Vildagliptin a medication indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Vildagliptin helps to lower blood sugar and is often taken in combination with other diabetes medications such as metformin. Vildagliptin is usually taken as a second-line approach to diabetes management after monotherapy, diet and exercise have failed to control a patient's blood sugar levels. Vildagliptin was first approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2008 and has been studied extensively in clinical trials and post marketing research. Vildagliptin has proven generally safe and effective, but may cause several side effects ranging from mild to serious depending on the patient's overall health and the combination of other medications the patient may be taking.
Common Side Effects
There are several side effects that commonly occur while taking vildagliptin. According to Netdoctor UK, the most common side effects include tremor, headache, dizziness, low blood sugar, nausea and weakness. Patients taking vildagliptin may also experience weight gain and swelling of the legs and ankles due to excess fluid retention. Netdoctor UK notes that most of these side effects occur as a result of combining vildagliptin with other diabetes medications including metformin, sulphonylurea and glitazone. In the March 2007 issue of "Diabetologia," Dr. Vivian Fonseca and associates stated that the most common side effects, which are tremor, weakness, excess sweating, dizziness and headache, occurring in between 9 and 18 percent of patients, also occur at about the same rate in patients taking placebo, suggesting that adverse events may partly be caused by the condition itself rather than the medication used to treat it.
Other Side Effects
Patients taking vildagliptin may also experience several other side effects, which are less common, but still noteworthy. These include fatigue and constipation, notes Netdoctor UK. Both of these side effects have occurred when taken in combination with other diabetes medications, including metformin, sulphonylurea and glitazone. In the April 2007 issue of "Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice," Dr. Xavier Pi-Sunyer and associates found that the side effects most attributable to the medication compared to placebo are upper respiratory tract infection, high blood pressure, headache, nose and throat inflammation, and pain in the extremities. Both upper respiratory tract infection and nose and throat inflammation were found to be dose dependent side effects.
Serious Side Effects
Vildagliptin can also cause several serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. According to the consumer leaflet for Galvus, patients should inform their physicians or go to the hospital immediately if they experience swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat. This may be an indicator of an allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock, which may result in complete airway obstruction if left unattended. Other serious reactions may include sudden development of rash or hives. Liver and gastrointestinal dysfunction may also occur, resulting in nausea, loss of appetite, light colored urine and the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to bile displacement. Additionally, pancreatic reactions may occur, resulting in severe pain in the upper abdominal area.
References
- Netdoctor UK: Vildagliptin Patient Information
- "Diabetologia"; Addition of Vildagliptin to Insulin Improves Glycaemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes; Dr. Vivian Fonseca et al.; March 2007
- National Prescribing Service: Vildagliptin
- "Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice"; Efficacy and Tolerability of Vildagliptin Monotherapy in Drug-Naïve Patients With Type 2 Diabetes; Xavier Pi-Sunyer et al.; April 2007
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