Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about taking this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine is new or being taken differently. Please report side effects. See the
full CMI for further details.
1. Why am I taking STEGLATRO?
STEGLATRO contains the active ingredient ertugliflozin. STEGLATRO can be used to lower
your blood sugar (glucose) alone or in combination with certain other medicines, along
with a recommended diet and exercise program.
2. What should I know before I take STEGLATRO?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ertugliflozin or any of the
ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with STEGLATRO and affect how it works.
4. How do I take STEGLATRO?
Take one tablet once a day.
5. What should I know while taking STEGLATRO?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking STEGLATRO.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly unless your doctor tells you.
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Driving or using machines
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Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how STEGLATRO
affects you.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep STEGLATRO in its original packaging in a cool dry place where the temperature
stays below 30°C.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Less serious side effects include yeast infections of the vagina or penis, changes
in urination, or low blood sugar if you take STEGLATRO with insulin or certain other
diabetes medicines.
Serious side effects include dehydration (losing too much water from your body), ketoacidosis
(increased ketones in your blood or urine), genital infection or urinary tract infection.
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification
of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems .
Active ingredient:
Ertugliflozin pyroglutamic acid
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about taking STEGLATRO. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about taking STEGLATRO.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking STEGLATRO?
STEGLATRO contains the active ingredient ertugliflozin. STEGLATRO is a medicine called a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor
that lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. STEGLATRO
helps remove sugar from the body through urination. STEGLATRO by itself is unlikely
to cause low blood sugar because it does not work when your blood sugar is low.
STEGLATRO can be used to lower your blood sugar (glucose) alone or in combination
with certain other medicines , along with a recommended diet and exercise program.
2. What should I know before I take STEGLATRO?
Warnings
Do not take STEGLATRO if:
you are allergic to ertugliflozin, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of
this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can take this medicine.
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.
you have poorly functioning kidneys since STEGLATRO requires good functioning kidneys
to work well
Tell your doctor if you:
have type 1 diabetes
have or have had increased ketones in the blood or urine (diabetic ketoacidosis)
are going to have surgery
are eating less due to illness, surgery, or a change in your diet
drink alcohol very often, or drink a lot of alcohol in the short term (“binge” drinking)
have kidney problems
have liver problems, because STEGLATRO is not recommended for patients with severe
liver disease
take other diabetes medicines, you are more likely to get low blood sugar with certain
medicines
have or have had yeast infections of the vagina or penis
take any medicines for any other condition
have allergies to any other medicines or other substances such as foods, preservatives
or dyes
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. It is not known
if STEGLATRO may 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.
Do not use STEGLATRO if you are pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. It is not known
if STEGLATRO passes into breast milk. Talk with your doctor about the best way to
feed your baby if you take STEGLATRO. Do not use STEGLATRO if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Children
It is not known if STEGLATRO is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Elderly
In studies, STEGLATRO worked well in and was generally well-tolerated by older patients.
People 65 years or older were more likely to get dehydrated while taking STEGLATRO
compared to younger patients. No dose adjustment is necessary based on age.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements that you buy without a prescription from
your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
STEGLATRO may be taken with most medicines.
Some medicines may interfere with STEGLATRO and affect how it works.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking water pills (diuretics), as you may
be more likely to get dehydrated. See Section 6. Are there any side effects?
When you take STEGLATRO with certain other diabetes medicines, you are more likely
to get low blood sugar. See Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking lithium because STEGLATRO can lower
the amount of lithium in your blood.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect STEGLATRO.
4. How do I take STEGLATRO?
How much to take
Take one tablet once a day. Your doctor will decide the dose of STEGLATRO suitable
for you.
Take STEGLATRO until your doctor tells you to stop.
When to take STEGLATRO
Take STEGLATRO at the same time every morning. STEGLATRO can be taken with or without
food.
If you forget to take STEGLATRO
STEGLATRO should be taken regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose
at the usual time, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Do not take 2 doses of STEGLATRO on the same day.
If you take too much STEGLATRO
If you think that you have taken too much STEGLATRO, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while taking STEGLATRO?
Things you should do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking STEGLATRO.
If you become pregnant while taking STEGLATRO, tell your doctor immediately.
Continue to take STEGLATRO for as long as your doctor prescribes it so that you can
continue to help control your blood sugar. This medicine helps to control your condition
but will not cure it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel
well.
