Jentadueto

Jentadueto may cause serious side effects. See "Drug Precautions".

The most common side effects of Jentadueto include:

• stuffy or runny nose and sore throat
• diarrhea

Jentadueto also cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take Jentadueto with another medication that can cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylureas or insulin, you have a higher risk of having low blood sugar. Tell your doctor if you take other diabetes medicines. If you have symptoms of low blood sugar, you should check your blood sugar and treat it if it is low; then call your doctor. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• shaking
• sweating
• rapid heartbeat
• change in vision
• hunger
• headache
• change in mood

These are not all the possible side effects of Jentadueto. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Follow dietary (food) recommendations made by your doctor and dietitian which should include a healthy diet. Skipping meals should be avoided as this can cause problems maintaining blood sugar control. There are no specific foods to avoid while using Jentadueto.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Jentadueto falls into category B. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given linagliptin, and some babies had problems. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with linagliptin.

• Take Jentadueto exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
• Take Jentadueto 2 times each day with meals. Taking Jentadueto with meals may lower your chance of having an upset stomach.
• Your doctor will tell you how much Jentadueto to take and when to take it.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses of Jentadueto at the same time.
• Your doctor may tell you to take Jentadueto along with other diabetes medicines. Low blood sugar can happen more often when Jentadueto is taken with certain other diabetes medicines.
• You may need to stop taking Jentadueto for a short time. Call your doctor for instructions if you:
  • are dehydrated (have lost too much body fluid). Dehydration can occur if you are sick with severe vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, or if you drink a lot less fluid than normal.
  • plan to have surgery
• When your body is under some types of stress, such as fever, trauma (such as a car accident), infection, or surgery, the amount of diabetes medicine that you need may change. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these conditions and follow your doctor’s instructions.
• Check your blood sugar as your doctor tells you to.
• Stay on your prescribed diet and exercise program while taking Jentadueto.
• Talk to your doctor about how to prevent, recognize, and manage low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and complications of diabetes.
• Your doctor will check your diabetes with regular blood tests, including your blood sugar levels and your hemoglobin A1C.
• Your doctor will do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working before and during your treatment with Jentadueto.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food). Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis: severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, or fast heartbeats.

Some people develop lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as:

• muscle pain or weakness;

• numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs;

• trouble breathing;

• feeling dizzy, light-headed, tired, or very weak;

• stomach pain, nausea with vomiting; or

• slow or uneven heart rate.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• a severe autoimmune reaction--itching, blisters, breakdown of the outer layer of skin;

• symptoms of heart failure--shortness of breath (even while lying down), swelling in your legs or feet, rapid weight gain;

• severe or ongoing pain in your joints; or

• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects may include:

• sore throat;

• sinus pain, stuffy nose; or

• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of linagliptin and metformin combination in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of linagliptin and metformin combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Acetrizoic Acid
• Diatrizoate
• Ethiodized Oil
• Iobenzamic Acid
• Iobitridol
• Iocarmic Acid
• Iocetamic Acid
• Iodamide
• Iodipamide
• Iodixanol
• Iodohippuric Acid
• Iodopyracet
• Iodoxamic Acid
• Ioglicic Acid
• Ioglycamic Acid
• Iohexol
• Iomeprol
• Iopamidol
• Iopanoic Acid
• Iopentol
• Iophendylate
• Iopromide
• Iopronic Acid
• Ioseric Acid
• Iosimide
• Iotasul
• Iothalamate
• Iotrolan
• Iotroxic Acid
• Ioxaglate
• Ioxitalamic Acid
• Ipodate
• Metrizamide
• Metrizoic Acid
• Tyropanoate Sodium

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aspirin
• Balofloxacin
• Besifloxacin
• Bupropion
• Carbamazepine
• Ciprofloxacin
• Dasabuvir
• Dofetilide
• Dolutegravir
• Efavirenz
• Enoxacin
• Enzalutamide
• Fleroxacin
• Flumequine
• Fosphenytoin
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Ioversol
• Lanreotide
• Levofloxacin
• Lomefloxacin
• Mitotane
• Moxifloxacin
• Nadifloxacin
• Norfloxacin
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Ombitasvir
• Oxcarbazepine
• Paritaprevir
• Pasireotide
• Pazufloxacin
• Pefloxacin
• Phenytoin
• Pioglitazone
• Primidone
• Prulifloxacin
• Rifabutin
• Rifampin
• Rifapentine
• Ritonavir
• Rufloxacin
• Sparfloxacin
• St John's Wort
• Thioctic Acid
• Tipranavir
• Tosufloxacin
• Vandetanib

