Nesina, Alogliptin

Introduction

Written by Helen Marshall, BPharm, MRPharmS
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on July 13, 2023

Alogliptin (al oh GLIP tin) is a generic medication prescribed for lowering blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Alogliptin belongs to a group of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.

This article describes alogliptin’s uses, side effects, and more. You’ll also find some coupon options to help save on the cost of alogliptin.

Common questions about alogliptin

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about alogliptin.

What brand names are available for alogliptin?

Nesina is the only brand-name version available for alogliptin. Alogliptin oral tablet is a generic medication. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

If you’re interested in taking the brand-name version of alogliptin, talk with your doctor.

Can alogliptin cause weight loss?

No, alogliptin isn’t known to cause weight loss. In studies, people taking alogliptin reported changes in their body weight that were similar to those who didn’t take the drug.

Some other diabetes medications can cause weight loss. These include semaglutide (Rybelsus, Ozempic) and liraglutide (Victoza).

Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about maintaining a moderate weight while taking alogliptin. They can recommend ways to manage your weight.

Are there any alternatives to alogliptin that can also be prescribed for diabetes?

Yes, there are several alternatives to alogliptin for type 2 diabetes. Some examples include sitagliptin (Januvia) and saxagliptin (Onglyza). These belong to the same group of drugs as alogliptin (called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors).

Other groups of diabetes medications are also available. To learn more about your treatment options, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about the types of drugs available, including their possible side effects.

How does alogliptin work? And how long does it take to start working?

Alogliptin helps adults with type 2 diabetes manage high blood sugar. Alogliptin works in two ways to help lower your blood sugar.

Alogliptin increases the amount of insulin that your body makes. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body move sugar from your blood into your cells. With type 2 diabetes, your cells don’t respond to insulin as well as usual. By increasing the amount of insulin that your body makes, alogliptin helps your cells respond to insulin, which lowers your blood sugar.

Alogliptin also reduces the amount of glucagon your body makes. Glucagon is a hormone that tells your liver to release the stored form of sugar into the blood. Alogliptin causes your liver to release less sugar and reduces the amount of glucagon your body makes. This also helps lower your blood sugar.

Alogliptin starts to lower your blood sugar right after your first dose. But it may take a few weeks for the drug to reach its full effect. If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects of alogliptin

Alogliptin may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of alogliptin and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about alogliptin’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for alogliptin listed in the “Article resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with alogliptin are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about alogliptin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for alogliptin listed in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Alogliptin oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• headache
• upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
• stuffy or runny nose
• sore throat
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for alogliptin” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of alogliptin are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about alogliptin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for alogliptin listed in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Alogliptin’s serious side effects include:

• sudden inflammation of your pancreas
• kidney problems
• liver problems
• heart failure
• low blood sugar, especially when taken with certain other diabetes medications
• severe joint pain
• a skin condition called bullous pemphigoid
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for alogliptin” section.

Uses of alogliptin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as alogliptin for certain conditions. The approved use for alogliptin is described below.

Use for type 2 diabetes

Doctors may prescribe alogliptin oral tablet to help lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It’s taken along with a nutritious diet and exercise. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With type 2 diabetes, you have high blood sugar. Over time, this can damage cells, tissues, and organs in your body. It can lead to diabetes-related complications, such as kidney problems, nerve damage, and eyesight changes. Alogliptin helps lower your blood sugar, which helps prevent complications of diabetes.

Doctors may not prescribe alogliptin oral tablet in certain situations, such as for type 1 diabetes.

Interactions and warnings for alogliptin

Below, you’ll find information about alogliptin’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of alogliptin

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take alogliptin, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for alogliptin” section below.

Warnings for alogliptin

Some people should not take alogliptin, and others should take it cautiously.

Alogliptin could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether alogliptin is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of alogliptin you take.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for alogliptin, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Alogliptin can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to alogliptin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe alogliptin. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to alogliptin, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of alogliptin

You should not take more alogliptin than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much alogliptin, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and alogliptin

Information about alogliptin and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Alogliptin and pregnancy

It’s not known whether alogliptin should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Alogliptin and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether alogliptin should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about alogliptin or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What dose of alogliptin will I take for my condition?
• Will I need any tests or monitoring while taking alogliptin?
• Is it safe to take alogliptin long term?

Article resources

• Alogliptin — alogliptin tablet, film coated. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/4b007011-547a-498e-b8f6-34ea4ea00eb4/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.