Steglatro

The active ingredient in Steglatro is ertugliflozin pidolate which is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 or SGLT-2 inhibitor. It reduces the amount of sugar absorbed back into the body via the kidneys. This permits your body to eliminate excess sugar through the urine, which helps reduce your blood sugar.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and read all documents provided, including the full Prescribing Information, FDA-Approved Product Labeling, Instructions for Use, and Medication Guide before using Steglatro. However, the following is a synopsis of the general guidelines for the use of Steglatro:

• Steglatro is typically taken once daily. You can take it with or without food.
• If you are vomiting or having diarrhea, drinking less food or fluid than normal, or sweating excessively, contact your doctor right away.
• Your blood sugar will need to be tested frequently, and you may need to test the level of ketones in your urine. Steglatro can result in life-threatening ketoacidosis (excess acid in the blood). Even if your blood sugar is normal, call your doctor if a urine test reveals ketones.
• Stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol consumption, and meal skipping all have an impact on blood sugar levels. Before changing your prescription dosage or schedule, consult with your doctor.
• Steglatro is simply one component of a treatment plan that may include diet, exercise, weight management, regular blood sugar testing, and specialized medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

The most common side effects of Steglatro seen in clinical trials as compared to placebo include:

• Urinary tract infections.
• Headaches.
• Vaginal itching.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Weight loss.
• Yeast infection in males and females.

Some individuals may experience serious side effects while using Steglatro. These side effects may require immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical help:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis, DKA,(ketone accumulation): extreme dehydration, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, and shortness of breath.
• Precipitating conditions for diabetic ketoacidosis or other ketoacidosis include reduced or missed insulin doses, acute febrile illness, reduced caloric intake, or a ketogenic diet.
• Fournier's gangrene (a flesh-eating bacterial infection of the genitals): fever or discomfort, as well as genital pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the perineum (of and around the anus and genitals).
• Acute kidney problems or reduced renal function: decreased urine production, edema in the legs or feet, nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
• Allergic reactions: skin rashes, itching, hives, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or neck.
• Serious urinary tract infection (UTI) including urosepsis and pyelonephritis: burning while urinating, frequent tiny volumes of urine, bloody or murky urine, and pain in the lower back or sides.
• Increased risk of dehydration if you take blood pressure-lowering medications, such as water pills (diuretics): increased thirst, dry mouth, fainting or lightheadedness, headache, dark yellow or brown urine.
• Increased risk of lower limb amputations. Lower limb infections, gangrene, and diabetic foot ulcers were the most common risk factors leading to the need for an amputation.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Steglatro. You should always seek medical advice from your healthcare provider for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. Read all patient information, medication guides, or drug information sheets that come with this medication. You can also report adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before starting Steglatro, it is crucial to discuss any existing health conditions with your healthcare provider. You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, including if you have:

• Heart failure.
• Circulation or nerve disorders in the legs or feet.
• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease or are on dialysis.
• Bladder infections and other urinary issues.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension).
• Low blood sugar.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of metabolic acidosis should be evaluated for ketoacidosis, regardless of their blood glucose level. If suspected, cease, assess, and treat immediately.
• Problems with your pancreas, including surgery or pancreatitis.
• Hepatic impairments.
• Type 1 diabetes.
• Steglatro can lead to severe genital mycotic infections. Seek medical attention right away if you have burning, itching, odor, discharge, discomfort, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the vaginal or rectal area, fever, or do not feel well.
• Your risk of hypoglycemia increases if you take insulin or an insulin secretagogue (eg, sulfonylureas); a lower dose of insulin or insulin secretagogue may be required.
• Patients 65 years of age and older had a higher incidence of adverse reactions related to volume depletion compared to younger patients.

If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, please notify your healthcare professional because Steglatro (ertugliflozin) is not safe for you to consume.

• Serious kidney issues or renal impairment.
• End-stage renal disease (ESRD).
• Dialysis

Steglatro begins working to reduce your blood sugar about an hour after your first dose. However, it may take several months for your A1C to begin to reduce.

When Steglatro is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the frequency or severity of side effects. Make sure that you tell your healthcare professional about anything that you are taking to avoid any negative drug interactions, including:

• Acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA.
• Atypical antipsychotics (clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone).
• Certain blood pressure medicines.
• Corticosteroids (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone).
• Diabetes medicines (insulin, glimepiride, glyburide, metformin, and rosiglitazone).
• Diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and triamterene, as well as disopyramide).
• Estrogen (conjugated estrogens, estradiol, ethinyl estradiol).
• HIV protease inhibitors (atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir).
• Lanreotide.
• Mifepristone.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (moclobemide, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine).
• Niacin.
• Nilotinib.
• Octreotide.
• Pasireotide.
• Pentamidine.
• Progestins (dienogest, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, and norethindrone).
• Quinine.
• Quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin).
• SSRIs (citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline).
• Sirolimus.
• Somatostatin Acetate.
• Sulfonamide antibiotics ("sulfa"; examples include sulfisoxazole and sulfamethoxazole).
• Sunitinib.
• Tacrolimus.
• Testosterone.

Steglatro is available in the following dosage forms and strengths:

5 mg tablet

15 mg tablet

Steglatro is typically taken once daily in the morning with or without food. Your provider may adjust your dose based on your response, and the maximum dose is 15 mg once daily.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, but skip it if it's almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at once.

Store your Steglatro at room temperature and keep it out of reach of children.

The pharmaceutical company that manufactures Stegaltro is Merck Sharp & Dohme.

No, there is no generic version of Steglatro.

Continue to take Steglatro for as long as your healthcare provider has prescribed. If you wish to stop taking the medication, then speak to your doctor first.

Animal studies showed that Steglatro may cause harm to your unborn baby. Because of this, it should not be used during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are already pregnant or if you have any plans to become pregnant.

Talk to your doctor if you are already breastfeeding or if you have any plans to breastfeed as it is not recommended to breastfeed while on Steglatro as the medication can pass through the breastmilk.