Linagliptin

Linagliptin, sold under the brand name Tradjenta among others, is a medication used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2. It is generally less preferred than metformin and sulfonylureas as an initial treatment. It is used together with exercise and diet. It is not recommended in type 1 diabetes. It is taken by mouth.
Common side effects include inflammation of the nose and throat. Serious side effects may include angioedema, pancreatitis, joint pain. Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. Linagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor. It works by increasing the production of insulin and decreasing the production of glucagon by the pancreas.
Linagliptin was approved for medical use in the United States in 2011. In 2017, it was the 200th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than two million prescriptions.
Medical uses.
Results in 2010 from a Phase III clinical trial of linagliptin showed that the drug can effectively reduce blood sugar.
Side effects.
Linagliptin may cause severe joint pain.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the type 2 diabetes medicines like sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and alogliptin may cause joint pain that can be severe and disabling. FDA has added a new Warning and Precaution about this risk to the labels of all medicines in this drug class, called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.
Trajenta's Prescribing Information states the drug is contraindicated for people with bronchial hyperreactivity (for example, asthma).
Mechanism of action.
Linagliptin belongs to a class of drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors.
Terminology.
Linagliptin is the INN.