Saxagliptin Hydrochloride and Food

• Generic Name: saxagliptin
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Onglyza

Used as monotherapy as an adjunct to diet and exercise for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients whose hyperglycemia cannot be controlled by diet and exercise alone.

Used in combination with metformin (separately or as fixed combination of saxagliptin and extended-release metformin), a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione (e.g., a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ [PPAR-γ] agonist) or insulin for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients who do not achieve adequate glycemic control with diet, exercise, and metformin, sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione monotherapy, and/or insulin. Patients initially receiving an oral antidiabetic agent will eventually require multiple oral antidiabetic agents of different therapeutic classes and/or insulin for adequate glycemic control because of declining β2-cell function with disease progression.

The fixed combination of saxagliptin and dapagliflozin is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology (AACE/ACE) suggests a DPP-4 inhibitor as one of several alternatives for initial monotherapy in patients with metformin contraindications (e.g., renal disease, hepatic disease, GI intolerance, risk of lactic acidosis). DPP-4 inhibitors also recommended as part of combination therapy, particularly with both postprandial and fasting plasma glucose elevations.

Not indicated for type 1 diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis; insulin is required in these conditions.