What is Glyxambi?

Glyxambi is a diabetes medicine that contains both linagliptin and empagliflozin as the active ingredients. Linagliptin belongs to a class of medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme inhibitors, whereas empagliflozin is a type of sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT2) inhibitor. Each tablet contains 5mg of linagliptin and 10mg or 25mg empagliflozin. The drug is a product of Boehringer Ingelheim, a global pharmaceutical company based in Germany.

What is it used for?

Containing both linagliptin and empagliflozin, Glyxambi is prescribed as an adjunctive therapy to improve blood glucose control in diabetic patients. For best results, this medication should be used in combination with lifestyle modifications such as exercise and dietary change. Conventionally, empagliflozin is indicated for reducing the risks of cardiovascular death in adult patients with a comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. The drug is not intended for use in patients who have diabetic ketoacidosis or type I diabetes.

How to take this medication

Take the drug once daily in the morning. Glyxambi can be taken with or without food. While taking the drug, patients should follow all the recommendations by doctors (e.g. exercise or dietary change) for optimal treatment outcomes. If patients miss a dose of Glyxambi, they should take the missed dose as soon as it is remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, they should skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled. Patients should not double up on the dose under any circumstances. This med can be used along with other anti-hyperglycemic agents; however, there is a higher risk of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) when Glyxambi is used concomitantly with other diabetes medications.

How does this drug work?

The active ingredients of Glyxambi (empagliflozin and linagliptin) work synergistically to enhance glycemic control in diabetes patients. As previously mentioned, empagliflozin is an inhibitor of the sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT2) while linagliptin is known to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzymes. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 is the main transporter that reabsorbs glucose from the glomerular filtrate. Through its inhibitory actions on SGLT2, empagliflozin decreases the renal reabsorption of filtered glucose, thereby lowering the renal threshold for glucose and increasing the urinary excretion of glucose. Linagliptin, on the other hand, has inhibitory actions on dipeptidyl peptidase-4. DPP-4 is an enzyme responsible for the degradation of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Linagliptin helps increase the concentration of active incretin hormones while promoting the insulin release in a glucose-dependent manner. at the same time, it decreases the level of glucagon in the blood circulation.

Dosage

The recommended daily dose of Glyxambi (empagliflozin/linagliptin) is 10mg/5mg. If well tolerated, the dose of Glyxambi can be further increased to 25mg/5mg.

Glyxambi side effects

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Sore throat

What is Glyxambi?

Glyxambi is a prescription antidiabetic medication containing linagliptin, which is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme inhibitor, and empagliflozin, which is a sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitor. They are manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim in Germany.

What is it used for?

Glyxambi is meant to be used by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, in combination with a proper diet and regular exercise, to control blood sugar levels. Glyxambi can be taken with insulin or other commonly prescribed oral antidiabetic medications such as sulfonylureas; however, the doses should be lowered, as there may be a higher chance of developing hypoglycemia when used together with Glyxambi.

Why use this drug?

Glyxambi has the added benefit of reducing the cardiovascular death risk for patients with type 2 diabetes. It also has the action of two active ingredients in a single convenient pill that is taken once a day to lower both blood sugar levels and HbA1C readings. In a six-month study involving adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 58% of those who took Glyxambi were found to achieve the target HbA1C of less than 7%, as set by the American Diabetes Association. Glyxambi has also been found to lower fasting blood sugar levels by a significant amount and induce weight loss by as much as 3.1 to 3.4%.