Istamet 50mg/500mg TabletRx only

Product information

What Istamet 50mg/500mg Tablet is used for

• Type 2 diabetes
• Added to metformin, a sulfonylurea or insulin
• Type 2 diabetes, usually as the first medicine
• Prediabetes in high-risk people
• Polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance

How it works

Sitagliptin

Sitagliptin blocks the DPP-4 enzyme so the body's own incretin hormones last longer, increasing insulin release when sugar is high and reducing the liver's glucose output.

Metformin

Metformin reduces the amount of glucose the liver releases into the blood and makes the body's muscles more sensitive to insulin. It does not force the pancreas to make more insulin, which is why it rarely causes low sugar on its own.

Common side effects

• Headache
• Runny or blocked nose
• Sore throat
• Stomach discomfort
• Nausea and metallic taste
• Loose motions, especially in the first weeks
• Loss of appetite
• Long-term use can lower vitamin B12

Most side effects are mild and settle as your body adjusts. Tell your doctor if any of them persist or trouble you.

Safety advice

Quick tips

• Once daily, with or without food
• It does not usually cause low sugar unless combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea
• The dose is reduced if kidney function is poor
• Take it with or just after food to reduce the stomach upset — the extended-release form is gentler
• Have kidney function and vitamin B12 checked periodically
• Stop it and call your doctor if you have severe vomiting, diarrhoea or dehydration

Substitutes with the same composition

67 brands with the same salt and strength — same form first, then cheapest. Pack size and form can still differ, and the same salt does not suit every patient. Please confirm with our pharmacist before switching.

Showing the 40 cheapest of 67 brands.