About Alogliptin

NHS medicines information on alogliptin - what it's used for and key facts.

Alogliptin is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin that it makes does not work properly.

This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia).

Alogliptin is prescribed for people who still have high blood sugar, even though they have a sensible diet and exercise regularly.

It works by increasing the amount of insulin that your body makes. Insulin is the hormone that controls sugar levels in your blood.

Alogliptin is only available on prescription.

It comes as tablets that you swallow. It also comes as tablets containing a mixture of alogliptin and another diabetes medicine called metformin. This is known by the brand name Vipdomet.

Key facts

• Alogliptin starts to work within a few hours. You need to take it every day to make sure your blood sugar stays as stable as possible.
• You take alogliptin once a day.
• The most common side effects of alogliptin are headaches, indigestion, diarrhoea and skin rashes.
• This medicine does not usually make you put on weight.
• If you have diabetes, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all of your medicines, not just your diabetes ones.

If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.