Second post in a series…

This is the second in a series where I go through all the drugs and vitamin supplements that my doctor has instructed me to take and I provide you with a list of links / readings / background information.

For the full backstory and the 411 on Invokana and the ACA, check out the first post:

Sharing Diabetes and Supplement Information #1: Introduction, Invokana and the ACA

I can hear the collective groan from my assembled readers…  “Just give us the short story!” — well as you should all know by now, I don’t do short very well.  But, I shall try.  😀

I am a fairly new diabetic.  I was diagnosed in June 2015, approximately 5 months ago.  My doctor immediately put me two diabetic drugs.  This was in addition to the drugs I was taking to control my high blood pressure and dust/dust mite allergies.

A month ago at my last doctor’s visit, I was ordered to start taking a HUGE number of mega-doses of vitamin and mineral supplements.

Which lead me to a BUNCH of questions:

• Are there any interactions that I should be watching out for?
  ..
• What are all these things supposed to be doing to improve my health?
  ..
• Are any of these things the cause of:
  • …a constant low volume ringing in my ears?
  • …a weird pattern I’m seeing in my blood sugar levels? [Since I’ve started taking the supplements, my fasting blood sugar levels have increased dramatically.]
    ..

Standard Disclaimer:
I am NOT a doctor.  I am not offering medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult your doctor before making any medical decisions.

Why share such personal information?

Well, I’m a bit of a drama queen.  LOL  I love talking about Moí!

Actually, I’m a retired Librarian.  I enjoy sharing information.  I get a kick out of it.

Since I’m doing this research online no matter what for my own benefit, I thought I’d make a series of blog posts out of it so that others could benefit as well.

Read the first article in this series for more detail on how and why I chose these particular links / articles.

Janumet (Sitagliptin / Metformin)

Q: When and how should I take Janumet?

A: Online, everything I read said “take with meals” — but that wasn’t exactly “helpful.  Sheesh.  I wanted EXACTNESS!  Did “with meals” mean just before the meal or actually when I was eating?  Did the drug need time to be absorbed BEFORE I started to eat?  And if I was supposed to take it “with meals” then wouldn’t that mess up the timing if I’m taking two pills a day?  I mean, logically, it makes sense to take two doses of medication 12 hours apart if you are taking “two per day”.  If I took it “with meals” then it wouldn’t be 12 hours apart — after all, breakfast and dinner are NOT 12 hours apart.  *sigh*

Of course every article also said to “ask your doctor”  so I did.  🙂

My doctor said: to take the 1st pill of the day 10 minutes before eating breakfast (basically I take it when I start cooking breakfast).  For the second dose of the day, my doctor said to take it approximately 12 hours later.  So if I eat breakfast at 9 am, then I should take the second pill around 9 pm.

Q: Any drug interactions that I should watch for?

A: Yes, as with most drugs there is a big long list of possible interactions.

I discovered that, for me, what I need to be most aware of is a possible interaction with my high blood pressure medication, Enalapril and with my Niacin supplement.  So, I bet you can guess what I’m about to say…all together now:

Note to self: ask my doctor about this when I see her next time!

Janumet (Sitagliptin / Metformin)
Information / Articles / Links

Janumet (WebMD)
Link: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-148074/janumet-oral/details

Diabetes Medicines You Don’t Inject (WebMD)
Link: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/oral-medicine-pills-treat-diabetes

Sitagliptin (MedlinePlus)
Link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a606023.html

Metformin (MedlinePlus)
Link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html

Medication Guide for Janumet (Food & Drug Administration)
Note: This is a PDF file.  Get the current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Link: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/drugs/drugsafety/ucm204268.pdf

Janumet (website mantained by the drug’s manufacturer)
Link: http://www.janumetxr.com/sitagliptin_metformin_HCL/janumetxr/consumer/what-is-janumet/index.xhtml
Note: Yes, you can get lots of information on the manufacturer’s website.

However, when using any manufacturer’s website, you need to put on your “buyer beware” hat.  Think about it:  the company is a business which means that it is to their advantage to emphasis the positives and minimize the negatives even as they do everything the law requires them to do in terms of disclosure of risks.

Trust, but verify be thy motto when reading information provided by the manufacturer.

Discount ($5 copay program / Savings Card for Janumet)
Note: I am on this program. The application process is easy to complete.  Basically the program works like a coupon when you pick up your monthly prescription at the pharmacy.  My copay for this drug is $100.  The pharmacy rings up $100 then they apply the “coupon” and Tah-DAH, my balance due is only $5.
Link: http://www.activatethecard.com/7159/

Free Trial for Janumet (30 day supply)
Note: I took advantage of this when I first started taking Janumet.  For me that was 60 tablets because my doctor ordered me to take it 2x per day. The Free Trial works like a coupon at the pharmacy during checkout.  When the coupon is applied, there is zero cost.  You pay nothing.  Your insurance company pays nothing.

Special Note: If you have trouble redeeming the coupon have the clerk ring the transaction all by itself.  When I did this, it wouldn’t work if I had anything else on the ticket other than just the Janumet.  I have no idea why the computers were not happy but once ONLY the Janumet was on the ticket, everything worked fine.

See ya on the dance floor!

P.S.  If you find any of this information valuable, please “Like” and “Share” it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter etc.

P.P.S.  If you found this information REALLY helpful and/or valuable then please consider helping me out by making a small donation via PayPal to help me

• pay for my medications,
• pay for vitamins & supplements,
• and/or to help me pay for practice fees as I return to the dance floor.

See ya on the dance floor!