Generic name: repaglinide [ re-PAG-li-nide ]
Brand name: Prandin
Drug class: Meglitinides

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 23, 2023.

Uses for repaglinide

Repaglinide is used together with diet and exercise to treat high blood sugar (glucose) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Repaglinide works by causing your pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream. This medicine does not help patients who have insulin-dependent or type 1 diabetes.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using repaglinide

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of repaglinide in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of repaglinide in the elderly.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Gemfibrozil

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Abametapir
• Alogliptin
• Aspirin
• Atazanavir
• Bexagliflozin
• Chloroquine
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone
• Ciprofloxacin
• Clopidogrel
• Dabrafenib
• Darolutamide
• Delafloxacin
• Elexacaftor
• Enasidenib
• Encorafenib
• Enoxacin
• Fedratinib
• Fexinidazole
• Fosnetupitant
• Furosemide
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Grepafloxacin
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Hydroflumethiazide
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Indapamide
• Insulin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Bovine
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Itraconazole
• Lanreotide
• Leflunomide
• Leniolisib
• Letermovir
• Levofloxacin
• Liraglutide
• Lomefloxacin
• Mavacamten
• Metformin
• Metolazone
• Metreleptin
• Midostaurin
• Moxifloxacin
• Netupitant
• Norfloxacin
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Omaveloxolone
• Pasireotide
• Phenobarbital
• Pioglitazone
• Pirtobrutinib
• Pixantrone
• Polythiazide
• Pramlintide
• Primidone
• Semaglutide
• Simeprevir
• Sitagliptin
• Somatrogon-ghla
• Sotagliflozin
• Sparfloxacin
• Tecovirimat
• Teriflunomide
• Thioctic Acid
• Triamterene
• Trofinetide
• Trovafloxacin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Abiraterone Acetate
• Acebutolol
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Bitter Melon
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Clarithromycin
• Cyclosporine
• Deferasirox
• Eltrombopag
• Esmolol
• Fenugreek
• Glucomannan
• Guar Gum
• Isocarboxazid
• Ketoconazole
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• Linezolid
• Methylene Blue
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Oxprenolol
• Ozanimod
• Penbutolol
• Phenelzine
• Pindolol
• Practolol
• Procarbazine
• Propranolol
• Psyllium
• Rasagiline
• Rifampin
• Rifapentine
• Safinamide
• Selegiline
• Sotalol
• Telithromycin
• Timolol
• Tirzepatide
• Tranylcypromine
• Trimethoprim

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease—Use with caution. May make this condition worse.

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Related/similar drugs

Mounjaro, metformin, Trulicity, Lantus, Tresiba, Victoza, Levemir

Proper use of repaglinide

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of unwanted effects.

Carefully follow the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is a very important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.

This medicine usually is taken 15 minutes before a meal but may be taken up to 30 minutes before a meal.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For type 2 diabetes:
    • Adults—0.5 to 4 milligrams (mg) before each meal. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 16 mg per day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Do not take this medicine if you skip a meal.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using repaglinide

Your doctor will want to check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks you take this medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not take gemfibrozil (Lopid®) while you are taking this medicine. Using these medicines together may cause unwanted effects.

It is very important to follow carefully any instructions from your health care team about:

• Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
• Other medicines—Do not take other medicines during the time you are taking repaglinide unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This especially includes nonprescription medicines such as aspirin, and medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems.
• Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, patients with diabetes may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur in patients with diabetes during pregnancy.
• Travel—Keep a recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.

In case of emergency—There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says that you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.

This medicine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This is more common when this medicine is taken together with certain medicines. Low blood sugar must be treated before it causes you to pass out (unconsciousness). People feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important that you learn which symptoms you usually have so you can treat it quickly. Talk to your doctor about the best way to treat low blood sugar.

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your medicine, overeat or do not follow your meal plan, have a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual. High blood sugar can be very serious and must be treated right away. It is important that you learn which symptoms you have in order to treat it quickly. Talk to your doctor about the best way to treat high blood sugar.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Side Effects of repaglinide

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Anxiety
• blurred vision
• chills
• cold sweats
• coma
• confusion
• cool, pale skin
• depression
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• headache
• increased hunger
• nausea
• nightmares
• seizures
• shakiness
• slurred speech
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Bladder pain
• bloody or cloudy urine
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• frequent urge to urinate
• lower back or side pain

Incidence not known

• Back, leg, or stomach pains
• bleeding gums
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• clay-colored stools
• constipation
• cough
• darkened urine
• diarrhea
• difficulty with breathing
• fever
• general body swelling
• general tiredness and weakness
• indigestion
• itching or rash
• joint or muscle pain
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite
• nosebleeds
• pains in the side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• pale skin
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• unpleasant breath odor
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• vomiting
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Body aches or pain
• difficulty with moving
• ear congestion
• loss of voice
• muscle stiffness
• pain in the joints
• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• sneezing
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• tightness of the chest

Less common

• Acid or sour stomach
• belching
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• cough producing mucus
• heartburn
• indigestion
• weight gain

Incidence not known

• Hair loss or thinning of the hair

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Prandin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Hypoglycemic

Chemical Class: Meglitinide

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer