Alogliptin
1. About alogliptin
Alogliptin is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is an illness where the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin that it makes does not work properly.
This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia).
Alogliptin is prescribed for people who still have high blood sugar, even though they have a sensible diet and exercise regularly.
Alogliptin is only available on prescription.
It comes as tablets that you swallow. It also comes as tablets containing a mixture of alogliptin and metformin. Metformin is another drug used to treat diabetes.
2. Key facts
- Alogliptin works by increasing the amount of insulin that your body makes. Insulin is the hormone that controls sugar levels in your blood.
- You take alogliptin once a day.
- The most common side effects of alogliptin are headaches, indigestion, diarrhoea and skin rashes.
- This medicine does not usually make you put on weight.
- Alogliptin is also called by the brand name Vipidia. When it's combined with metformin the brand name is Vipdomet.
3. Who can and can't take alogliptin
Alogliptin can be taken by adults (aged 18 years and older).
Alogliptin is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to alogliptin or any other medicines in the past
- have kidney disease or liver disease
- have heart failure
- have (or have previously had) problems with your pancreas
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant
This medicine is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (when your body does not produce insulin).
4. How and when to take it
Take alogliptin once a day.
You can take it at any time - for example, in the morning or in the evening. Just try to take it at the same time every day.
Take your tablet with a glass of water. Swallow the tablet whole, without breaking it.
You can take algoliptin with or without food.
How much will I take?
Alogliptin comes as 25mg, 12.5mg or 6.25mg tablets.
The usual dose is 25mg a day.
If you have problems with your kidneys, your doctor might give you a lower dose of 12.5mg or 6.25mg a day.
What if I take too much?
Talk to your doctor if you take too much alogliptin and:
- have stomach pains
- are feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
- feel dizzy
- are worried
What if I forget to take it?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose, in which case skip the missed dose.
Never take 2 doses on the same day.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
You could ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.
5. Side effects
Like all medicines, alogliptin can cause side effects in some people.
But many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Common side effects
These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:
- cold-like symptoms
- headaches
- stomach ache or indigestion
- diarrhoea
- rash or itchy skin
Serious side effects
It happens rarely, but some people may have serious side effects after taking alogliptin.
Call your doctor straight away if you have:
- severe stomach pains
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow
Low blood sugar
Alogliptin does not usually cause low blood sugar (known as hypoglycaemia or "hypos") when taken on its own.
But hypos can happen when you take alogliptin with other diabetes medicines, such as insulin or gliclazide.
Early warning signs of low blood sugar include:
- feeling hungry
- trembling or shaking
- sweating
- confusion
- difficulty concentrating
It's also possible for your blood sugar to go too low while you're asleep.
If this happens, it can make you feel sweaty, tired and confused when you wake up.
Low blood sugar may happen if you:
- take too much of some types of diabetes medicines
- eat meals irregularly or skip meals
- are fasting
- do not eat a healthy diet and are not getting enough nutrients
- change what you eat
- increase your physical activity without eating more to compensate
- drink alcohol, especially after skipping a meal
- take some other medicines or herbal medicines at the same time
- have a hormone disorder, such as hypothyroidism
- have kidney or liver problems
To prevent hypos, it's important to have regular meals, including breakfast. Never miss or delay a meal.
If you're planning to exercise more than usual, make sure you eat carbohydrates like bread, pasta or cereals before, during or afterwards.
Always carry a fast-acting carbohydrate with you, like sugar cubes, fruit juice or some sweets, in case your blood sugar level gets low. Artificial sweeteners will not help.
You may also need to eat a starchy carbohydrate, like a sandwich or a biscuit, to maintain your blood sugar for longer.
If taking in sugar does not help or the hypo symptoms come back, contact your doctor or the nearest hospital.
Make sure your friends and family know about your diabetes and the symptoms of low blood sugar levels so they can recognise a hypo if it happens.
Serious allergic reaction
It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to alogliptin.
Contact a doctor straight away if:
- you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
- you're wheezing
- you get tightness in the chest or throat
- you have trouble breathing or talking
- your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling
These are warning signs of a serious allergic reaction.
A serious allergic reaction is an emergency.
These are not all the side effects of alogliptin.
For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.
6. How to cope with side effects
What to do about:
- cold-like symptoms - try taking paracetamol or ibuprofen regularly for a few days. If the symptoms return when you stop taking the painkillers, ask your doctor for advice.
- headaches - make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
- stomach ache or indigestion - try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your tummy may also help. If you're in a lot of pain, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
- diarrhoea - drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
- rash or itchy skin - it may help to take an antihistamine, which you can buy from a pharmacy. Check with the pharmacist to see what type is suitable for you. If your rash gets worse or lasts for more than a week, make an appointment to see your doctor.
7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Alogliptin is generally not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor, as there may be other medicines that you can take instead of alogliptin.
Tell your doctor if you're:
- pregnant
- trying to get pregnant
- breastfeeding
8. Cautions with other medicines
Some medicines and alogliptin can interfere with each other. Some can increase your risk of getting side effects.
Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medicines before you start alogliptin.
These include:
- insulin
- other anti-diabetic medicines
If you're taking insulin or any other treatment for diabetes, your doctor may want to lower the dose of these medicines when you start alogliptin. This is to reduce the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
Also make sure that your doctor and pharmacist know you're taking alogliptin before starting or stopping any other medicine.
Mixing alogliptin with herbal remedies and supplements
There's very little information about taking herbal medicines and supplements with alogliptin.
Important
For safety, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.