Tradjenta

If you have type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider may prescribe Tradjenta. This medication works by increasing insulin levels and decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) produced by the liver. This medicine comes in the form of a tablet that is taken once daily. Some of the most common side effects of this drug include a sore throat and a runny or stuffy nose.

Tradjenta Medication Information

What Is Tradjenta?

Tradjenta™ (linagliptin) is a prescription diabetes medication approved to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. It is the third approved medication belonging to a class of diabetes medications known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Sitagliptin (Januvia^®) and saxagliptin (Onglyza™) were the first two medications approved in this class.

(Click Tradjenta Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes This Medication?

Tradjenta is marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company.

How Does Tradjenta Work?

Tradjenta is part of a class of diabetes medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.

DPP-4 is an enzyme that breaks down incretin hormones. As a DPP-4 inhibitor, Tradjenta slows down the breakdown of incretin hormones, increasing the level of these hormones in the body. It is this increase in incretin hormones that is responsible for the beneficial actions of Tradjenta, such as increasing insulin production in response to meals and decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) that the liver produces.

Because incretin hormones are more active in response to higher blood sugar levels, the risk of dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) is low with Tradjenta.

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