Call your doctor straight away if:
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 you need may change.
you develop a combination of symptoms of pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of
the genitals or the area between the genitals and the anus with fever or feeling generally
unwell. These symptoms could be a sign of a rare but serious or even life-threatening
infection, called necrotising fasciitis of the perineum or Fournier's Gangrene, which
destroys the tissue under the skin. Fournier's Gangrene has to be treated immediately
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking STEGLATRO.
Things you should not do
Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or lower the dosage without checking with
your doctor.
Do not take STEGLATRO to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give STEGLATRO to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medicine only for you.
Footcare
Check your feet regularly and see your doctor if you notice any problems. Follow any
other advice regarding foot care given by your doctor.
Blood tests
Your doctor may do blood tests before you start STEGLATRO and while you take it. These
tests look to see if your blood sugar level is normal at that moment and how well
you have managed your blood sugar over time (called haemoglobin A1c). Blood tests
may show changes related to kidney function or high levels of bad cholesterol. Your
doctor may change your dose of STEGLATRO based on the results
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how STEGLATRO
affects you.
STEGLATRO has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Do not drive or use any tools or machines if you feel dizzy while taking STEGLATRO.
Taking this medicine in combination with insulin or medicines called insulin secretagogues
can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, which may cause symptoms such as shaking,
sweating and change in vision, and may affect your ability to drive and use machines.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol very often or drink a lot of alcohol in the
short term ("binge" drinking).
Looking after your medicine
Keep STEGLATRO in its original packaging in a cool dry place where the temperature
stays below 30°C.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on windowsills.
Do not take STEGLATRO if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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Yeast infections of the vagina or penis:
in women, symptoms include bad smell from your vagina, white or yellow discharge coming
out of your vagina that may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese and itchiness.
in men, symptoms include swelling of the penis, red skin, itchiness or rash, bad smell
and discharge coming out of your penis, pain in the skin around your penis. If you
haven't been circumcised, it may be hard to pull back the skin around the tip of your
penis.
Changes in urination
urgent need to urinate more often, in larger amounts, or at night or thirst
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
If you take STEGLATRO with insulin or certain other diabetes medicines, your blood
sugar might get too low. Your doctor might need to lower the dose of your insulin
or other diabetes medicine:
headache
drowsiness, dizziness or confusion, irritability or feeling jittery, sweating, weakness,
fast heartbeat
hunger
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these side effects and they worry you.
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Serious side effects
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Serious side effects
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What to do
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Dehydration (losing too much water from your body):
dry mouth, feeling dizzy, light-headed, or weak, especially when you stand up, fainting
You may be more likely to get dehydrated if you:
have kidney problems or take water tablets (diuretics) or
are 65 years or older
Ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine)
nausea or vomiting
tiredness or trouble breathing
stomach-area (abdominal) pain
excessive thirst
If possible, check for ketones in your urine, even if your blood sugar is less than
14.0 mmol/L. You may need to be treated in a hospital.
Genital infection
A rare but serious bacterial infection that causes damage to the tissue under the
skin (necrotising fasciitis) in the area between and around the anus and genitals
(perineum). Necrotising fasciitis of the perineum has happened in women and men who
take medicines that lower blood sugar in the same way as STEGLATRO. Necrotising fasciitis
of the perineum may lead to hospitalisation, may require multiple surgeries, and may
lead to death. Seek medical attention immediately if you have:
pain or tenderness, swelling, or redness of the skin (erythema) in the area between
and around your anus and genitals
fever or you are feeling very weak, tired or uncomfortable (malaise).
Urinary tract infection
burning or pain when you pass urine, more frequent or urgent need to urinate
fever, chills, or blood in the urine
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What STEGLATRO contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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Ertugliflozin pyroglutamic acid
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Microcrystalline cellulose
Lactose monohydrate
Sodium starch glycollate Type A
Magnesium stearate
Hypromellose
Macrogol 3350
Triacetin
Titanium dioxide
Iron oxide red
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STEGLATRO does not contain gluten, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What STEGLATRO looks like
STEGLATRO 5 mg is a pink, triangular-shaped, film-coated tablet marked with '701'
on one side and plain on the other side (AUST R: 287619).
STEGLATRO 15 mg is a red, triangular-shaped, film-coated tablet marked with '702'
on one side and plain on the other side (AUST R 287622).
Who distributes STEGLATRO
Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Limited
Level 1, Building A, 26 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113
This leaflet was prepared in November 2023.
RCN000026202-AU
Copyright © 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, and its affiliates. All rights
reserved.