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acebutolol
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Bitter Melon
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Esmolol
• Fenugreek
• Furazolidone
• Glucomannan
• Guar Gum
• Iproniazid
• Isocarboxazid
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• Linezolid
• Methylene Blue
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Moclobemide
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Nialamide
• Oxprenolol
• Patiromer
• Penbutolol
• Phenelzine
• Pindolol
• Practolol
• Procarbazine
• Propranolol
• Psyllium
• Ranolazine
• Rasagiline
• Rifampin
• Safinamide
• Selegiline
• Sotalol
• Timolol
• Tranylcypromine
• Verapamil

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Adrenal glands (underactive) or
• Alcohol, excessive use or
• Congestive heart failure, acute or unstable or
• Dehydration or
• Heart attack, acute or
• Hypoxemia (decreased oxygen in the blood) or
• Liver disease or
• Pituitary gland (underactive) or
• Poorly nourished condition or
• Sepsis (severe infection) or
• Shock (low blood pressure, blood circulation is poor) or
• Weakened physical condition—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.

• Anemia (low blood cells) or
• Vitamin B12 deficiency—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, or legs), history with this medication or other dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors—Use with caution. May increase the risk of this condition occurring again.

• Diabetic ketoacidosis or metabolic acidosis (high ketones and acid in the blood) or
• Kidney disease, severe or
• Type I diabetes—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Fever or
• Infection of any type or
• Surgery (major) or
• Trauma—These conditions may cause temporary problems with blood sugar control and your doctor may want to treat you with insulin.

• Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol in the blood) or
• Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides and fats in the blood) or
• Obesity or
• Pancreas problems, history of—Use with caution. May increase risk for pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas).

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Belly pain.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).
• Gas.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Stuffy nose.
• Runny nose.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Indication

Jentadueto is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both linagliptin and metformin is appropriate [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Clinical Studies (14.1)].

Important Limitations of Use

Jentadueto should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, as it would not be effective in these settings.

Jentadueto has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. It is unknown whether patients with a history of pancreatitis are at an increased risk for the development of pancreatitis while using Jentadueto [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Jentadueto is contraindicated in patients with:

• Severe renal impairment (eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis should be treated with insulin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• A history of hypersensitivity reaction to linagliptin, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, exfoliative skin conditions, urticaria, or bronchial hyperreactivity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)]
• Hypersensitivity to metformin

In the event of an overdose with Jentadueto, contact the Poison Control Center. Employ the usual supportive measures (e.g., remove unabsorbed material from the gastrointestinal tract, employ clinical monitoring, and institute supportive treatment) as dictated by the patient’s clinical status. Removal of linagliptin by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is unlikely. However, metformin is dialyzable with a clearance of up to 170 mL/min under good hemodynamic conditions. Therefore, hemodialysis may be useful partly for removal of accumulated metformin from patients in whom Jentadueto overdosage is suspected.

Linagliptin
During controlled clinical trials in healthy subjects, with single doses of up to 600 mg of linagliptin (equivalent to 120 times the recommended daily dose), there were no dose-related clinical adverse drug reactions. There is no experience with doses above 600 mg in humans.

Metformin
Overdose of metformin has occurred, including ingestion of amounts greater than 50 grams. Hypoglycemia was reported in approximately 10% of cases, but no causal association with metformin has been established. Lactic acidosis has been reported in approximately 32% of metformin overdose cases [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

The coadministration of linagliptin and metformin has been studied in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on diet and exercise and in combination with sulfonylurea.

There have been no clinical efficacy studies conducted with Jentadueto; however, bioequivalence of Jentadueto to linagliptin and metformin coadministered as individual tablets was demonstrated in healthy subjects.

