Komboglyze

What is Komboglyze?

Komboglyze was a dual-action diabetes treatment. It contained a combination of saxagliptin, which is a DPP-4 inhibitor, and metformin, which belongs to a class of medicines called biguanides. It was used to lower the high blood sugar caused by type-2 diabetes when monotherapies (one active ingredient on its own) such as metformin hadn’t worked.

Type-2 diabetes is a condition that you normally get in adulthood as a result of your body not producing as much insulin as it should (a hormone that helps you to digest the sugar you eat) or not effectively using the insulin that it does produce. Sometimes it can be controlled by changing your diet and exercising more, but where this isn’t working to reduce your blood sugar levels, treatments are often recommended.

Komboglyze has been discontinued by the manufacturer, but there are other treatments that work in a similar way. You can also get metformin or saxagliptin, the active ingredients in Komboglyze, separately under different brand names or as generics. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, just check in with your clinician for advice.

How does Komboglyze work?

Komboglyze works to lower your blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of insulin that your pancreas produces and lowering the amount of glucose that your body makes.

Metformin, one of Komboglyze’s two active ingredients, is often used as the first-line treatment for type-2 diabetes.^[1]
It works by reducing the amount of sugar that’s made in your liver and increasing your cells’ sensitivity to insulin, which makes them better able to store the sugar that you eat and remove it from your blood.

Saxagliptin, like other DPP-4 inhibitors, blocks the breakdown of incretins – hormones that instigate insulin secretion when you eat. By extending the length of time that incretins are active in your system, saxagliptin increases the amount of insulin that gets secreted by your pancreas, which helps to lower your blood sugar levels.

What doses of Komboglyze are there?

Komboglyze is available in two doses. Both treatments contain 2.5mg of saxagliptin, but different amounts of metformin. The lower dose treatment contains 850mg of metformin, and the higher one contains 1,000mg of metformin.

How to take Komboglyze

You should always take Komboglyze exactly as prescribed by our clinician. To take Komboglyze simply swallow one tablet, whole, with water. The recommended dose is one tablet twice a day. You might be prescribed a lower dose if you have kidney problems. It’s recommended that you take Komboglyze with a meal to reduce your risk of getting an upset stomach.

How long does it take Komboglyze to work?

Komboglyze should get to work quickly to increase your insulin levels and lower your glucose production, but it might take a few weeks for your blood sugar levels to go down. Your HbA1c (the test of your average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months) will be monitored whilst you’re taking it to check that it’s working properly. If your HbA1c doesn’t show the required improvement after a few months then you might need to try an alternative treatment.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Komboglyze?

You should seek medical help straight away if you take more than your recommended dose of Komboglyze. If you forget your dose, you can take it when you remember – so long as it’s not too close to your next scheduled dose. If it is, skip your forgotten dose and continue as normal. Don’t double the dosage to make up for the missed one.