- acute or chronic disease which may cause tissue hypoxia such as:

      - cardiac or respiratory failure,

      - recent myocardial infarction,

      - shock;

- hepatic impairment;

- acute alcohol intoxication, alcoholism;

- lactation.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

 General

Janumet should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes and must not be used for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Pancreatitis

In post-marketing experience there have been spontaneously reported adverse reactions of acute pancreatitis. Patients should be informed of the characteristic symptom of acute pancreatitis: persistent, severe abdominal pain. Resolution of pancreatitis has been observed after discontinuation of sitagliptin (with or without supportive treatment), but very rare cases of necrotizing or haemorrhagic pancreatitis and/or death have been reported. If pancreatitis is suspected, Janumet and other potentially suspect medicinal products should be discontinued.

Lactic acidosis

Lactic acidosis is a very rare, but serious (high mortality in the absence of prompt treatment), metabolic complication that can occur due to metformin accumulation. Reported cases of lactic acidosis in patients on metformin have occurred primarily in diabetic patients with significant renal failure. The incidence of lactic acidosis can and should be reduced by also assessing other associated risk factors such as poorly controlled diabetes, ketosis, prolonged fasting, excessive alcohol intake, hepatic insufficiency and any conditions associated with hypoxia.

Diagnosis

Lactic acidosis is characterised by acidotic dyspnoea, abdominal pain and hypothermia followed by coma. Diagnostic laboratory findings are decreased blood pH, plasma lactate levels above 5 mmol/l, and an increased anion gap and lactate/pyruvate ratio. If metabolic acidosis is suspected, treatment with the medicinal product should be discontinued and the patient hospitalised immediately (see section 4.9).

Renal function

Metformin and sitagliptin are known to be substantially excreted by the kidney. Metformin-related lactic acidosis increases with the degree of impairment of renal function, therefore, serum creatinine concentrations should be determined regularly:

- at least once a year in patients with normal renal function

- at least two to four times a year in patients with serum creatinine levels at or above the upper limit of normal and in elderly patients.

Decreased renal function in elderly patients is frequent and asymptomatic. Special caution should be exercised in situations where renal function may become impaired, for example when initiating antihypertensive or diuretic therapy or when starting treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Hypoglycaemia

Patients receiving Janumet in combination with a sulphonylurea or with insulin may be at risk for hypoglycaemia. Therefore, a reduction in the dose of the sulphonylurea or insulin may be necessary.

Hypersensitivity reactions

Postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with sitagliptin have been reported. These reactions include anap