Daily Medication Pearl: Saxagliptin (Onglyza)

Saxagliptin (Onglyza) is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Medication Pearl of the Day: Saxagliptin (Onglyza)

Indication: Saxagliptin (Onglyza) is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Insight:

  • Dosing: The recommended dose is 2.5 mg or 5 mg once daily taken regardless of meals.
  • Dosage forms: Tablets 5 mg and 2.5 mg.
  • Adverse events: Adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients treated with saxagliptin and more commonly than in patients treated with placebo are upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, and headache.
  • Mechanism of action: Increased concentrations of the incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, are released into the bloodstream from the small intestine in response to meals. These hormones cause insulin release from the pancreatic beta cells in a glucose-dependent manner but are inactivated by the DPP4 enzyme within minutes. GLP-1 also lowers glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells, reducing hepatic glucose production.

Source: label (fda.gov)

Related Videos
Burnout illustration | Image credit: Vikky Mir - stock.adobe.com
Public Health Matters podcast logo
Smiling Asian female pharmacist working in chemist shop or pharmacy | Image Credit: Atstock Productions - stock.adobe.com
sofiko14 / stock.adobe.com
WP_7824 / stock.adobe.com
Child being measured by physician | Image credit: Africa Studio - stock.adobe.com
Women applying weight loss medication | Image credit: Mauricio - stock.adobe.com
© 2023 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.