[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dpp-4-inhibitors/) › Alogliptin

# Alogliptin

## gliptins?

DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins)

An oral DPP-4 inhibitor (gliptin) for type 2 diabetes: it keeps the gut's incretin hormones active, so insulin rises only when glucose is high.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

Also called: alogliptin benzoate

## Quick facts

**Group**
[DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dpp-4-inhibitors/)

**Target**
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)

**Used for**
Type 2 diabetes

**Key effects**
Headache · Stuffy or runny nose

**Monitor**
HbA1c and blood glucose · Kidney function

**ATC**
A10BH04

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

✂**Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)**Alogliptin

ⓘ The figure shows alogliptin (catalogued under its development code TAK-322) in the active site of human DPP-4.

**Target in 3D:** Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). PDB structure 3G0B (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/3G0B) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

DPP-4 rapidly inactivates the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP released by the gut after meals. Alogliptin selectively inhibits DPP-4, so active incretin levels rise; insulin release increases and glucagon falls in a glucose-dependent way. Used alone it rarely causes hypoglycaemia and is weight-neutral.

- Inhibits the enzyme DPP-4
- Active GLP-1 and GIP last longer after meals
- Glucose-dependent insulin rises; glucagon falls
- Blood glucose falls with little hypoglycaemia

## Indications

- Type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise, alone or with other glucose-lowering drugs [Type 2 diabetes mellitus →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/type-2-diabetes-mellitus/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Headache
- Stuffy or runny nose, sore throat
- Hypoglycaemia when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea

### Serious (rare, important)

- Acute pancreatitis
- Heart failure (more hospitalizations seen in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome)
- Liver injury
- Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema, severe skin reactions)
- Severe, disabling joint pain
- Bullous pemphigoid

## Contraindications

- History of serious hypersensitivity to alogliptin (anaphylaxis, angioedema, severe skin reactions)

## Key interactions

**Insulin or sulfonylureas**
Higher risk of hypoglycaemia; their dose may be lowered.

## What is monitored

- HbA1c and blood glucose
- Kidney function, to adjust the dose
- Liver tests before starting and if symptoms appear
- Symptoms of pancreatitis or heart failure

## Administration and safety

- Oral tablet, once a day, with or without food.
- Dose is adjusted to kidney function.
- Fixed combinations with metformin or pioglitazone exist; check for duplicate gliptins.

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Safety in pregnancy is not established; insulin is the usual treatment for diabetes in pregnancy.

## Nursing care

- Before: kidney function, liver tests, history of pancreatitis or heart failure.
- During: severe abdominal pain spreading to the back, breathlessness or swelling, jaundice, blisters, severe joint pain.
- Teach hypoglycaemia recognition when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- Teach that sick days (vomiting, diarrhoea) can change glucose control.

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Oral, almost completely absorbed, with or without food.

**Metabolism**
Little metabolism (minor CYP2D6 and CYP3A4); it neither inhibits nor induces the main CYPs.

**Elimination**
Mostly unchanged in urine, so the dose is reduced in kidney impairment.

**Half-life**
About 21 hours, allowing once-daily dosing (label).

## Memory aid

Gliptins 'glue' DPP-4 so the incretins stay on. ALOgliptin is ALOne with the kidney: mostly excreted unchanged, so the dose follows the eGFR. Watch pancreas, heart, liver, joints, skin.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## How do DPP-4 inhibitors lower glucose without much hypoglycaemia?

They raise active GLP-1 and GIP, whose effect on insulin depends on glucose being high.

## Why is the alogliptin dose adjusted in kidney disease?

It is mostly excreted unchanged in urine.

## Which serious adverse effect presents with severe abdominal pain radiating to the back?

Acute pancreatitis.

## Which cardiovascular warning applies to alogliptin?

Heart failure; more hospitalizations for heart failure were seen in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome.

[Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/alogliptin/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 3

- [Sitagliptin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/sitagliptin/)
- [Linagliptin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/linagliptin/)
- [Saxagliptin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/saxagliptin/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Type 2 diabetes mellitus](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/type-2-diabetes-mellitus/)

[← Back to the class: DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dpp-4-inhibitors/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Alogliptin: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613026.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [DailyMed - ALOGLIPTIN tablet, film coated](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=b25f155a-1259-47c2-aa3b-7c1356e4c7f6) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2025); [Crystal structure of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in complex with TAK-322](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/3G0B) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2010); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=A10BH04) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/alogliptin/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/alogliptin/