Drug Name
Prandin (Repaglinide)
Generic Name
Repaglinide (rah-PAG-lih-nide)
Manufacturer / Distributor
Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Looks like
Repaglinide is available with a prescription under the brand name Prandin. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
- Prandin 0.5 mg – white tablets
- Prandin 1 mg – yellow tablets
- Prandin 2 mg – red tablets
Dosage Form
Tablets
Route Of Administration
ORAL
Alternatives
Starlix
Drug Uses
Prandin is used to treat Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, either alone or in combination with other anti-diabetes medications, along with a diet and exercise program. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, circulation problems, and blindness.
Drug class
Prandin is an oral medication for lowering blood sugar (glucose) in diabetics. It is in a class of drugs for treating diabetes type 2 called meglitinides and is chemically unlike other anti-diabetic medication.
Mechanism of Action
Prandin is an oral medication for lowering blood sugar (glucose) in diabetics. It is in a class of drugs for treating diabetes type 2 called meglitinides and is chemically unlike other anti-diabetic medication. Approximately 90% of patients with diabetes have type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. (Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adulthood, and is associated with obesity and a strong family history of diabetes.) Glucose intolerance in diabetes type II is caused by reduced insulin secretion from the pancreas after meals and resistance of the body’s cells to insulin’s effect which is to stimulate the cells to remove glucose from the blood. This leads to high levels of blood glucose. Like Sulfonylureas, e.g. glyburide (Diabeta; Glynase; Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), glimepiride (Amaryl), tolbutamide (Orinase), and tolazamide (Tolinase), prandin stimulates cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. Glyburide may be more potent than prandin at increasing insulin release in persons with lowor high blood glucose levels, whereas prandin may be more potent in persons with moderate blood glucose levels. Prandin is unusual in that it has a rapid onset of action and a short duration of action. When taken just prior to meals, it promotes the release of insulin that normally occurs with meals and is responsible for preventing blood glucose levels from becoming high. It has been shown to lower hemoglobin A1c levels by 1.6-1.9%. (Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test which measures the effectiveness of a drug in controlling high blood glucose levels. The lower the hemoglobin A1c, the better the control).
How Taken
Take repaglinide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Take repaglinide before meals. It is usually taken 15 minutes before each meal. However, it can be taken immediately before a meal or up to 30 minutes before a meal. Repaglinide may be taken two, three, or four times a day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
If you skip a meal, skip the repaglinide dose for that meal, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. If you add a meal or significantly more food to your diet than is usual, ask your doctor if you may need an additional dose of repaglinide.
Dosage and Administration
ADULTS
Take Prandin before each meal. The recommended dose ranges from 0.5 milligram to 4 milligrams. If you have never taken a glucose-lowering medication before, you should start with the 0.5-milligram dose. If you have taken these drugs in the past, the starting dose is 1 or 2 milligrams. Take no more than 16 milligrams a day.
Dose Adjustment
Your dose of Prandin will be adjusted according to your fasting blood sugar levels. If your pre-meal glucose level appears normal and you are still experiencing glucose control problems, your doctor may test your glucose level after you have eaten a meal. Your doctor will wait at least a week after each change in dose to check your response.
Switching to Prandin
When Prandin replaces another oral glucose-lowering medicine, you should start taking it the day after your final dose or the previous drug. Be alert for signs of low blood sugar; effects of the drugs may overlap.
Combination Therapy:
If Prandin is being added to Glucophage therapy, you should begin with a 0.5-milligram dose. Dosage will then be adjusted according to your blood glucose levels.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take a dose until after eating, skip that dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose, before a meal.
Overdose
An overdose of Prandin taken without food can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia may include:
- Cold sweat,
- confusion,
- depression,
- dizziness,
- drowsiness,
- fatigue,
- headache,
- hunger,
- nausea,
- nervousness,
- rapid heartbeat,
- shaking
Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia may include:
- Coma,
- pale skin,
- seizure,
- shallow breathing
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center ( http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm ), or emergency room immediately.
Storage
Store Prandin at room temperature, between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light.
Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep Prandin out of the reach of children and away from pets.
Most important information about Prandin
More information about PRANDIN (Repaglinide):
Sciele Signs Exclusive Agreement with Novo Nordisk to Market Prandin and PrandiMet
To buy PRANDIN (Repaglinide) click HERE: My Family Drugstore
