What is Starlix prescribed for?

Starlix is used to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes  whose high blood sugar cannot be controlled with diet and exercise alone, and who have not been taking other diabetic medicines . Starlix can be given alone or in addition to metformin (GlucophageÒ).

There are some people that should not take Starlix?

You should not take Starlix if you have:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the urine)

General Precautions to take when on Starlix:

• There is a risk of your blood sugar becoming too low when taking diabetes medicine. Strenuous physical exercise, drinking alcoholic beverages, or not eating enough can increase this possibility when taking Starlix.
• Starlix should not replace or be used in addition to glyburide (Diabeta Ò , MicronaseÒ , GlynaseÒ ) or other sulfonylureas (AmarylÒ , DiabineseÒ , GlucotrolÒ ). Starlix should not replace metformin.

There are some things that you should tell your doctor when taking this medication:

Because certain other medicines may affect the effectiveness of Starlix, tell your doctor or doctor about the medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines. These drugs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as MotrinÒ and AdvilÒ , and salicylates, such as aspirin.

Tell your doctor if you:

• currently are taking other medicines for diabetes, including glyburide (DiabetaÒ , MicronaseÒ , GlynaseÒ , GlucovanceÒ ) or metformin (GlucophageÒ , GlucovanceÒ )
• currently have liver problems or have a history of liver problems
• are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

What side effects can you expect when taking Starlix? (This is only a partial list of side effects reported with Starlix. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)

The most common side effect is blood sugar that gets too low (hypoglycemia).

For more detailed information about Starlix, ask your doctor.