Janumet is a brand-name prescription medication prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. This medication decreases your body’s blood glucose level to get your type 2 diabetes under control. Not only does Janumet help manage blood sugar levels, but it can also help patients with type 2 diabetes reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

Janumet is prescribed in conjunction with other treatment measures, such as exercise and dietary changes, to help patients lose weight and prevent serious complications caused by diabetes. It contains the drugs sitagliptin and metformin. Janumet is only available via prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

Healthcare providers prescribe Janumet as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not properly process food into energy. When we eat food (mainly carbohydrates), the body turns it into glucose (sugar), which our body uses as energy.

Insulin, a hormone the pancreas produces to aid cell in absorbing glucose, is essential to this process. In people with diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or uses it inefficiently. This causes the blood sugar, or blood glucose levels, to either get too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).

Janumet does not treat type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks your pancreas with antibodies, causing the organ to stop producing insulin. If you have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, your healthcare provider will prescribe a different form of medication and therapy for you.

Janumet contains two drugs: sitagliptin and metformin. Sitagliptin belongs to a classification of medications known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. These drugs work by blocking the action of the DPP-4 hormone, which destroys incretin, a hormone that plays a crucial role in insulin production. By blocking DPP-4 from working on incretin cells and insulin production, sitagliptin increases the insulin level in the blood, which helps control blood sugar.

Metformin belongs to a class of medications known as biguanides. This family of drugs decreases the amount of glucose your body absorbs from food and limits the amount of glucose your body naturally produces. This helps regulate blood glucose levels. In addition to regulating glucose absorption, metformin also enhances your body’s response to insulin, a hormone responsible for metabolizing glucose. These parallel actions help keep glucose levels low, reducing the risk of serious complications caused by diabetes.

It is important to note that Janumet will not cure type 2 diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes cannot be reversed. However, medical treatment, exercise, and a healthy diet can help you avoid complications and reduce symptoms caused by diabetes.

Janumet has been shown to cause some side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if these adverse reactions do not go away within a few days.

Common symptoms reported while taking Janumet include:

• Headache
  
• Sore throat
  
• Stuffy or runny nose
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Nausea
  
• Abdominal pain
  
  

More severe side effects are rare but may occur. Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the following adverse reactions:

• Fever
  
• Stomach pain
  
• Loss of appetite
  
• Rapid weight gain
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Swelling
  
• Itchy skin
  
• Skin rash
  
• Hives
  
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  
• Low heart rate
  
• Low blood pressure
  
• Low body temperature
  
  

Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. These are signs of a severe adverse reaction or overdose requiring medical treatment.

As with all prescription medications, inform the prescribing doctor about any medical conditions you have been diagnosed with and any medications or supplements you currently take before starting treatment with Janumet. Janumet can interact with other medicines and substances, causing potentially serious side effects.

Inform your healthcare provider if you have been diagnosed with the following:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis
  
• Pancreatitis
  
• Gallstones
  
• High levels of triglycerides in the blood
  
• Heart failure
  
• Kidney disease
  
  

In addition, tell your provider if you drink large amounts of alcohol.

Before beginning treatment with Janumet, let your provider know if you are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant.

Janumet is commonly administered as an oral tablet, usually twice a day. The exact dosage will vary depending on the patient’s age, body weight, and the severity of the condition requiring treatment. Take Janumet with food to prevent an upset stomach.

Do not discontinue or increase your dosage of Janumet without consulting your doctor first. Take the medication exactly as prescribed, and inform your doctor if you begin to experience any side effects while taking the medication.

Store this medication in its original container at room temperature, away from excessive heat or moisture. Keep the medication out of the reach of children and ensure that the bottle cap is securely closed.

Do not freeze Janumet.

Janumet is currently only available via prescription. A licensed healthcare provider must authorize the use of this drug.

Looking for a prescription? Providers on Sesame can write you a prescription during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at your pharmacy. Book an online consultation with a licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not Janumet might be right for you.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your healthcare provider. Sesame cannot guarantee that you will be provided a prescription after a video or in-person appointment. Providers on Sesame are unable to prescribe controlled substances. For more information about controlled substances, check out the Drug Enforcement Agency’s scheduling guidelines here.

Providers on Sesame can write a prescription for Janumet to be picked up near you—often within the same day. Don’t wait to get your prescription filled. Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your prescription ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your doctor.