Onglyza (saxagliptin) tablets: Buying diabetes medicine online in the UK

Onglyza is a commonly used diabetes tablet medicine that works by limiting the activity of specialized enzymes that counteract the production of insulin. As a once-daily tablet, Oglyza is exceptionally simple and easy to use treatment that is designed by AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company to be used in tandem with other non-medicinal approaches to diabetes, most notably, controlled diet and exercise program.

If you are looking to buy Onglyza online, you should be aware that in the UK this can be accomplished only with a valid prescription, issued by a certified medical professional. In addition to this, Onglyza is available in two different doses – 2.5mg and 5mg tablets. The exact dose you will use will be determined by your doctor and will be dependent mostly on your blood sugar levels and, of course, whether you are taking some additional treatment at the moment.

What’s on this page?

Diabetes: An overview

Diabetes is relatively common condition affecting roughly three million people within the UK alone. This illness will cause the blood sugar levels to rise to a point after which nervous system, organs and blood vessels will be at risk. While there are several different types of diabetes, type-2 is undoubtedly the most common, comprising around 90% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in the United Kingdom.

Unlike type-1 which is an autoimmune disease causing a complete halt in insulin production, type-2 diabetes will usually manifest in people aged 40 or more and while its exact causes are unknown, poor lifestyle choices have been identified as a major contributing factor. At the same time, people affected by type 2 diabetes will still be able to produce some insulin, but not enough to meet the body’s needs for it. In turn, this will lead to rising blood sugar levels and, if the condition is not properly managed, further complications and health issues.

Initially, the symptoms of diabetes can be rather mild, non-specific and in a noticeable percentage of those affected, completely unnoticeable. These early signs include increased need to urinate, feeling of dryness in the eyes, potential sight problems. However, in time, these symptoms will exacerbate and eventually lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications including heart disease and organ failure.

As mentioned, medical experts seem to agree that poor lifestyle habits play a crucial role in the overall prevalence of diabetes type 2 in the contemporary society. Habits such as eating high amount of sugary foods, drinking sugar-saturated drinks, generally unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and smoking have all considered as risk factors. What’s more, age and weight can also contribute to the development of the condition.

But, on top of this, diabetes is also a condition that is in a majority of cases hereditary, meaning that genes play a prominent role in the onset of this condition (or its absence). In line with this, experts have deduced that certain groups of people, more specifically, those of south Asian, Chinese, African or Caribbean descent are at a higher risk of diabetes due to greater prevalence of diabetes-related genes in these areas of the world.

Diabetes type 2 treatment and management

You should commence diabetes treatment and management as soon as possible, usually just after you got diagnosed. The reason for this is that diabetes is a progressive health condition that can cause significant complications and issues when left untreated. Initially, the doctor will try to devise a healthier eating programme, maybe with light exercise routine. In addition, you will be advised to make some additional lifestyle changes, if needed. These include losing weight, quitting smoking or limiting your alcohol consumption.

However, eventually, if these measures prove to be insufficient, the doctor will prescribe you a medicine that will help you keep your blood sugar levels under control.

How does Onglyza help with diabetes?

Onglyza is a type of medicine called DPP-4 inhibitor and as such, it can be used both as a supplementary treatment used alongside others such as biguanides or insulin, but it can also be used as a sole medicament in certain cases. The secret to efficiency of Ongylza is, naturally, rooted in its active ingredient called saxaglipin.

Saxaglipin has a unique mechanism of action – it works by preventing the breakdown of glucagon-like-peptide-1 and glucose insulinotropic peptide (commonly known as GLP-1 and GIP), hormones that stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin following food consumption. GLP-1 has yet another important function – it also helps to limit the production of sugar in the liver. By keeping these compounds intact, saxaglipin will help both with increasing natural insulin production and decreasing natural sugar production, thus significantly contributing to proper management of blood sugar levels.

Are there any side effects of Onglyza?

As is the case with all prescription medicines, Onglyza has been documented to cause various side effects, although in a limited number of cases. Majority of those can be unpleasant, but not really dangerous. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, you should contact your emergency service immediately, as they can be indicative of harsh adverse reaction to the medicine with potentially dangerous consequences:

Other side effects can be uncomfortable, but not as worrying as these mentioned above:

Onglyza contraindications

As is the case with every prescription medicine, there are some cases when its use will be contraindicated. Here we will explore the most common reasons for this.

Interactions with other medicines

Onglyza can adversely interact with the following medicines:

• Carbamazepine
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Dexamethasone
• Rifampicin
• Ketoconazole
• Diltiazem

Pre-existing medical conditions

Another situation when the doctor will advise against using Onglyza is if you have been affected by a medical condition which can get exacerbated by this medicine, or alternatively, if you have predisposition for some medical condition that can be brought on by Onglyza. More specifically, these are the main things the doctors will be interested in:

• Taking insulin (need special administration)
• Diabetes type 1 (need special administration)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Pancreas illnesses
• Lactose intolerance
• HIV or AIDS
• Recent heart failure
• Severe kidney problems
• Severe liver problems
• Haemodialysis