Qtern is a dual ingredient tablet treatment for type-2 diabetes that increases your insulin secretion and lowers your blood sugar.
Talk to us about your health, and get treatment recommendations from our experts. Order Qtern online for medication that can improve your blood glucose control.
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Qtern is an oral antidiabetic treatment that contains two complementary active ingredients. It’s used to treat type-2 diabetes - a condition that usually develops in adulthood as a result of either your pancreas being unable to produce as much insulin as it should, or your cells losing sensitivity to insulin (or both).
Insulin is an essential hormone for regulating your blood sugar because it takes the glucose (sugar) you eat from your blood and helps to store it in your cells to be used as energy. If your body doesn’t produce or use insulin properly, it can lead to hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) which can cause long term problems to your health.
Sometimes your blood sugar levels can be controlled with diet and exercise alone, but when this doesn’t work treatments are recommended. Qtern isn’t usually a first-line treatment for diabetes - it’s typically only prescribed when monotherapies (single ingredient treatments such as metformin) haven’t been enough to maintain low blood sugar levels for you.
How does Qtern work?
Qtern’s two active ingredients work together to lower your blood sugar levels. Saxagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, prevents the breakdown of incretin - a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion. This then causes incretin to stay active in your system for longer, which increases both your basal and mealtime insulin secretion.
The other active ingredient, dapagliflozin, is an SGLT-2 inhibitor - which works by increasing the amount of glucose that gets excreted in your urine. It does this by blocking the action of a protein responsible for the reabsorption of glucose in your kidneys. This also creates a diuretic effect - reducing your blood pressure and improving your heart’s health (alongside lowering your blood sugar).
What doses of Qtern are there?
There’s only one dose of Qtern, which has 5mg of saxagliptin and 10mg of dapagliflozin. You might be advised to take a different amount of tablets per day depending on your condition, which will change your daily ‘dose’.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
QternSaxagliptin; Dapagliflozin
How to take Qtern
You should always take Qtern exactly as prescribed by our clinician. The recommended dose is one tablet per day, which should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. You can take Qtern with or without food, and although it doesn’t need to be taken at the same time each day, you might find it easier to remember to take it if you do.
How long does it take Qtern to work?
In the short-term, Qtern typically reaches peak concentrations in your system within two hours. So it should start lowering your blood sugar levels quickly, but it will usually take at least a few weeks for your HbA1c (the test of your average blood sugar levels over the last 2-3 months) to decrease. If your diabetes doesn’t give you a lot of symptoms, you might not feel much different from taking Qtern, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be working to help your condition.
What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Qtern?
If you accidentally take more Qtern than you should’ve done, seek medical help straight away. If you forget to take your dose of Qtern, you can take it when you remember - so long as it isn’t too close to your next dose. If it is, simply skip that dose and carry on as normal. Don’t double up on doses to make up for missed ones.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
QternSaxagliptin; Dapagliflozin
QternSaxagliptin; Dapagliflozin
FAQ: Qtern
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Qtern different from other diabetes treatments?
Answer:
Treatments for type-2 diabetes typically follow a ‘flow’. First-line treatments can often be substituted, or combined, with other treatments if they don’t work to sufficiently lower your blood glucose levels (or they stop working as well as they did before). Metformin is usually the first port of call when it comes to diabetes treatments, which mainly works to try to help your body to use the insulin it produces better.
If metformin is ineffective or unsuitable for you, you might then be prescribed other monotherapies, such as SGLT-2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas or meglitinides (to name just a few), all of which work in different ways to lower your blood sugar levels. This process can often involve a bit of ‘trial and error’ to see what works best for you, and all of these treatments will work best if you take them alongside a healthy diet and exercise.
Qtern, as a combination treatment, will usually only be prescribed once you’ve already tried a few different monotherapies. You might find that the two active ingredients in Qten are more effective at lowering your blood sugar than each ingredient on its own.
Is Qtern similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
Qtern contains a unique combination of active ingredients. This means that there aren’t any other treatments that will work in quite the same way to lower your blood sugar levels. You can get its active ingredients separately as individual treatments, but you might find it more convenient to only take one tablet rather than two if you’re prescribed both saxagliptin and dapagliflozin.
How effective is Qtern?
Answer:
In clinical trials, the two active ingredients in Qtern proved to be more effective when used as a combination treatment than either ingredient on its own at reducing blood sugar. It also led to a reduction in body weight and a low risk of hypoglycaemia.
Do I need a prescription for Qtern?
Answer:
Yes, you need a prescription for Qtern. This is because it isn’t suitable for everyone, and your condition will need to be monitored whilst you’re taking it.
Why should I buy Qtern online with Treated?
Answer:
When you get your diabetes medication with us, you’ll be getting a proven treatment sent straight to your door, as well as expert aftercare from our clinical team. Just talk to us about your health and we’ll offer suitable treatments for you alongside tailored advice on how to get the best out of them.
We’ll check in on you to make sure everything’s going okay with your treatment, and if you’ve got any questions or concerns at any time all you need to do is log into your account and send us a message. Finding the best diabetes treatment for you can be tough, but ordering with Treated helps take away the hassle to help you live your life.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
