Empagliflozin+linagliptin
About Empagliflozin+linagliptin
Empagliflozin+linagliptin is a combination drug that belongs to the anti-diabetic class. It is primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high. It's a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life. You may need to change your diet, take medicines and have regular check-ups to lead a normal life.
Empagliflozin+linagliptin contains Empagliflozin and Linagliptin. It is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Empagliflozin works by increasing the removal of sugar by your kidneys. At the same time, Linagliptin works by increasing levels of natural substances called incretins. Incretins help to control blood sugar by increasing insulin release, especially after a meal. They also decrease the amount of sugar your liver makes.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily in the morning. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or worsens (if your blood sugar is too high or too low). In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects, such as frequent urination, dizziness, or light-headedness. To reduce the risk of dizziness and light-headedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to empagliflozin or Linagliptin; or have other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Empagliflozin+linagliptin should not be stopped even if you feel better, without consulting your doctor as your sugar level keeps changing. If you stop taking Empagliflozin+linagliptin abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), and nerve damage (neuropathy). Empagliflozin+linagliptin should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or severe kidney or liver disease. During pregnancy/lactation, this medication should be used only when needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Uses of Empagliflozin+linagliptin
Medicinal Benefits
Empagliflozin+linagliptin contains Empagliflozin and Linagliptin. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Empagliflozin works by increasing the removal of sugar by your kidneys. At the same time, Linagliptin works by increasing levels of natural substances called incretins. Incretins help to control blood sugar by increasing insulin release, especially after a meal. They also decrease the amount of sugar your liver makes.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Empagliflozin+linagliptin
- Urinary tract infections
- Nasopharyngitis
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Frequent urination
- Dizziness or light-headedness
Drug Warnings
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to empagliflozin or Linagliptin; or have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Empagliflozin+linagliptin should not be stopped even if you feel better, without consulting your doctor as your sugar level keeps changing. If you stop taking Empagliflozin+linagliptin abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), and nerve damage (neuropathy). Empagliflozin+linagliptin should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or severe kidney or liver disease. Please inform your doctor if you have heart disease or are planning to get pregnant or breastfeed. It may be harder to control your blood sugar when your body is stressed (such as when you have a fever, infection, injury, or surgery). Also, if you eat less or cannot eat due to these conditions or any illness, this can lead to a high ketone level while taking this medication. Consult your doctor because this may require changing your treatment plan and medications. Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription, nonprescription, and herbal products).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Empagliflozin+linagliptin interacts with Beta-blocker medications (such as metoprolol, propranolol, glaucoma eye drops such as timolol), Antidiabetic class of drugs (e.g. glimepiride and insulin glargine) and antimanic agents (lithium).
Drug-Food Interactions: Intake of excessive alcoholic beverages may increase the chance of a life-threatening condition known as Lactic Acidosis. So, avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Empagliflozin+linagliptin.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Caution should be exercised with those affected with pancreatitis, lactic acidosis, cardiovascular risk, hypoglycemia, and B12 deficiency.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionLimit alcohol while taking this medication because it can increase your risk of developing low blood sugar and a high ketone level.
Pregnancy
cautionDuring pregnancy, this medication should be used only when needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. And also, discuss a plan with your doctor for managing your blood sugar while pregnant. Your doctor may change your diabetes treatment during pregnancy (such as diet and medications, including insulin).
Breast Feeding
cautionConsult your doctor; there is no substantial research yet on using Empagliflozin+linagliptin in breastfeeding/nursing mothers.
Driving
cautionYou may experience blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness due to extremely low or high blood sugar. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity requiring alertness or clear vision until you can safely perform such activities.
Liver
cautionEmpagliflozin+linagliptin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Please consult the doctor before taking medicine. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing them.
Kidney
cautionEmpagliflozin+linagliptin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor depending on your renal functions. Empagliflozin+linagliptin is not recommended in severe kidney disease. Regular monitoring of kidney function tests is therefore important if you're taking Empagliflozin+linagliptin. Please consult the doctor before taking medicine. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing them.
