Glinate (Nateglinide) 120 mg

What is Glinate?

Glinate, also sold under the brand name Starlix, Glinate (manufactured by Glenmark Pharma) among several other brand names sold worldwide, is an oral diabetes medication with Nateglinide as the active ingredient that keeps blood sugar levels in check. Glinate aids your body to better respond to insulin (a hormone that is crucial to glucose metabolism) secreted by your pancreas.
Glinatein combination with a strict and regimented diet and exercise program is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Other diabetes medications may also be prescribed in combination with Glinate in some cases.
Glinate may also be given for conditions not mentioned above.

Important Information about Glinate

Do not take Glinate if you are allergic to it or if you are in a condition of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Nateglinide and other diabetic medications control your blood sugar level by lowering it. Take care and ensure that your blood sugar level doesn’t fall very low which may result in hypoglycemia, especially if you skip a meal or go longer without meals, exercise more, consume alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are headache, hunger, overall weakness, sweating, irritability, tremors, or concentration troubles. Carry an instant source of glucose like glucose tablets, candy in case you have bouts of low blood sugar. Train your family members and close friends to help you out in case of emergency.
Nateglinide medication will not control your diabetic problems single handedly. You have to maintain strict diet, exercise and weight control measures and may also require other medications. Going slack in any of these can result in your condition going out of control and can be dangerous.
Nateglinide is classified as FDA pregnancy category C drug meaning it is unknown whether Nateglinide medication (Glinate) use can be harmful to your unborn baby if you take it during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about it. Also ask your doctor if it is safe to take Nateglinide if you are breast feeding.

Before taking Nateglinide

Before taking Nateglinide, discuss all details about it with regards to the points mentioned above with your doctor and any other things you may want to know.
Let your doctor know if you have liver disease or gout so that he or she can judge whether Nateglinide is safe for you to take.

How should I take Nateglinide?

You should take Nateglinide medication strictly as directed by your doctor. Don’t change the dosage under any situation unless or otherwise advised by your doctor or you may witness dangerous effects of the medication. Your doctor may alter the dosage if you are ill, have an infection, or any scheduled surgery or medical emergency.
Glinate is usually taken 3 times normally within half an hour before eating a meal. Follow you doctor’s advice. If you are going to skip a meal, do not take a dose of Nateglinide and wait until your next meal. You will have to constantly keep a watch on your blood sugar levels while taking Nateglinide and you may also be required to undergo blood tests quite often to monitor your progress closely. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them properly. Always keep an instant source of sugar handy. In case you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink anything, you may be prescribed a glucose injection called as glucagon. It can be self administered.
You must take Nateglinide (Glinate) medication regularly as prescribed for the maximum benefits. Ensure that you don’t run out of medication by refilling before the existing one gets over. Always store Nateglinide medication in a cool and dry place.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of Nateglinide, take it as soon as you remember but only if you are going to take a meal in the next half an hour. Don’t take the missed dose if the time to take the next dose is almost up. Taking multiple doses near to each other can lead to excess medication in your body which can be dangerous.

What if I overdose?

If you take an overdose of Nateglinide and experience any serious conditions, seek emergency medical help or call the Doctor Immediately. You may experience symptoms of severe hypoglycemia such as severe weakness, blurred vision, sweating, speech troubles, shaking, stomach ache, confusion, or seizure.

What should I avoid while taking Nateglinide?

Alcohol is a strict No-No while taking Nateglinide as alcohol lowers the blood sugar level and can cause hypoglycemia with this medicine.

Nateglinide Side Effects

Get emergency medical attention if you witness some allergic reactions to Nateglinide like hives, breathing difficulty, swelling in face, lips, tongue, or throat. You may also see some severed side effects of this medication like seizure or jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes). Some less serious side effects are runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, cold or flu symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, back ache, dizziness, or joint pain or stiffness.
These are not a complete set of side effects which you may experience due to Nateglinide usage. There may be other side effects. Discuss about the side effects with your doctor.

Nateglinide Dosing Information

Nateglinide dosage will be fixed by your doctor after examining you properly. Stick to your doctor’s prescription strictly. Normal dosage of Nateglinide for type 2 diabetes is 120 mg orally thrice a day before meals or 60 mg thrice a day before meal (for those who are near the target of HbA1c).

Interaction with other drugs

Glinate may interact with other medications. Using a beta blocker can make it difficult for you to tell when you have low blood sugar. Let your doctor if you take atenelol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others.
You may get hyperglycemia (high blood sugar ) if you take Nateglinide with these medications: diuretics; isoniazid; steroids; birth control pills and other hormones; diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies; thyroid medicine; niacin; or phenothiazines.
You may get hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you take Nateglinide with these medications: exenatide; some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; aspirin or other salicylates; exenatide; sulfa drugs; a monoamine oxidase inhibitor; other oral diabetes medications like acarbose, metformin, miglitol, rosiglitazone or others.
The drug interactions mentioned thus are not all the possible interactions which you may see due to Nateglinide. There may be others as well. Share the list of all type of medications and related products which you are using with your doctor and never start a new medication without his or her advice.