA.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment
if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
headache
signs of an infection in the breathing passages including runny nose, sore throat and cough
soreness in the back of the nose and throat and discomfort when swallowing
difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest
vomiting or diarrhoea
stomach pain or discomfort
swelling of hands, ankles or feet
signs of urinary tract infection such as an urge to urinate frequently and in small amounts, and painful burning when passing
urine
rash
feeling depressed or anxious
signs of anaemia such as tiredness, headaches, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
back pain.
These side effects are usually mild.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital.
signs of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) when ONGLYZA is used with a sulfonylurea medicine. Signs of hypoglycaemia may include
weakness, trembling or shaking, sweating, light-headedness, headache, dizziness, lack of concentration, tearfulness or crying,
irritability, hunger and numbness around the lips and fingers
severe allergic reaction (may include shortness of breath, wheezing or severe difficulty in breathing, shock, swelling of
the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, skin rash, itching or hives on the skin hayfever, or you may feel faint)
severe upper stomach pain, often with nausea and vomiting
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Occasionally, ONGLYZA may be associated with changes in your blood. These can only be found when your doctor does tests from
time to time to check your progress.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that
is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
After taking ONGLYZA
Storage
Keep your ONGLYZA tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take ONGLYZA out of the blister pack it will not keep well.
Keep it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on a window sill.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking ONGLYZA or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to
do with any that are left over.
Product description
What ONGLYZA looks like
ONGLYZA tablets are available as a 5 mg. The tablets are pink, biconvex, round, film coated tablets with "5" printed on one
side and "4215" printed on the other side, in blue ink.
ONGLYZA tablets are available in blister packs of 7 (sample pack) and 28 tablets.
Ingredients
Each ONGLYZA tablet contains saxagliptin 5 mg as the active ingredient.
Plus the following inactive ingredients:
lactose
microcrystalline cellulose
croscarmellose sodium
magnesium stearate
polyvinyl alcohol
macrogol 3350
titanium dioxide
talc - purified
iron oxide red CI77491 (5 mg tablet only)
Opacode Blue (printing ink).
ONGLYZA tablets do not contain gluten or sucrose.
Sponsored by
Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd,
4 Nexus Court, Mulgrave,
Victoria 3170, Australia
Also distributed by:
AstraZeneca Pty Ltd
ABN 54 009 682 311
Alma Road
NORTH RYDE NSW 2113
For all enquiries contact
Bristol-Myers Squibb by calling 1800 067 567
Date of Preparation: November 2012
ONGLYZA Australian Registration Numbers:
5 mg - AUST R 157907
ONGLYZA is a registered Trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb
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