Description
Ertugliflozin and metformin combination is used with proper diet and exercise to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes in patients who are already using ertugliflozin and metformin for treatment or who do not have control of their blood sugar on ertugliflozin or metformin alone.
Ertugliflozin works in the kidneys to prevent absorption of glucose (blood sugar). This helps lower the blood sugar level. Metformin reduces the absorption of sugar from the stomach, reduces the release of stored sugar from the liver, and helps your body use sugar better. This medicine does not help patients who have insulin-dependent or type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetic patients must use insulin injections.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of ertugliflozin and metformin combination in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ertugliflozin and metformin combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving ertugliflozin and metformin combination.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abiraterone Acetate
- Abiraterone Acetate, Micronized
- Acarbose
- Acetazolamide
- Alogliptin
- Aspirin
- Bexagliflozin
- Bictegravir
- Brinzolamide
- Bupropion
- Capmatinib
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpropamide
- Cimetidine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Dasabuvir
- Delafloxacin
- Diatrizoate
- Dichlorphenamide
- Dofetilide
- Dolutegravir
- Dorzolamide
- Enoxacin
- Ethiodized Oil
- Fedratinib
- Fexinidazole
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Glyburide
- Grepafloxacin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Insulin
- Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
- Insulin Bovine
- Insulin Degludec
- Insulin Detemir
- Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
- Insulin Glulisine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Atenolol
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bitter Melon
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Colesevelam
- Esmolol
- Fenugreek
- Glecaprevir
- Glucomannan
- Goldenseal
- Guar Gum
- Hydrastis
- Isocarboxazid
- Labetalol
- Levobunolol
- Linezolid
- Methylene Blue
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Oxprenolol
- Ozanimod
- Patiromer
- Penbutolol
- Phenelzine
- Pibrentasvir
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Procarbazine
- Propranolol
- Psyllium
- Rasagiline
- Rifampin
- Safinamide
- Selegiline
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Adrenal gland problem or
- Alcohol abuse, history of or
- Cardiovascular collapse (shock) or
- Congestive heart failure or
- Decrease in eating due to surgery or illness or
- Dehydration, severe or
- Heart attack, acute or
- Pancreatic insulin deficiency (eg, pancreatitis, pancreatic surgery), history of or
- Sepsis (severe infection) or
- Weakened physical condition—May increase risk for more serious side effects.
- Anemia (low red blood cells) or
- Dehydration or
- Genital yeast (fungus) infection (eg, balanitis, balanoposthitis, vulvovaginitis), history of or
- Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
- Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
- Kidney disease or
- Urinary tract infections (eg, pyelonephritis, urosepsis), history of or
- Vitamin B12 deficiency—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
- Blood vessel disease or
- Diabetic foot ulcer or
- Leg amputation (leg removal surgery), history of or
- Neuropathy (nerve problem) of the leg—May increase the risk of leg amputations.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood) or
- Kidney disease, severe (eg, end-stage kidney disease) or
- Liver disease or
- Metabolic acidosis (increased acid levels in the blood) or
- Patients receiving dialysis or
- Type I diabetes—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
- Fever or
- Infection or
- Surgery or
- Trauma—Use with caution. These conditions may cause problems with blood sugar control.
Proper Use
Carefully follow the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and will help the medicine work properly. Exercise regularly and check your blood sugar as directed.
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Tell your doctor if you are on a low-salt or sodium diet.
This medicine should be taken with meals to help reduce unwanted stomach effects that may occur during the first few weeks.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For type 2 diabetes:
- Adults—At first, 1 tablet 2 times a day with food. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 15 milligrams (mg) of ertugliflozin and 2000 mg of metformin per day.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For type 2 diabetes:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks that you take this medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine during the second and later part of a pregnancy can harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Under certain conditions, too much metformin can cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis. It usually occurs when other serious health problems are present, including heart attack or kidney failure. Check with your doctor right away if you have decreased appetite, diarrhea, fast or shallow breathing, a general feeling of discomfort, muscle pain or cramping, stomach discomfort, and unusual sleepiness, tiredness, or weakness. If you have more than one of these symptoms together, you should get immediate emergency medical help.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur with this medicine. This is more common if you have kidney disease, low blood pressure, or if you are taking a diuretic (water pill). Drinking plenty of fluids each day may help. Drink plenty of water during exercise or in hot weather. Check with your doctor if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not stop. This may cause you to lose too much water.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Your doctor may give you insulin, fluid, and carbohydrate replacement to treat this condition. Tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, or increased thirst or urination.
