Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet

Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet is a prescription diabetes medicine that contains sitagliptin 50 mg and metformin 500 mg in each tablet. It combines two oral antidiabetic drugs from different classes to help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. This product is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control; it is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. The Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet is supplied as a film-coated tablet in a strip/box of 10 tablets.

How it works: Sitagliptin helps your body release more insulin after meals and reduces the sugar made by the liver by supporting natural hormone signals called incretins. Metformin lowers the amount of glucose your liver releases and helps your body respond better to insulin, and this tablet delivers both medicines together for once-daily or twice-daily use as prescribed.

Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet is a mid-strength combination tablet, with a lower metformin amount than the 50 mg/1000 mg version. That makes it a common choice when a doctor wants the same sitagliptin dose but a gentler metformin dose, such as when starting combination treatment or when a higher metformin dose is not tolerated well. It still provides full prescription-strength diabetes therapy and should be used only in the plan your doctor has chosen.

• Type 2 diabetes treatment
• Helps lower fasting blood sugar
• Helps reduce after-meal blood sugar
• May improve HbA1c when used with diet and exercise
• Combination therapy when one medicine is not enough

• Swallow the Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet whole with water; do not crush, chew, or split unless your prescriber says otherwise.
• Take it with meals if your doctor instructs you to do so, because metformin is often easier on the stomach when taken with food.
• Take it at the same time each day to help you remember and keep blood sugar control steady.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose; do not double up.
• Follow the exact schedule your doctor gives you, because this tablet is a prescription combination and may not match the dose schedule of other diabetes tablets.

Each Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet provides sitagliptin 50 mg plus metformin 500 mg. Your doctor may prescribe it once or twice daily depending on your blood sugar control, kidney function, and how you respond to treatment. Do not exceed the daily amount your prescriber sets; the maximum dose is limited by both the sitagliptin and metformin components, so the dose must be individualized.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Sitagliptin + Metformin may include:

• Diarrhea, which is more likely with the metformin component
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Gas or bloating
• Headache
• Upper respiratory symptoms such as a stuffy nose or sore throat
• Low blood sugar if used with insulin or a sulfonylurea

• Do not use this medicine for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, because metformin-containing tablets may need to be avoided or adjusted.
• Avoid heavy alcohol use, which can raise the risk of lactic acidosis with metformin.
• Use caution if you have heart failure, liver disease, dehydration, or a history of pancreatitis.
• If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, watch for low blood sugar and ask how to recognize and treat it.
• Tell your clinician before having an X-ray or scan with iodinated contrast dye, since metformin may need to be held temporarily.
• This tablet is not a replacement for diet, exercise, or blood sugar monitoring.

• Alcohol, especially heavy or frequent drinking
• Insulin and sulfonylureas, which can increase low blood sugar risk
• Other medicines that affect kidneys or dehydration risk, such as diuretics or NSAIDs
• Iodinated contrast dye used for some imaging tests
• Certain medicines that affect blood sugar, including corticosteroids and some diuretics

Store Istamet 50 mg/500 mg Tablet at room temperature in a dry place, away from moisture and out of reach of children.