Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Sitagliptina Almus 25 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG
Read this package leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the Package Leaflet
Sitagliptina Almus contains the active substance sitagliptin, which belongs to a class of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) that reduce blood sugar levels in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
This medicine helps to increase the amount of insulin produced after a meal and decreases the amount of sugar produced by the body.
Your doctor has prescribed this medicine to help you reduce your blood sugar level, which is too high due to your type 2 diabetes. This medicine can be used alone or in combination with other medicines (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, or glitazones) that reduce blood sugar levels, which you may already be taking for your diabetes, along with your diet and exercise program.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body does not produce enough insulin, and the insulin it produces does not work as well as it should. Your body may also produce too much sugar. When this happens, sugar (glucose) builds up in the blood. This can cause serious medical problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.
Do not take Sitagliptina Almus
If you are allergic to sitagliptin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
There have been reports of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in patients treated with Sitagliptina Almus (see section 4).
If you notice blisters on your skin, it may be a sign of a disease called bullous pemphigoid. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking sitagliptin.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had:
It is unlikely that this medicine will cause low blood sugar because it does not work when blood sugar levels are low. However, when this medicine is used in combination with a medicine that contains a sulfonylurea or with insulin, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may occur. Your doctor may reduce the dose of your sulfonylurea or insulin medicine.
Children and adolescents
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age should not use this medicine. It is not effective in children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years. It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective when used in children under 10 years of age.
Other medicines and Sitagliptina Almus
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking digoxin (a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and other heart problems). Your doctor may need to check your digoxin blood levels if you are taking sitagliptin.
Taking Sitagliptina Almus with food and drinks
Sitagliptina Almus can be taken with or without food and drinks.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
This medicine should not be taken during pregnancy.
It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. You should not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Driving and using machines
The effect of this medicine on your ability to drive or use machines is negligible. However, dizziness and somnolence have been reported, which may affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Also, taking this medicine with sulfonylureas or insulin may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may affect your ability to drive or use machines or work without a safe support.
Sitagliptina Almus contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per tablet; this is essentially "sodium-free".
The usual recommended dose is:
If you have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe lower doses (such as 25 mg or 50 mg).
You can take this medicine with or without food and drinks.
Your doctor may prescribe this medicine alone or with other medicines that also reduce blood sugar levels.
Diet and exercise can help your body use sugar better. It is important that you follow the diet and exercise recommended by your doctor while taking Sitagliptina Almus.
If you take more Sitagliptina Almus than you should
If you take more of this medicine than you should, contact your doctor immediately.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.
If you forget to take Sitagliptina Almus
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the time of the next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Do not take a double dose of this medicine.
If you stop taking Sitagliptina Almus
Continue taking this medicine while your doctor prescribes it for you to continue helping control your blood sugar levels. You should not stop taking this medicine without first consulting your doctor.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
STOP taking Sitagliptina Almus and contact a doctor immediatelyif you notice any of the following serious side effects:
If you have a severe allergic reaction (frequency not known), including skin rash, hives, blisters on the skin/exfoliative skin, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor will prescribe a medicine to treat the allergic reaction and change your diabetes medicine.
Some patients experienced the following side effects after adding sitagliptin to their treatment with metformin:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): low blood sugar, nausea, flatulence, vomiting.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, somnolence.
Some patients experienced different types of stomach discomfort when starting the combination of sitagliptin and metformin together (frequency classified as common).
Some patients experienced the following side effects while taking sitagliptin in combination with a sulfonylurea and metformin:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): low blood sugar
Common: constipation.
Some patients experienced the following side effects while taking sitagliptin and pioglitazone:
Common: flatulence, swelling of hands or feet.
Some patients experienced the following side effects while taking sitagliptin in combination with pioglitazone and metformin:
Common: swelling of hands or feet.
Some patients experienced the following side effects while taking sitagliptin in combination with insulin (with or without metformin):
Common: flu.
Uncommon: dry mouth.
Some patients experienced the following side effects while taking only sitagliptin during clinical trials or after approval, alone and/or with other diabetes medicines:
Common: low blood sugar, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nasal congestion or runny nose and sore throat, arthrosis, pain in the arm or leg
Uncommon: dizziness, constipation, itching.
Rare: decreased platelet count.
Frequency not known: kidney problems (which may require dialysis), vomiting, joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, interstitial lung disease, bullous pemphigoid (a type of skin blister).
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the Spanish Medicines Surveillance System for Human Use: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and carton after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month shown.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
Composition of Sitagliptina Almus 25 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Core of the tablet: calcium hydrogen phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose 102 (E460), sodium croscarmellose (E468), anhydrous colloidal silica, sodium stearyl fumarate, and magnesium stearate (E470b)
Coating of the tablet: polyvinyl alcohol (E1203), titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 3350 (E1521), talc (E553b), yellow iron oxide (E172), red iron oxide (E172), and black iron oxide (E172).
Appearance of the product and contents of the pack
Film-coated tablets are round and pink.
Opaque blisters (PVC/PE/PVDC and aluminum). Packs of 14, 28, 56 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder
Almus Farmacéutica, S.A.U.
Marie Curie, 54
08840 Viladecans (Barcelona), Spain
Phone: 93 739 71 80
Email: farmacovigilancia@almusfarmaceutica.es
Manufacturer
SAG Manufacturing S.L.U.
Ctra. N-I, Km 36,
28750 San Agustín de Guadalix (Madrid)
Spain
Galenicum Health, S.L.U.
Sant Gabriel, 50
08950 Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona)
Spain
This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Malta: Sitagliptin Diagonalis 25 mg film-coated tablets
Germany: Sitagliptin Diagonalis 25 mg Filmtabletten
Portugal: Sitagliptina Diagonalis
Netherlands: Sitagliptine Diagonalis 25 mg filmomhulde tabletten
Italy: Sitagliptin Diagonalis
Poland: Sitagliptin Diagonalis
France: Sitagliptine Diagonalis 25 mg, comprimé pelliculé
Date of last revision of this package leaflet:April 2022
Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/