Tradjenta

Generic Name: linagliptin (LIN a GLIP tin)
Brand Names: Tradjenta

What is Tradjenta?

Tradjenta (linagliptin) is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. It works by regulating the levels of insulin your body produces after eating.

Tradjenta is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Tradjenta is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Tradjenta may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Tradjenta

Do not use Tradjenta if you are allergic to linagliptin or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

Before you take Tradjenta, tell your doctor if you have high cholesterol or triglycerides, or a history of pancreatitis.

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Stop taking Tradjenta and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, or fast heart rate.

Tradjenta is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office.

Before taking Tradjenta

Do not use Tradjenta if you are allergic to linagliptin, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

To make sure you can safely take Tradjenta, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);

• a history of pancreatitis; or

• if you are using insulin or taking another oral diabetes medication.

FDA pregnancy category B. Tradjenta is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether linagliptin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Tradjenta without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give Tradjenta to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

See also: Tradjenta pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Tradjenta?

Take Tradjenta exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Tradjenta is usually taken once per day. You may take this medicine with or without food. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office. Visit your doctor regularly.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to everyone who has diabetes. Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, pale skin, irritability, dizziness, feeling shaky, or trouble concentrating. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Other sugar sources include fruit juice, crackers, raisins, and non-diet soda. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.

Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your dose needs may also change.

Your doctor may want you to stop taking Tradjenta for a short time if you become ill, have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Ask your doctor how to adjust your Tradjenta dose if needed. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Tradjenta is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

Store Tradjenta at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Tradjenta dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, and seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking Tradjenta?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Tradjenta side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Tradjenta: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking Tradjenta and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• pancreatitis - severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fast heart rate; or

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious Tradjenta side effects may include:

• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;

• cough;

• weight gain;

• muscle or joint pain;

• headache; or

• back pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Tradjenta side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Tradjenta?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Tradjenta, especially:

• bosentan (Tracleer);

• dexamethasone (Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex, DexPak);

• ketoconazole (Nizoral);

• quinidine (Quin-G);

• rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), or rifapentine (Priftin);

• St. John's wort;

• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);

• a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

• HIV/AIDS medication such as efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase);

• medicines to treat narcolepsy, such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) or modafinil (Progivil);

• medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) or tacrolimus (Prograf); or

• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

Although Tradjenta is not as likely to cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as some other oral diabetes medications, tell your doctor if you are taking any other drugs that can potentially lower blood sugar, such as:

• probenecid (Benemid);

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);

• aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol);

• sulfa drugs (Bactrim and others);

• a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI);

• beta-blockers (Tenormin and others); or

• another oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol, Metaglip), glimepiride (Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glucovance), and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with Tradjenta , including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Tradjenta.