What is the most important information I should know about Prandin?

• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which include hunger, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of sugary hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these routines can affect blood sugar levels.
• Avoid alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with diabetes treatment.

What is Prandin?

• Prandin stimulates the pancreas to release insulin. The body needs insulin to break down sugars in food.
• Prandin is used to treat diabetes, along with diet, exercise, and other medications in some cases.
• Prandin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Prandin?

• Before taking Prandin, tell your doctor if you
  • have kidney disease;
  • have liver disease;
  • have Type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes);
  • have diabetic ketoacidosis;
  • have a serious infection, illness, or injury; or
  • need surgery.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Prandin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Prandin will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take Prandin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether Prandin passes into breast milk. Do not take Prandin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Prandin?

• Take Prandin 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 Prandin 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. Prandin may be taken two, three, or four times a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• If you skip a meal, skip the Prandin 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 Prandin.
• Store Prandin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a 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.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a Prandin overdose include hunger, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats, weakness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and coma.

What should I avoid while taking Prandin?

• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these routines can affect blood sugar levels.
• Avoid alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with diabetes treatment.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before having surgery.
• Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss medications without first talking to your doctor. These medications may contain sugar or alcohol or affect blood sugar levels.

What are the possible side effects of Prandin?

• Stop taking Prandin and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives) to Prandin.
• The side effects of treatment with Prandin result mostly from blood sugar levels that are either too high or too low. You should be familiar with the symptoms of both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.
• Low blood sugar may occur if meals are missed or delayed after taking a dose of Prandin; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especially with vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol; and in other situations.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, has the following symptoms: hunger, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea.
• Keep sugary hard candy; chocolate; fruit juice; or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Increased blood sugar may occur if you eat significantly more food than usual; if you exercise less than usual; if you take other medications; if you have a fever or other illness; and in other situations.
• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, has the following symptoms: increased thirst, increased hunger, and increased urination.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Prandin?

• Before taking Prandin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
  • aspirin or another salicylate (form of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid, others), diflunisal (Dolobid), choline salicylate-magnesium salicylate (Trilisate, Tricosal, others), or magnesium salicylate (Magan, Mobidin, Doan's, others);
  • a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), propranolol (Inderal), and others;
  • a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril) and others;
  • a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate);
  • a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), and others;
  • a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), perphenazine (Trilafon), and thioridazine (Mellaril);
  • a steroid medication such as prednisone (Deltasone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol, others), dexamethasone (Decadron, others), and prednisolone (Prelone, others);
  • a sulfa-based drug such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, others);
  • a thyroid medication;
  • birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy;
  • erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, E.E.S., others);
  • ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox);
  • phenobarbital (Luminal) or mephobarbital (Mebaral);
  • phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek);
  • probenecid;
  • rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); or
  • warfarin (Coumadin).
• The medicines listed above may interact with Prandin or affect blood sugar control. You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
• Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight-loss medications without first talking to your doctor. These medications may contain sugar or alcohol or affect blood sugar levels.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Prandin or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.