Qtern

Generic name: Dapagliflozin and saxagliptin

Drug class: Antidiabetic combinations

Dosage forms: Tablet

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 5, 10 mg

Mechanism of action: Qtern contains a combination of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin. Dapagliflozin and saxagliptin are oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels. Dapagliflozin works by helping the kidneys get rid of glucose from your bloodstream. Saxagliptin works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

Drug usage cases: Qtern is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Qtern is also used to lower the risk of death from heart attack, stroke, or heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease. Qtern is not for treating type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Drug contra indications: You should not use Qtern if you have:

severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); or a history of severe allergic or skin reaction after taking dapagliflozin or saxagliptin. To make sure Qtern is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

kidney disease; diabetic ketoacidosis; liver disease; bladder cancer; bladder infections or other urination problems; problems with your pancreas, including surgery; gallstones; high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood); alcoholism; if you are on a low salt diet; or if you are 65 or older. Qtern is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Qtern: hives, itching, flaking or peeling skin; trouble swallowing, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Seek medical attention right away if you have signs of a genital infection (penis or vagina): burning, itching, odor, discharge, pain, tenderness, redness or swelling of the genital or rectal area, fever, not feeling well. These symptoms may get worse quickly. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

severe or ongoing pain in your joints; serious skin reaction – itching, blisters, breakdown of the outer layer of skin; ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood) – nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or trouble breathing; pancreatitis – severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate; dehydration symptoms – dizziness, weakness, feeling light-headed (like you might pass out); or signs of a bladder infection – pain or burning when you urinate, increased urination, blood in your urine, pain in your pelvis or back. Some people taking dapagliflozin have had bladder cancer, but it is not clear if this medicine was the actual cause.

Warnings: You should not use Qtern if you have severe kidney disease or if you are on dialysis. Taking Qtern can make you dehydrated, which could cause you to feel weak or dizzy (especially when you stand up). Stop taking Qtern and call your doctor at once if you have signs of a pancreatitis, such as severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, with or without vomiting, Dapagliflozin can cause serious infections in the penis or vagina. Get medical help right away if you have burning, itching, odor, discharge, pain, tenderness, redness or swelling of the genital or rectal area, fever, or if you don’t feel well.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: Follow your doctor’s instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant. Blood sugar control is very important during pregnancy, and your dose needs may be different during each trimester. You should not use Qtern during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.