Repaglinide

1 medicine

Repaglinide is a fast-acting oral medicine that stimulates the pancreas to release insulin with meals, lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Because it works by triggering insulin release, skipping a meal after taking a dose can cause dangerous low blood sugar.

Prandin

Repaglinide

0.5/1/2mg

Prandin is a diabetes medication containing Repaglinide, available as 0.5/1/2mg tablets.

from $0.64 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Repaglinide (sold as Prandin) is a meglitinide that lowers blood sugar by prompting your pancreas to release insulin quickly after you eat.
  • Take it with each meal, up to 30 minutes before eating. If you skip a meal, skip that dose; taking it without food risks a severe drop in blood sugar.
  • Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is the drug's main risk: shakiness, sweating, confusion, and, if untreated, loss of consciousness.
  • Seek urgent care for confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness from low blood sugar that does not respond to sugar.

What Repaglinide treats

Repaglinide treats type 2 diabetes, usually alongside diet and exercise, by controlling the rise in blood sugar that follows meals. It is not used for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

How Repaglinide works

Repaglinide binds to channels on the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, triggering a rapid, short-lived release of insulin timed to match the glucose entering your blood after a meal. Its effect wears off within a few hours, which is why it is taken with each meal rather than once a day.

Before you take it

  • Do not take repaglinide if you have type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
  • Tell your prescriber about liver disease, since it slows how the drug is cleared and raises hypoglycaemia risk.
  • Gemfibrozil, a cholesterol drug, sharply raises repaglinide levels; the combination is generally avoided.
  • Alcohol increases the risk of low blood sugar when combined with repaglinide.

Side effects

Common effects include mild nausea, headache, and joint pain, which usually ease with continued use.

Seek urgent care for:

  • Signs of severe low blood sugar: confusion, shaking, sweating, or fainting.
  • Facial or throat swelling, or difficulty breathing.
  • Chest pain or a fast, irregular heartbeat.

Safety essentials

  • Match every dose to a meal: no meal means no dose. Taking repaglinide without eating is the leading cause of dangerous hypoglycaemia with this drug.
  • Carry a fast-acting sugar source and know the signs of low blood sugar, especially if you drink alcohol or take other diabetes medicines.
  • Older adults and people with kidney or liver disease need closer monitoring, since their low blood sugar risk is higher.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.