Initial Combination Therapy with Linagliptin and Metformin

A total of 791 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise participated in the 24-week, randomized, double-blind, portion of this placebo-controlled factorial study designed to assess the efficacy of linagliptin as initial therapy with metformin. Patients on an antihyperglycemic agent (52%) underwent a drug washout period of 4 weeks’ duration. After the washout period and after completing a 2-week single-blind placebo run-in period, patients with inadequate glycemic control (A1C ≥7.0% to ≤10.5%) were randomized. Patients with inadequate glycemic control (A1C ≥7.5% to <11.0%) not on antihyperglycemic agents at study entry (48%) immediately entered the 2-week single-blind placebo run-in period and then were randomized. Randomization was stratified by baseline A1C (<8.5% vs ≥8.5%) and use of a prior oral antidiabetic drug (none vs monotherapy). Patients were randomized in a 1:2:2:2:2:2 ratio to either placebo or one of 5 active-treatment arms. Approximately equal numbers of patients were randomized to receive initial therapy with 5 mg of linagliptin once daily, 500 mg or 1000 mg of metformin twice daily, or 2.5 mg of linagliptin twice daily in combination with 500 mg or 1000 mg of metformin twice daily. Patients who failed to meet specific glycemic goals during the study were treated with sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, or insulin rescue therapy.

Initial therapy with the combination of linagliptin and metformin provided significant improvements in A1C, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) compared to placebo, to metformin alone, and to linagliptin alone (Table 6, Figure 1). The adjusted mean treatment difference in A1C from baseline to week 24 (LOCF) was -0.5% (95% CI -0.7, -0.3; p<0.0001) for linagliptin 2.5 mg/metformin 1000 mg twice daily compared to metformin 1000 mg twice daily; -1.1% (95% CI -1.4, -0.9; p<0.0001) for linagliptin 2.5 mg/metformin 1000 mg twice daily compared to linagliptin 5 mg once daily; -0.6% (95% CI -0.8, -0.4; p<0.0001) for linagliptin 2.5 mg/metformin 500 mg twice daily compared to metformin 500 mg twice daily; and -0.8% (95% CI -1.0, -0.6; p<0.0001) for linagliptin 2.5 mg/metformin 500 mg twice daily compared to linagliptin 5 mg once daily.

Lipid effects were generally neutral. No meaningful change in body weight was noted in any of the 6 treatment groups.

Figure 1 Adjusted Mean Change from Baseline for A1C (%) over 24 Weeks with Linagliptin and Metformin, Alone and in Combination in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Inadequately Controlled with Diet and Exercise - FAS completers.

Initial Combination Therapy with Linagliptin and Metformin vs Linagliptin in Treatment-Naïve Patients

A total of 316 patients with type 2 diabetes diagnosed within the previous 12 months and treatment-naïve (no antidiabetic therapy for 12 weeks prior to randomization) and inadequate glycemic control (A1C ≥8.5% to ≤12.0%) participated in a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, study designed to assess the efficacy of linagliptin in combination with metformin vs linagliptin. Patients were randomized (1:1), after a 2-week run-in period, to either linagliptin 5 mg plus metformin (1500 to 2000 mg per day, n=159) or linagliptin 5 mg plus placebo, (n=157) administered once daily. Patients in the linagliptin and metformin treatment group were up-titrated to a maximum tolerated dose of metformin (1000 to 2000 mg per day) over a three-week period.

Initial therapy with the combination of linagliptin and metformin provided statistically significant improvements in A1C compared to linagliptin (Table 7). The mean difference between groups in A1C change from baseline was -0.8% with 2-sided 95% confidence interval (-1.23%, -0.45%).

The adjusted mean changes for A1C (%) from baseline over time for linagliptin and metformin as compared to linagliptin alone were maintained throughout the 24 week treatment period. Using the completers analysis the respective adjusted means for A1C (%) changes from baseline for linagliptin and metformin as compared to linagliptin alone were -1.9 and -1.3 at week 6, -2.6 and -1.8 at week 12, -2.7 and -1.9 at week 18, and -2.7 and -1.9 at week 24.

Changes in body weight from baseline were not clinically significant in either treatment group.

