alogliptin benzoate at a glance
Medicine class
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, also called a DPP-4 inhibitor or gliptin.
Licensed use
Additional glucose-lowering treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes.
Food
The tablet may be taken with or without food.
Kidney function
Kidney function affects prescribing and should be assessed before treatment and during follow-up.
What is alogliptin benzoate used for?
The selected product is licensed for:
Improving blood-glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with other glucose-lowering treatments, including insulin, where these plus diet and exercise have not provided adequate control.
It is not licensed for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis and does not replace insulin where insulin is required.
How does alogliptin benzoate work?
Alogliptin selectively blocks DPP-4, an enzyme that breaks down the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP. This increases insulin release and reduces glucagon when glucose is raised, helping improve blood-glucose control.
alogliptin benzoate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg, 25 mg
How to take alogliptin benzoate
Follow the dispensing label and the instructions supplied with the product.
Swallow the film-coated tablet whole with water; do not crush or chew it.
It may be taken with or without food.
Do not stop treatment without discussing it with the prescriber.
alogliptin benzoate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Diarrhoea
- Cold-like upper respiratory symptoms
- Itching or rash
- Low blood sugar, particularly when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea
Get urgent medical advice
- Persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes spreading to the back: possible acute pancreatitis
- Swelling of the face, mouth or throat, breathing difficulty or collapse: possible severe allergy
- Blistering, peeling or extensive skin rash, including possible bullous pemphigoid or severe skin reaction
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools or marked itching: possible liver injury
alogliptin benzoate in pregnancy
Alogliptin is generally avoided during pregnancy because human safety information is limited. Anyone planning pregnancy or who becomes pregnant should obtain an early review from their diabetes team; treatment should not be changed without that review because good glucose control remains important.
alogliptin benzoate while breastfeeding
Alogliptin is not usually used while breastfeeding. It is unknown whether it enters human milk, and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded, so the prescriber should review the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for treatment.
alogliptin benzoate interactions
Alogliptin has a relatively low potential for metabolic drug interactions, but combinations with some diabetes treatments can increase hypoglycaemia.
Insulin
Combining it with alogliptin can increase the risk of low blood sugar, requiring clinical review and glucose monitoring.
Sulfonylureas, such as gliclazide
The combination can increase hypoglycaemia, so the existing diabetes treatment may need review.
Common questions about alogliptin benzoate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is alogliptin added to other diabetes treatment?
It is licensed as additional treatment when existing glucose-lowering therapy, diet and exercise have not provided adequate control in an adult with type 2 diabetes.
Are alogliptin benzoate and alogliptin the same active treatment?
Alogliptin benzoate is the salt form used in the tablet; product content is expressed as the equivalent amount of active alogliptin.
How does alogliptin lower blood sugar?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.