Children
cautionIt is not known if Empagliflozin+linagliptin is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. Please consult the doctor if you have any doubts or concerns regarding this. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing them.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Invest at least 150 min of your week in moderate-intensity physical activity or one hour and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise every week.
- Losing weight gradually to achieve a healthy body mass index (18.5 to 24.9).
- Replacing refined carbohydrate-containing foods with whole grain foods and increasing intake of fruits, veggies, and other fibre-enriched foods.
- Reduce saturated fat intake (or hidden fats) in food like chips, crisps, pastries, biscuits and samosas. Choose omega-3 fatty acid-containing oils for daily cooking.
- Avoid taking too much stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You can adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness to control stress-related blood sugar changes or meditation or yoga.
- Opt for low-fat dairy products (low-fat yoghurt, fat-free milk and cheese etc.).
- Keep your blood pressure as normal (120/80) as possible, as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.
Special Advise
- Keep taking Empagliflozin+linagliptin even if your blood sugar levels are controlled. If you miss a dose, do not take a larger dose. Consult your treating physician for advice.
- Take short, frequent meals, and avoid prolonged fasting when taking Empagliflozin+linagliptin. Beware of symptoms of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) which include sweating, dizziness, palpitations, shivering, intense thirst, dry mouth, dry skin, frequent urination etc. Whenever you experience any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, immediately consume 5-6 candies or 3 glucose biscuits or 3 teaspoons of honey/sugar and get in touch with your physician. Make sure to carry these with you at all times, especially during long travels.
- It is always better that your physician knows about any underlying conditions like kidney or liver disease, prior heart attack, alcohol intake, etc., before the doctor prescribes Empagliflozin+linagliptin.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while on Empagliflozin+linagliptin. It increases the risk of hypoglycaemia (a decrease in blood sugar which might be fatal in some cases) and lactic acidosis (when the lactic acid increases in the body, impacting the functioning of various organs in the body).
- Try to quit smoking and reduce your intake of carbohydrate-rich food like potatoes, rice, mangoes, bread, sugar etc.
- Remember, lifestyle modifications are the most important step in controlling blood sugar levels.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic or lifelong disease that prevents the body from properly utilizing insulin. Hence, people with type 2 diabetes either do not produce enough insulin or resist insulin action. Middle-aged or older are most likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination at night, slow wound healing, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. There may be weight gain in some cases, while weight loss may be observed in rare cases. The complication of type 2 diabetes also includes neuropathy (nerve problems), nephropathy (kidney problems), retinopathy (damaged retina of eyes or blindness), loss of limbs, sexual dysfunction, and increased chance of heart attack or stroke.
FAQs
If you have symptoms like increased hunger, thirst, frequent urination (usually at night), unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow wound/sores healing, and frequent infections, contact the doctor, as it can be a condition of type 2 diabetes.
If you feel your blood sugar level is decreasing and you are feeling weak, immediately eat sugar candies or drink sugary beverages. It will help to balance the blood sugar levels in your body. So, it is advisable to keep sugar candies with you.
No. Empagliflozin+linagliptin is only prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, also called 'non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Empagliflozin+linagliptin contains Empagliflozin and Linagliptin. It is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Empagliflozin works by increasing the removal of sugar by your kidneys. At the same time, Linagliptin works by increasing levels of natural substances called incretins. Incretins help to control blood sugar by increasing insulin release, especially after a meal. They also decrease the amount of sugar your liver makes.
Empagliflozin+linagliptin should be avoided in patients allergic to any of the components or excipients of this medicine. It should be avoided in patients with moderate to severe kidney or liver disease. Using this drug is also not advised if you drink too much alcohol. Make sure to inform your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
No. To date, no clinical evidence states that Empagliflozin+linagliptin affects fertility in either men or women. If you have any doubts/concerns regarding this, please discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
