DPP-4 Inhibitors
How they work: Inhibiting the enzyme DPP-4 increases the level of a hormone named GLP-1, which stimulates insulin production and decreases production of glucagon (insulin’s “opposite” hormone) when glucose levels are too high.
Who Uses Them: DPP-4 inhibitors are most often used by people with type 2 diabetes who have inadequate blood glucose control with just metformin alone. Some of these patients may choose to add a DPP-4 inhibitor onto their existing metformin therapy, although they can be taken alone or alongside drugs other than metformin.
In-Depth Article: The DPP-4 Inhibitor Class – A quick description of the DPP-4 inhibitor class of drugs and a section comparing the most widely used drug in the category, Januvia, to other drug types.
Approved Drugs:
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Januvia (sitagliptin)
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Onglyza (saxagliptin)
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Tradjenta (linagliptin)
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Nesina (alogliptin)
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Galvus (vildagliptin)*
*Not approved in the United States
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Last updated: February 28, 2018