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Tradjenta (linagliptin) is a type 2 diabetes medication that increases production of insulin in the pancreas while inhibiting production of the competing hormone glucagon. It gives patients better control of blood glucose levels, slowing or even halting progression of the disease and thereby reducing the likelihood of catastrophic complications like amputations or kidney failure.

The medication also slows gastric emptying, which in turn reduces the impact of a meal on blood glucose levels. This action has the added benefit of producing a feeling of satiety and fullness, which moderately decreases food intake in most patients; many patients lose weight while taking Tradjenta. Tradjenta also reduces liver fat content.

Used in conjunction with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, Tradjenta may reduce the need for supplemental injectable insulin therapy in type 2 diabetics; with sufficient lifestyle changes, and time for the body to respond to them, the need for medications may eventually be eliminated entirely.

Tradjenta is not intended for the treatment of Type I diabetes or ketacidosis.

What to Expect from Treatment

Tradjenta comes in tablets; no needles or injections to deal with. Treatment is very simple:

• The vast majority of patients take 5 mg once per day.
• Tablets can be taken with or without food as desired.

Tradjenta can be used on its own, but it is also often used with other diabetes medications, such as metformin. Other medications may call for adjusted doses; however, since Tradjenta is only available in 5 mg tablets, it's usually the other medications that are adjusted, not Tradjenta.

The medication will produce some results after the first dose; however it may take several days to several weeks to fully understand its impact, especially if other medications are being taken and their doses were adjusted to accommodate Tradjenta.

A particular benefit of Tradjenta, rare among anti-diabetic medications, is that it is not removed from the body through the kidneys, but rather through the gut. This means it can be used among those patients who have kidney damage---unfortunately a common complication of diabetes---that may make the majority of medications unsuitable.

Warnings & Side Effects

As always, blood glucose levels should be carefully monitored and any significant variation reported to a physician.

Tradjenta produces few side effects; most commonly reported are nausea, cold symptoms, and photosensitivity. Very rarely more serious side effects occur:

• Arthralgia (joint pain) which can be severe; this can begin as soon as the first day or may not appear until the medication has been taken for a long time.
• Bullous pemphigoid, a skin condition that causes fluid-filled blisters.

A doctor should be consulted as soon as possible if the above complications develop.

Januvia on its own is very unlikely to produce hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), but it is still a risk if other anti-diabetes medications are being taken.

Severe pancreatitis has been reported in patients taking Tradjenta, though it is unclear if Tradjenta is the cause. Patients should be alert for symptoms:

• Persistent pain in the upper abdomen
• Abdominal pain that starts or worsens after eating
• Abdominal pain that radiates to the back
• Persistent fever
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Oily stools
• Unusually smelly stools

Because Tradjenta causes an increase in stomach emptying time, those who already have issues with delayed gastric emptying may want to consider alternate therapies. Slowed stomach-emptying may also cause increased absorption of other medications. Check with a doctor or pharmacist about taking any other medications along with Tradjenta.