Tell your doctor if you have bloody urine, decrease in how much or how often you urinate, painful or difficult urination, lower back or side pain, fever, chills, or swelling of the face, finger, or lower legs. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.
This medicine may increase your risk of having urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis or urosepsis. Check with your doctor right away if you have bladder pain, bloody or cloudy urine, difficult, burning, or painful urination, or lower back or side pain.
This medicine may increase your risk of having lower leg or foot amputation (leg removal surgery). Check with your doctor right away if you have pain, tenderness, sores or ulcers, or infections on your leg or foot.
This medicine can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, low blood sugar can occur if you delay or miss a meal or snack, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, cannot eat because of nausea or vomiting, or take certain medicines. Low blood sugar must be treated before it causes you to pass out (unconsciousness). People feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. Some symptoms of low blood sugar include: behavior changes that are similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool, pale skin, difficulty with thinking, drowsiness, excessive hunger, a fast heartbeat, headaches that continue, nausea, shakiness, slurred speech, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Talk to your doctor about the best way to treat low blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your diabetes medicine, overeat or do not follow your diet plan, have a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual. High blood sugar can be very serious and must be treated right away.Some symptoms of high blood sugar include blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed and dry skin, a fruit-like breath odor, increased frequency and amount of urination, ketones in the urine, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, rapid and deep breathing, tiredness, or unusual thirst. Talk to your doctor about the best way to treat high blood sugar.
This medicine may cause vaginal yeast infections in women and yeast infections of the penis in men. This is more common in patients who have a history of genital yeast infections or in men who are not circumcised. Women may have a vaginal discharge, itching, or odor. Men may have redness, itching, swelling, or pain around the penis, or a discharge with a strong odor from the penis. Check with your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
This medicine may cause a rare but serious bacterial infection, called necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum or Fournier's gangrene, which can cause damage to the tissue under the skin in the area between and around the anus and genitals (perineum). Fournier's gangrene may lead to hospitalization, multiple surgeries, or death. Check with your doctor right away if you have fever, unusual tiredness or weakness, or pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the area between and around your anus and genitals.
This medicine may cause some women who do not have regular monthly periods to ovulate. This can increase the chance of pregnancy. If you are a woman of childbearing potential, you should discuss birth control options with your doctor.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine at least 4 days before you have major surgery, diagnostic tests (especially tests that use a contrast dye), or other procedures that require fasting. This medicine may also affect the results of certain medical tests (eg, urine glucose tests may not be accurate).
Do not drink a lot of alcohol while you are using this medicine. Heavy alcohol use can increase your risk for lactic acidosis.
There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says you have diabetes with a list of all your medicines.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Anxiety
- blurred vision
- chills
- cold sweats
- confusion
- cool, pale skin
- depression
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- headache
- increased hunger
- itching of the vagina or outside of the genitals
- loss of consciousness
- nausea
- seizures
- shakiness
- slurred speech
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor
Less common
- Bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- blurred vision
- decreased frequency or amount of urine
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- discharge with a strong odor from the penis
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- dry mouth
- fainting
- frequent urge to urinate
- increase in heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- loss of appetite
- lower back or side pain
- pain in the skin around the penis
- rapid breathing
- redness, itching, or swelling of the penis
- sunken eyes
- swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
- trouble breathing
- vomiting
- weight gain
Rare
- Flushed, dry skin
- fruit-like breath odor
- stomach pain
- unexplained weight loss
Incidence not known
- Clay-colored stools
- dark urine
- fainting spells
- fever
- irregular heartbeat
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the area between the anus and genitals
- unpleasant breath odor
- vomiting of blood
- yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Diarrhea
- excess air or gas in the stomach or bowel
- feeling of fullness
- heartburn
- lack or loss of strength
- passing gas
Less common
- Back pain
- decreased weight
- stuffy or runny nose
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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