Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medicines
Key to symbols The medicine should be initiated by, or on the advice of a specialist, but is suitable for continuation by a GP The medicine should only be used and prescribed by a specialist Indicates the preferred choice within a class or group of medicines
The medicine should be initiated by, or on the advice of a specialist, but is suitable for continuation by a GP
The medicine should only be used and prescribed by a specialist
Indicates the preferred choice within a class or group of medicines
6.1.2. Antidiabetic drugs

6.1.2.7. Dipeptidylpeptidase-4 Inhibitors

This class of medicines are not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c. In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate. Stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information.

Preferred List
Preferred List First Line
SITAGLIPTIN

Restrictions:

Formulary indications are summarised in the Prescribing notes below:

Prescribing Notes:

Indications and restrictions for use in type 2 diabetes mellitus:

  • Sitagliptin is the preferred DPP4-inhibitor in NHSGGC.
  • Monotherapy is restricted to patients for whom both metformin and sulphonylureas are inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance. 
  • Combination with a sulphonylurea is restricted to patients in whom metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated. 
  • Combination with both metformin and a sulphonylurea (i.e triple therapy) is restricted to patients who are inadequately controlled on their respective maximal tolerated doses of metformin and sulphonylurea.
  • Add-on treatment to insulin (with or without metformin).

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

LINAGLIPTIN

Restrictions:

Restricted to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as outlined in the prescribing notes section.

Prescribing Notes:

Linagliptin may be a more suitable choice for those patients likely to be subject to increasing renal impairment.

Formulary indications are as follows:

  • as monotherapy in patients for whom both metformin and sulphonylureas are inappropriate due to contradictions or intolerance
  • in combination with metformin when diet and exercise plus metformin alone does not provide adequate glycaemic control in patients for whom the addition of a sulphonylurea is inappropriate. 
  • as combination therapy with a sulphonylurea and metformin when diet and exercise plus dual therapy does not provide adequate glycaemic control
  • in combination with insulin, with or without metformin when this regimen alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate.

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol)

. Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

Total Formulary
ALOGLIPTIN (tablet)

Prescribing Notes:

  • This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate
  • Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Type 2 Diabetes Guideline for further information (link here).

BNF Link

ALOGLIPTIN, METFORMIN

Restrictions:

It is restricted to use in patients for whom this fixed dose combination of alogliptin and metformin is an appropriate choice of therapy and only when the addition of a sulphonylurea to metformin monotherapy is not appropriate. Combination preparations are further restricted to use only in those patients who have demonstrable compliance issues with the separate constituents.

Prescribing Notes:

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol)

. Please see the NHSGGC Type 2 Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

LINAGLIPTIN, METFORMIN (TABLETS)

Restrictions:

For restrictions of this combination product please see prescribing notes below.

Prescribing Notes:

For the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

  • in patients for whom a combination of linagliptin and metformin is an appropriate choice of therapy and these fixed-doses are considered appropriate and where there is demonstrable compliance issues with the separate constituents.
  • in combination with insulin (i.e. triple therapy) as an adjunct to diet and exercise when insulin and metformin alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control. It is restricted to use in patients for whom a combination of linagliptin and metformin is an appropriate choice and these fixed-doses are considered appropriate and where there is demonstrable compliance issues with the separate constituents.

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

SAXAGLIPTIN

Restrictions:

For restrictions please see prescribing notes below

Prescribing Notes:

  • Dual therapy: Use in combination with metformin when a sulphonylurea is contraindicated or not tolerated.
  • Triple therapy: In combination with metformin and a sulphonylurea when this regimen alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control is restricted to use in patients who are inadequately controlled on their respective maximal tolerated doses of metformin and sulphonylurea.
  • The use in combination with insulin (with or without metformin), when this regimen alone, with diet and excercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control.
  • The use as monotherapy is not recommended by SMC and remains non-Formulary

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

SAXAGLIPTIN, DAPAGLIFLOZIN (Tablets)

Restrictions:

Restricted to the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults in combination with metformin when the use of a sulphonylurea is inappropriate.

Prescribing Notes:

NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines click here

BNF Link

SAXAGLIPTIN, METFORMIN (tablets)

Restrictions:

For restrictions please see prescribing notes below

Prescribing Notes:

This combined preparation is Formulary for these restricted indications:

  • Use in patients for whom a combination of saxagliptin and metformin is an appropriate choice of therapy and only when the addition of sulphonylureas to metformin monotherapy is not appropriate. 
  • In combination with a sulphonylurea (i.e. triple combination therapy) as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus when the maximally tolerated dose of both metformin and the sulphonylurea does not provide adequate glycaemic control.  

In addition this preparation is restricted to those patients who have demonstrated compliance issues with the separate constituents.

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

SITAGLIPTIN, METFORMIN

Restrictions:

Restricted to use in patients for whom a combination of Sitagliptin and metformin is an appropriate choice of therapy and only when the addition of a sulphonylurea to metformin monotherapy is not appropriate. Combination preparations are further restricted to use only in those patients who have demonstrable compliance issues with the separate constituents.

Prescribing Notes:

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

VILDAGLIPTIN

Restrictions:

Restricted to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as outlined in the prescribing notes section

Prescribing Notes:

Formulary indications are as follows:

  • use as monotherapy is restricted to use in patients for whom both metformin and sulphonylureas are inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance
  • use in combination with metformin or a sulphonylurea for patients with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximum tolerated dose of monotherapy with metformin or a sulphonylurea.
  • use as triple oral therapy in combination with a sulphonylurea and metformin when diet and exercise plus dual therapy with these medicinal products do not provide adequate glycaemic control. It is restricted to use in patients who are inadequately controlled on their respective maximal tolerated doses of metformin and sulphonylurea.

All other licensed indications remain non-Formulary.

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link

VILDAGLIPTIN, METFORMIN

Restrictions:

For restrictions please see prescribing notes below

Prescribing Notes:

Current Formulary indications are:

  • Restricted to use only when the addition of a sulphonylurea is not appropriate for patients with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximum tolerated dose of monotherapy with metformin.
  • Combination preparations are further restricted to use only in those patients who have demonstable compliance issues with the separate constituents.

All other licensed indications remain non-Formulary.

This class of medicines is not considered the most cost-effective choice when used as first-line therapy, and even when used as 2nd or 3rd line, they may only result in a modest reduction of HbA1c.  In some situations, alternative therapy, such as insulin or GLP-1 analogue may be more appropriate

Patients initiated on gliptin therapy should be reviewed at 6 months and treatment should stop medication if individualised target not achieved AND HbA1c falls less than 0.5% (5.5mmol/mol). Please see the NHSGGC Diabetes Guidelines for further information (link here).

BNF Link