Add-On Combination Therapy with Metformin

A total of 701 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy of linagliptin in combination with metformin. Patients already on metformin (n=491) at a dose of at least 1500 mg per day were randomized after completing a 2-week, open-label, placebo run-in period. Patients on metformin and another antihyperglycemic agent (n=207) were randomized after a run-in period of approximately 6 weeks on metformin (at a dose of at least 1500 mg per day) in monotherapy. Patients were randomized to the addition of either linagliptin 5 mg or placebo, administered once daily. Patients who failed to meet specific glycemic goals during the studies were treated with glimepiride rescue.

In combination with metformin, linagliptin provided statistically significant improvements in A1C, FPG, and 2-hour PPG compared with placebo (Table 8). Rescue glycemic therapy was used in 7.8% of patients treated with linagliptin 5 mg and in 18.9% of patients treated with placebo. A similar decrease in body weight was observed for both treatment groups.

Active-Controlled Study vs Glimepiride in Combination with Metformin

The efficacy of linagliptin was evaluated in a 104-week double-blind, glimepiride-controlled non-inferiority study in type 2 diabetic patients with insufficient glycemic control despite metformin therapy. Patients being treated with metformin only entered a run-in period of 2 weeks’ duration, whereas patients pretreated with metformin and one additional antihyperglycemic agent entered a run-in treatment period of 6 weeks’ duration with metformin monotherapy (dose of ≥1500 mg per day) and washout of the other agent. After an additional 2-week placebo run-in period, those with inadequate glycemic control (A1C 6.5% to 10%) were randomized 1:1 to the addition of linagliptin 5 mg once daily or glimepiride. Randomization was stratified by baseline HbA1c (<8.5% vs ≥8.5%), and the previous use of antidiabetic drugs (metformin alone vs metformin plus one other OAD). Patients receiving glimepiride were given an initial dose of 1 mg/day and then electively titrated over the next 12 weeks to a maximum dose of 4 mg/day as needed to optimize glycemic control. Thereafter, the glimepiride dose was to be kept constant, except for down-titration to prevent hypoglycemia.

After 52 weeks and 104 weeks, linagliptin and glimepiride both had reductions from baseline in A1C (52 weeks: -0.4% for linagliptin, -0.6% for glimepiride; 104 weeks: -0.2% for linagliptin, -0.4% for glimepiride) from a baseline mean of 7.7% (Table 9). The mean difference between groups in A1C change from baseline was 0.2% with 2-sided 97.5% confidence interval (0.1%, 0.3%) for the intent-to-treat population using last observation carried forward. These results were consistent with the completers analysis.

Patients treated with linagliptin had a mean baseline body weight of 86 kg and were observed to have an adjusted mean decrease in body weight of 1.1 kg at 52 weeks and 1.4 kg at 104 weeks. Patients on glimepiride had a mean baseline body weight of 87 kg and were observed to have an adjusted mean increase from baseline in body weight of 1.4 kg at 52 weeks and 1.3 kg at 104 weeks (treatment difference p<0.0001 for both timepoints).

Add-On Combination Therapy with Metformin and a Sulfonylurea

A total of 1058 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus participated in a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy of linagliptin in combination with a sulfonylurea and metformin. The most common sulfonylureas used by patients in the study were glimepiride (31%), glibenclamide (26%), and gliclazide (26% [not available in the United States]). Patients on a sulfonylurea and metformin were randomized to receive linagliptin 5 mg or placebo, each administered once daily. Patients who failed to meet specific glycemic goals during the study were treated with pioglitazone rescue. Glycemic end points measured included A1C and FPG.

In combination with a sulfonylurea and metformin, linagliptin provided statistically significant improvements in A1C and FPG compared with placebo (Table 10). In the entire study population (patients on linagliptin in combination with a sulfonylurea and metformin), a mean reduction from baseline relative to placebo in A1C of -0.6% and in FPG of -13 mg/dL was seen. Rescue therapy was used in 5.4% of patients treated with linagliptin 5 mg and in 13% of patients treated with placebo. Change from baseline in body weight did not differ significantly between the groups.

