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Linagliptin

Linagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. It is used in adults with type 2 diabetes and is available in a fixed-dose tablet with empagliflozin. The combination is intended to improve glycaemic control alongside diet and exercise.

Medicine containing Linagliptin

Glyxambi

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

25/5mg

Glyxambi combines linagliptin with empagliflozin in a film-coated tablet for diabetes mellitus. It comes in a single strength and multiple pack sizes. You see the price per tablet for each option.

FromUS$4.90/ tabletView

Key points

  • Glyxambi is a 25/5mg tablet.
  • In linagliptin monotherapy trials, nasopharyngitis, diarrhoea and cough were reported in at least 2% of patients and more often than with placebo.
  • Linagliptin is a weak to moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4. It does not inhibit or induce the other cytochrome P450 isozymes tested, including CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19 and 2D6.

Type 2 diabetes treatment

Glyxambi is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The type 2 diabetes mellitus page explains the condition.

How the combination works

Linagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor. Empagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor. The two antihyperglycaemic medicines have complementary mechanisms of action, and the pairing is used to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Forms and brands

Glyxambi tablets contain linagliptin with empagliflozin (view Glyxambi). Orders are shipped from pharmacy partners in India to Malaysia in discreet packaging.

Safety

Acute pancreatitis, including fatal cases, has been reported with linagliptin, and fatal pancreatitis has continued to appear in postmarketing reports. In the CARMELINA trial, two patients treated with linagliptin had acute pancreatitis with a fatal outcome. Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, including anaphylaxis, angioedema and exfoliative skin conditions; onset was mostly in the first three months of treatment. Severe and disabling arthralgia can occur from one day to years after starting linagliptin, with symptoms relieved after the medicine was stopped.

What the sources say

  • Glyxambi contains empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and linagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor. (DailyMed)
  • Bullous pemphigoid was reported in 7 (0.2%) patients treated with linagliptin and none on placebo in CARMELINA; postmarketing cases have required hospitalisation, with recovery typically after immunosuppressive treatment and stopping the DPP-4 inhibitor. (DailyMed)

Further reading

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