Daily Medication Pearl: Saxagliptin (Onglyza)

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)