Linagliptin (Trajenta®) is a prescription medicine that is used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Linagliptin (Trajenta®) is not for people with type 1 diabetes or for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).

If you have had inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in the past, it is not known if you have a higher chance of getting pancreatitis while you take Linagliptin (Trajenta®).
 

What is the most important information I should know about Linagliptin (Trajenta®)?

Special warnings and precautions should be considered when taking Linagliptin (Trajenta®). There have been some post-marketing reports of pancreatitis and bullous pemphigoid. Before you start taking Linagliptin (Trajenta®), ask your patients if they had history of pancreatitis, cholecystolithiasis, a history of alcoholism, high triglyceride levels. Ask your patients if they also had blister formation that persisted for weeks to months.

What are the contraindications to Linagliptin (Trajenta®)?

Linagliptin (Trajenta®) should not be given to patients who are allergic to its active ingredients.

Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to Linagliptin (Trajenta®) may include rash, itching, flaking or peeling; raised red patches on your skin (hives); swelling of your face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing. If your patients have any of these symptoms, advise them to stop taking Linagliptin (Trajenta®) and seek medical consult immediately.

What should I ask my patients before prescribing Linagliptin (Trajenta®)?

Ask your patients if they are currently undergoing treatment for tuberculosis and might be taking Rifampicin. Linagliptin (Trajenta®) in combination with Rifampicin is expected to be efficacious, although full efficacy might not be achieved.

If your patients are taking Linagliptin (Trajenta®) with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylurea or insulin, your risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of your sulfonylurea or insulin may need to be lowered while you take Linagliptin (Trajenta®).

Ask your patients if they are pregnant or planning to be pregnant or are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. There are limited data on the use of Linagliptin (Trajenta®) in pregnant women. It is also not known whether the drug is excreted in human milk. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of Linagliptin (Trajenta®) during pregnancy and breastfeeding.