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eMedical Forum

Nir Barzilai, MD
Professor of Medicine and Molecular Genetics in the Department of Medicine and the Diabetes Research Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Refining Strategies for Glycemic Control: Exploring the Use of Earlier Combination Therapy

Key scientific leader Nir Barzilai discusses the potential advantages of earlier combination therapy in helping to achieve glycemic goals and the efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile of JANUMET in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Complimentary podcast

Richard Pratley, MD
Professor of Medicine and Director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Translational Medicine Unit at the University of Vermont College of Medicine

Featured Podcast: Management of Diabetes With a Fixed-Dose Combination Therapy: Advantages and Disadvantages

There are a number of therapeutic approaches to treating type 2 diabetes. Monotherapy is often not sufficient to handle this complex, progressive disease, making combination therapy quite common. In this program, Richard Pratley discusses the advantages and the disadvantages of using combination therapy to help manage type 2 diabetes. You can also register for additional podcasts at MerckProductServices™.

Important Information About JANUMET

JANUMET is indicated, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both sitagliptin and metformin is appropriate.

JANUMET should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

JANUMET has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. It is unknown whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at increased risk of developing pancreatitis while taking JANUMET.

Selected Important Risk Information About JANUMET

JANUMET is contraindicated in patients with renal disease or renal dysfunction (serum creatinine levels >1.5 mg/dL in males and >1.4 mg/dL in females) or abnormal creatinine clearance; acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis, with or without coma; or history of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to JANUMET or sitagliptin (one of the components of JANUMET), such as anaphylaxis or angioedema.

Temporarily discontinue JANUMET in patients undergoing radiologic studies involving intravascular administration of iodinated contrast materials.

Measure renal function before initiation of therapy with JANUMET and periodically thereafter. Avoid use in patients with hepatic disease. Temporarily discontinue for intercurrent serious conditions, infection, or surgery.

WARNING: LACTIC ACIDOSIS

Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious complication that can occur because of metformin accumulation. The risk increases with conditions such as sepsis, dehydration, excess alcohol intake, hepatic insufficiency, renal impairment, and acute congestive heart failure.

The onset is often subtle, accompanied only by nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, myalgias, respiratory distress, increasing somnolence, and nonspecific abdominal distress.

Laboratory abnormalities include low pH, increased anion gap, and elevated blood lactate.

If acidosis is suspected, JANUMET should be discontinued and the patient hospitalized immediately [see Warnings and Precautions].

When lactic acidosis occurs, it is fatal in approximately 50% of cases. The reported incidence of lactic acidosis in patients receiving metformin is very low (approximately 0.03 cases/1000 patient-years, with approximately 0.015 fatal cases/1000 patient-years). Reported cases have occurred primarily in diabetic patients with significant renal insufficiency, including both intrinsic renal disease and renal hypoperfusion, often in the setting of multiple concomitant medical/surgical problems and multiple concomitant medications.

There have been postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis, including fatal and nonfatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, in patients taking JANUMET. After initiating JANUMET, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis. If pancreatitis is suspected, promptly discontinue JANUMET and initiate appropriate management. It is unknown whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at increased risk of developing pancreatitis while taking JANUMET.

Use With Medications Known to Cause Hypoglycemia
Sitagliptin
When sitagliptin was used in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin, medications known to cause hypoglycemia, the incidence of hypoglycemia was increased over that of placebo used in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin. Therefore, patients also receiving insulin or an insulin secretagogue (eg, sulfonylurea) may require a lower dose of insulin or the insulin secretagogue to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.

Metformin hydrochloride
Hypoglycemia does not occur in patients receiving metformin alone under usual circumstances of use but could occur when caloric intake is deficient, when strenuous exercise is not compensated by caloric supplementation, or during concomitant use with other glucose-lowering agents (such as sulfonylureas and insulin) or ethanol. Elderly, debilitated, or malnourished patients and those with adrenal or pituitary insufficiency or alcohol intoxication are particularly susceptible to hypoglycemic effects.

There have been postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with sitagliptin, one of the components of JANUMET, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is generally not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Onset of these reactions occurred within the first 3 months after initiation of treatment with sitagliptin, with some reports occurring after the first dose. If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, discontinue JANUMET, assess for other potential causes for the event, and institute alternative treatment for diabetes.

In clinical studies, the most common adverse reactions reported, regardless of investigator assessment of causality, in >5% of patients and more commonly than in patients treated with placebo were as follows: diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache (for sitagliptin and metformin combination therapy); hypoglycemia and headache (for sitagliptin in combination with metformin and sulfonylurea); hypoglycemia (for sitagliptin in combination with metformin and insulin); nasopharyngitis (for sitagliptin monotherapy); and diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, indigestion, asthenia, and headache (for metformin therapy).

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Therefore, JANUMET should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., maintains a registry to monitor the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to JANUMET while pregnant. Health care providers are encouraged to report any prenatal exposure to JANUMET by calling the Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-986-8999.

No studies in lactating animals have been conducted with the combined components of JANUMET. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when JANUMET is administered to a nursing woman.

Safety and effectiveness of JANUMET in children under 18 years have not been established.

No dosage adjustment is required based on age; however, because JANUMET is substantially excreted by the kidney, it may be useful to assess renal function in elderly patients before initiation of JANUMET and periodically thereafter.

Before prescribing JANUMET, please read the Prescribing Information and the Medication Guide, including the Boxed Warning about lactic acidosis.

Important Information About JANUVIA

JANUVIA is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

JANUVIA should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

JANUVIA has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. It is unknown whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at increased risk of developing pancreatitis while taking JANUVIA.

Selected Important Risk Information About JANUVIA

JANUVIA is contraindicated in patients with a history of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to sitagliptin, such as anaphylaxis or angioedema.

There have been postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis, including fatal and nonfatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, in patients taking JANUVIA. After initiating JANUVIA, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis. If pancreatitis is suspected, promptly discontinue JANUVIA and initiate appropriate management. It is unknown whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at increased risk of developing pancreatitis while taking JANUVIA.

A dosage adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate or severe renal insufficiency or with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

When JANUVIA was used in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin, medications known to cause hypoglycemia, the incidence of hypoglycemia was increased over that of placebo. Therefore, a lower dose of sulfonylurea or insulin may be required to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.

There have been postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with JANUVIA, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is generally not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Onset of these reactions occurred within the first 3 months after initiation of treatment with JANUVIA, with some reports occurring after the first dose. If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, discontinue JANUVIA, assess for other potential causes for the event, and institute alternative treatment for diabetes.

In clinical studies, the adverse reactions reported, regardless of investigator assessment of causality, in >5% of patients treated with JANUVIA as monotherapy and in combination therapy and more commonly than in patients treated with placebo, were upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, and headache.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Therefore, JANUVIA should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., maintains a registry to monitor the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to JANUVIA while pregnant. Health care providers are encouraged to report any prenatal exposure to JANUVIA by calling the Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-986-8999.

It is not known whether sitagliptin is excreted in human milk. Therefore, caution should be exercised when JANUVIA is administered to a nursing woman.

Safety and effectiveness of JANUVIA in children under 18 years have not been established.

No dosage adjustment is required based on age; however, because JANUVIA is substantially excreted by the kidney, it may be useful to assess renal function in elderly patients before initiation and periodically thereafter.

Before prescribing JANUVIA, please read the Prescribing Information and the Medication Guide.

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