Add-On Combination Therapy with Insulin

A total of 1261 patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on basal insulin alone or basal insulin in combination with oral drugs participated in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of linagliptin as add-on therapy to basal insulin over 24 weeks. Randomization was stratified by baseline HbA1c (<8.5% vs ≥8.5%), renal function impairment status (based on baseline eGFR), and concomitant use of oral antidiabetic drugs (none, metformin only, pioglitazone only, metformin + pioglitazone). Patients with a baseline A1C of >7% and <10% were included in the study including 709 patients with renal impairment (eGFR <90 mL/min), most of whom (n=575) were categorized as mild renal impairment (eGFR 60 to <90 mL/min). Patients entered a 2-week placebo run-in period on basal insulin (e.g., insulin glargine, insulin detemir, or NPH insulin) with or without metformin and/or pioglitazone background therapy. Following the run-in period, patients with inadequate glycemic control were randomized to the addition of either 5 mg of linagliptin or placebo, administered once daily. Patients were maintained on a stable dose of insulin prior to enrollment, during the run-in period, and during the first 24 weeks of treatment. Patients who failed to meet specific glycemic goals during the double-blind treatment period were rescued by increasing background insulin dose.

Linagliptin used in combination with insulin (with or without metformin and/or pioglitazone), provided statistically significant improvements in A1C and FPG compared to placebo (Table 11) after 24 weeks of treatment. The mean total daily insulin dose at baseline was 42 units for patients treated with linagliptin and 40 units for patients treated with placebo. Background baseline diabetes therapy included use of: insulin alone (16.1%), insulin combined with metformin only (75.5%), insulin combined with metformin and pioglitazone (7.4%), and insulin combined with pioglitazone only (1%). The mean change from baseline to Week 24 in the daily dose of insulin was +1.3 IU in the placebo group and +0.6 IU in the linagliptin group. The mean change in body weight from baseline to Week 24 was similar in the two treatment groups. The rate of hypoglycemia, defined as all symptomatic or asymptomatic episodes with a self-measured blood glucose was also similar in both groups (21.4% linagliptin; 22.9% placebo) in the first 24 weeks of the study.

The difference between treatment with linagliptin and placebo in terms of adjusted mean change from baseline in HbA1c after 24 weeks was comparable for patients with no renal impairment (eGFR ≥90 mL/min, n=539), with mild renal impairment (eGFR 60 to <90 mL/min, n=565), or with moderate renal impairment (eGFR 30 to <60 mL/min, n=124).

Renal Impairment

A total of 133 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in a 52 week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of linagliptin in patients with both type 2 diabetes and severe chronic renal impairment. Participants with an estimated (based on the four variables modified diet in renal disease [MDRD] equation) GFR value of <30 mL/min were eligible to participate in the study. Randomization was stratified by baseline HbA1c (≤8% and >8%) and background antidiabetic therapy (insulin or any combination with insulin, SU or glinides as monotherapy and pioglitazone or any other antidiabetics excluding any other DPP-4 inhibitors). For the initial 12 weeks of the study, background antidiabetic therapy was kept stable and included insulin, sulfonylurea, glinides, and pioglitazone. For the remainder of the trial, dose adjustments in antidiabetic background therapy were allowed. At baseline in this trial, 62.5% of patients were receiving insulin alone as background diabetes therapy, and 12.5% were receiving sulfonylurea alone.

After 12 weeks of treatment, linagliptin 5 mg provided statistically significant improvement in A1C compared to placebo, with an adjusted mean change of -0.6% compared to placebo (95% confidence interval -0.9, -0.3) based on the analysis using last observation carried forward (LOCF). With adjustments in antidiabetic background therapy after the initial 12 weeks, efficacy was maintained for 52 weeks, with an adjusted mean change from baseline in A1C of -0.7% compared to placebo (95% confidence interval -1.0, -0.4) based on analysis using LOCF.

You should not use Jentadueto if you are allergic to metformin (Actoplus Met, Avandamet, Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet) or linagliptin, or:

• if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (breathing problems, swelling, severe skin rash) to linagliptin (Tradjenta);

• if you have severe kidney disease; or

• if you have diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Some people taking metformin develop a serious condition called lactic acidosis. This may be more likely if you have liver or kidney disease, congestive heart failure, a heart attack or stroke, a severe infection, if you are 65 or older, if you are dehydrated, or if you drink a lot of alcohol. Talk with your doctor about your risk.

To make sure Jentadueto is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease (your kidney function may need to be checked before you take this medicine);

• liver disease;

• heart disease;

• pancreatitis;

• gallstones;

• high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);

• alcoholism; or

• if you are over 80 years old and have not recently had your kidney function checked.

