About Sitagliptin
Medically reviewed by Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidy, MD Pharmacology, Diabetologist & Bariatric Physician, on 23 Oct 2026.
What it is for
Lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. It helps the body release insulin after meals and lowers the sugar the liver makes.
How to take it
Take it once a day, with or without food, at the same time each day. The dose is lower if the kidneys are weak.
Common side effects
- Usually well tolerated. Some people get a cold-like stuffy nose or headache.
Call your doctor if
- Severe stomach pain that goes to the back, with vomiting. This can rarely be pancreatitis.
- Large blisters on the skin.
- New joint pains that do not settle.
Take care
Tell the doctor about any past pancreatitis or kidney disease.
From our clinic: On its own, it does not usually cause low sugar. It is often combined with metformin in one tablet.