Galvus and Galvus Met: how to take, what to replace, contraindications
The drugs Galvus and Galvus Met are used to treat type 2 diabetes. They have certain indications for admission, there are also cases when they cannot be prescribed.
Galvus is a pill that lowers blood sugar. The drug is based on a substance called vildagliptin. Despite the high cost of the drug, it is popular among patients, as it is highly effective and rarely provokes the development of side effects.
Galvus Met is a drug that is represented by a combination of two active ingredients. The drug contains vildagliptin and metformin.
Below is information for patients who have been prescribed Galvus or Galvus Met as a treatment for diabetes.
Galvus can be considered a "young" drug, since it was launched no more than 10 years ago. To date, there are no inexpensive analogues of this drug on sale. However, other companies produce similar drugs that are also expensive. These are such means as: Januvia and Janumet, Ongliza and Vipidia, as well as some others.
Content:
- Instructions for use for preparations Galvus and Galvus Met
- Features of taking the drug Galvus Met
Instructions for use for preparations Galvus and Galvus Met
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How the drug works |
The main active ingredient (vildagliptin) increases the sensitivity of the beta cells of the pancreas to glucose, and also stimulates the production of glucagon. Metformin, which is present in the composition of the drug Galvus Met, reduces the production of glucose in the liver, prevents excessive absorption of carbohydrates in the digestive tract, and increases the ability of cells to assimilate insulin. The result of the drug is a stable blood sugar level both after a meal and on an empty stomach. Vildagliptin is excreted mainly by the kidneys (up to 85%), the remaining 15% are excreted through the intestines. Metformin is almost completely excreted by the urinary system. |
| When to take the drug |
An indication for prescribing a drug is type 2 diabetes mellitus, if it is no longer possible to control blood sugar levels with the help of an active lifestyle and diet. The drug Galvus Met can be combined with insulin injections, as well as drugs that are sulfonylurea derivatives. |
| When you can't take |
Contraindications for admission are the following conditions:
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| What you need to pay attention to |
Insulin therapy cannot be replaced by taking Galvus and Galvus Met drugs. In order to prevent the development of side effects, it is necessary to undergo an examination before starting therapy, which will provide information about the work of the liver and kidneys. A blood test during treatment will need to be taken regularly. If the patient is to undergo an operation, or an X-ray examination using contrast agents, then Metformin will be refused 2 days before the procedure. |
| Dose collection | Do not take more than 100 mg of vildagliptin and more than 2000-3000 mg of metformin per day. Specific instructions for the dosage of the drug will be given below. |
| Side effects | If Galvus or Galvus Met is combined with insulin injections or sulfonylurea derivatives, the likelihood of hypoglycemia increases. This condition is characterized by a sharp drop in blood sugar levels. If symptoms appear suggesting hypoglycemia, an ambulance should be called. Taking vildagliptin can sometimes provoke headaches, dizziness, tremors of the extremities. Metformin also occasionally causes some side effects. However, in general, Galvus Met is a safe drug for health. |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | The drug is prohibited for use by pregnant and lactating women. During this period, they are prescribed low doses of insulin and a diet. |
| Interaction with other medicinal products | Before taking the drug, you need to get medical advice. This is especially true for people who take hormone-based drugs to treat thyroid diseases or drugs to lower blood pressure, since metformin can react with them. Vildagliptin rarely interacts with other drugs. |
| If an overdose occurs | An overdose of vildagliptin causes the appearance of myalgia, an increase in body temperature, a jump in ALT and AST in the blood. Metformin, when taken in high doses, causes lactic acidosis. This condition is life threatening. Therefore, in case of an overdose, you must call an ambulance. To remove the drug from the body, dialysis is prescribed, and also eliminate the negative symptoms that appear in the victims. |
| Release form, storage conditions and composition |
Galvus contains vildagliptin at a concentration of 50 mg. The drug Galvus Met contains vildagliptin at a concentration of 50 mg and metformin (tablets can have a dosage of 500, 850 and 1000 mg). Auxiliary components: hyprolose, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 4000, talc, iron oxide. The drug does not require special storage conditions. It is important that the ambient temperature does not exceed 30 ° C and that children do not have access to pills. The shelf life of the drug is 1 year and 6 months. |
Most patients taking the drug Galvus Met leave positive reviews about it. They indicate that it allows you to bring blood sugar levels to the desired levels. At the same time, the well-being of patients improves, which means that their quality of life increases.
However, to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect, it is not enough just to take Galvus or Galvus Met. The patient needs to follow a diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. If the disease has a severe course, then it will not be possible to cope with it only by taking sugar-burning tablets, insulin injections will be required.
Which to choose: Galvus or Galvus Met? What is the difference?
Galvus is a vildagliptin-based drug and Galvus Met is a combination drug supplemented with metformin. When combined with metformin, vildagliptin is more effective in lowering blood sugar. However, it can be used only when the patient has no contraindications to taking metformin. Common side effects of this substance are diarrhea, flatulence and other disturbances in the digestive system. You should not immediately refuse treatment. As a rule, these adverse reactions appear only in the early stages from the start of therapy, and then they go away.
What to choose Galvus Met or Yanumet?
Janumet and Galvus Met are two medicines that have equivalent effects. Both are designed to lower blood sugar levels. At this point in time, it is impossible to answer which particular drug is better, since there has been no research on this.
The cost of medicines is the same. You will have to pay more for a package of Yanumet, but the number of tablets in it will also be greater.
Both Galvus Met and Janumet are protected by patents, they rarely cause side effects and are safe drugs. You can find positive reviews about both one and the other drug.
Galvus or metformin - which to choose?
Vildagliptin acts as the main active ingredient in Galvus Met, metformin is an auxiliary component. There is an assumption that the effective reduction in blood sugar occurs precisely due to the complex action of these two substances.
Although Galvus Met is more expensive than drugs based on metformin alone, it does its job better. Therefore, if the patient's material condition allows him to use a complex action drug for treatment, then it is better to give preference to him. If this is not possible, then you should opt for metformin preparations (Glucophage or Siofor). It should be noted that both Glucophage and Siofor are imported drugs. You can also buy their cheap counterparts, which are produced in Russia, but there will not be much difference in price.
As far as Galvus is concerned, it is not a powerful drug for lowering blood sugar levels. It is preferable to use Galvus Met for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Galvus is prescribed only if the patient has contraindications to taking metformin. If the treatment does not bring the desired result, then insulin therapy should be started.
Features of taking the drug Galvus Met
To avoid digestive upset in the form of diarrhea and flatulence, it is necessary to take Galvus Met correctly. The starting dose should be minimal, it should be increased gradually. Such a treatment regimen allows the body to adapt and easily perceive a new substance for it. It is metformin, not vildagliptin, that causes digestive disorders.
How to avoid side effects?
In order to prevent the occurrence of side effects, you need to start treatment with low doses of the drug. It is recommended to purchase a package of Galvus Met tablets with a dosage of 50 + 500 mg and take 1 tablet once a day. If the body reacts well to such treatment, then after a week or 10 days, you need to take 2 tablets of the drug - in the morning and before bedtime. When the packaging is over, you should purchase the drug with a dosage of 50 + 850 mg. The drug is also taken 2 times a day. The third stage of treatment is the transition to a drug with a dosage of 50 + 1000 mg. The tablets are also drunk 2 times a day. The final daily dose of drugs is 100 mg vildagliptin and 2000 mg metformin.
If, in addition to diabetes mellitus, the patient is diagnosed with obesity, then the daily dose of metformin can be increased to 3000 mg. To do this, in the middle of the day, during meals, the patient will additionally need to take metformin at a dosage of 850 or 1000 mg. You can use the drug Glucophage or Siofor for this. This can cause some inconvenience to a person, because instead of one drug, he will need to take two different drugs. However, to reduce excess weight, you will have to come to terms with this fact.
Galvus Met is drunk with food, this is due to the content of metformin in it. The drug Galvus does not contain metformin, so it can be taken both before meals and after meals. It doesn't matter.
Galvus is almost 2 times cheaper than Galvus Met. If you want to save money, you can purchase Galvus and Metformin separately (Glucophage or Siofor). However, all recommendations for taking these medications must be followed, which requires more discipline from the patient.
If the patient has a sharp increase in blood sugar in the morning hours, then you need to take 1 tablet of Galvus in the morning and in the evening, and before going to bed, additionally drink a drug based on metformin, with a dosage of 2000 mg (Glucophage Long). Its prolonged effect makes it possible to ensure that sugar levels do not rise to critical levels in the morning.
Can I consume alcoholic beverages?
Having studied the instructions, you may not understand whether alcoholic beverages are allowed during treatment with Galvus and Galvus Met. Taking large doses of alcohol is clearly prohibited, as this increases the likelihood of developing pancreatitis, liver damage, and a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels. The person may end up in the hospital or even die.
As for small doses of alcohol, it is not completely clear. The instruction does not directly permit or prohibit the combination of the drug with alcoholic beverages. Therefore, a person can drink, but only at his own peril and risk. If, after drinking alcohol, the ability to control oneself disappears, then it should be abandoned altogether.
Is it possible to lose weight during treatment?
The studies that have been carried out on this matter suggest that Galvus and Galvus Met have no effect on body weight. However, as the practical experience of using metformin shows, it still has the ability to fight obesity. Therefore, the likelihood that the patient will lose weight remains high.
How to replace Galvus Met?
Situations in which you may need to replace the drug Galvus Met:
- The drug does not lower blood sugar, which is kept at high levels.
- The drug lowers blood sugar, but its level does not drop below 6 mmol / L.
- A person cannot afford to continue treatment with this drug due to financial resources.
If Galvus Met does not work, then it can only be caused by the fact that the reserves of the pancreas are completely depleted. In such a situation, no other drug will help, the patient urgently needs insulin injections. Otherwise, he will develop serious complications of the disease in the near future.
Normally, blood sugar should not exceed 5.5 mmol / l. Such values should remain stable and not change during the day. If taking the drug Galvus Met allows you to bring blood sugar to the level of 6.5-8 mmol / l, then you need to connect insulin injections in small doses. The scheme is selected depending on the individual characteristics of the course of diabetes mellitus in a particular patient. Also, the patient must follow a diet and play sports. A person should understand that with a blood sugar level of 6.0 mmol / l, complications of the disease continue to develop, but at a slower pace.
If you can't buy Galvus Met?
If the drugs Galvus and Galvus Met are expensive for the patient, and he cannot afford to buy them, then he needs to take metformin in its pure form. It can be Glucophage or Siofor. They are manufactured abroad. Their Russian counterparts are even cheaper.
Be sure to follow a low-carb diet. Otherwise, the disease will progress.
Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist
Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.