If you need to have surgery or any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you will need to temporarily stop taking Jentadueto. Be sure your caregivers know ahead of time that you are using this medication.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using Jentadueto if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby. Blood sugar control is very important during pregnancy, and your dose needs may be different during each trimester of pregnancy. Your dose needs may also be different while you are breast-feeding.

It is not known whether linagliptin and metformin passes into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Jentadueto is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, and seizure (convulsions).

Applies to linagliptin / metformin: oral tablet, oral tablet extended release

General

The most commonly reported adverse events included nasopharyngitis and diarrhea.[Ref]

Metabolic

Linagliptin-Metformin:
Frequency not reported: Hypoglycemia

Linagliptin:
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertriglyceridemia, hyperlipidemia, weight increased

Metformin:
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Lactic acidosis, vitamin B12 deficiency[Ref]

Hypoglycemia was more commonly reported in patients receiving the combination linagliptin / metformin plus a sulfonylurea compared with those receiving metformin plus a sulfonylurea (22.9% vs 14.8%; n=792).[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal events such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain occur most frequently during initiation of therapy and resolve spontaneously in most cases.
During clinical trials, pancreatitis was reported in 15.2 cases per 10,000 patient year exposure in patients receiving linagliptin compared with 3.7 cases per 10,000 patient year exposure in those receiving active comparator (sulfonylurea). Following completion of clinical trials, 3 additional cases of pancreatitis were reported among those receiving linagliptin. Postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis, including fatalities, have been received.[Ref]

Linagliptin-Metformin:
Common (1% to 10%): Decreased appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased blood amylase
Postmarketing reports: Mouth ulceration

Linagliptin:
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, diarrhea
Frequency not reported: Pancreatitis

Metformin:
Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased appetite
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation
Frequency not reported: Flatulence, indigestion[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Linagliptin-Metformin:
Rare (less than 0.1%): Drug hypersensitivity

Linagliptin
Postmarketing reports: Serious hypersensitivity reactions[Ref]

Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions have been reported postmarketing in patients treated with linagliptin. These reactions have occurred within the first 3 months, with some occurring after the first dose.[Ref]

Respiratory

Linagliptin-Metformin
Common (1% to 10%): Nasopharyngitis (6.3%),
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cough

Linagliptin
Common (1% to 10%): Nasopharyngitis, cough

Metformin
Common (1% to 10%): Nasopharyngitis[Ref]

Dermatologic

Postmarketing reports of bullous pemphigoid requiring hospitalization have been reported with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors use. These case typically recovered with topical or systemic immunosuppressive treatment and discontinuation of DPP-4 inhibitor.[Ref]

Linagliptin-Metformin:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus
Postmarketing reports: Angioedema, urticaria, rash

Metformin:
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Skin reactions such as erythema, pruritus, and urticaria

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors:
Postmarketing reports: Bullous pemphigoid[Ref]

Hematologic

Metformin
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Megaloblastic anemia[Ref]

Hepatic

Metformin:
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatitis, liver function test abnormalities[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Linagliptin:
Frequency not reported: Myalgia, arthralgia[Ref]

Between October 2006 and December 2013, thirty-three cases of severe arthralgia have been reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Database. Each case involved the use of 1 or more dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. In all cases, substantial reduction in prior activity level was reported, 10 patients were hospitalized due to disabling joint pain. In 22 cases, symptoms appeared within 1 month of starting therapy, in 23 cases symptoms resolved less than 1 month after discontinuation. A positive rechallenge was reported in 8 cases, with 6 cases involving use of a different DPP-4 inhibitor. Sitagliptin had the greatest number of cases reported (n=28) followed by saxagliptin (n=5), linagliptin (n=2), alogliptin (n=1), and vildagliptin (n=2).[Ref]

Nervous system

Metformin:
Common (1% to 10%): Taste disturbance[Ref]

Genitourinary

Linagliptin:
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection,[Ref]

Psychiatric

Linagliptin:
Common (1% to 10%): Headache

Metformin:
Common (1% to 10%): Headache[Ref]

Some side effects of Jentadueto may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.