Galvus (generic name: Vildagliptin) is a drug in a new class of oral diabetes medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. It is used to treat type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).

Galvus is used for people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar is not sufficiently controlled by other antidiabetic medicines. It can be added to treatment with metformin; a sulphonylurea, for example gliclazide; or another type of antidiabetic medicine known as a thiazolidinedione, for example pioglitazone or rosiglitazone.

Galvus works through a novel mechanism of action by targeting the dysfunction in the pancreatic islets that causes high blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Islet dysfunction, along with insulin resistance, is a contributory factor in type 2 diabetes. In combination with the most widely prescribed type 2 diabetes medicines, Galvus delivers significant blood sugar reductions with a good tolerability profile in a broad range of patients. Galvus demonstrates strong efficacy in a broad patient population with over 14,000 patients treated in the clinical program to date.

Galvus and Eucreas, a single-pill combination of Galvus and metformin, are approved as oral treatments for type 2 diabetes patients in all 27 countries of the European Union as well as in Norway and Iceland. Galvus is currently available in 18 countries, namely Italy, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Malta, Poland, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Singapore and India, and is approved in 51 countries.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Galvus exactly as directed.

The amount of Galvus people have to take varies depending on their condition. Your doctor will tell
you exactly how many tablets of Galvus to take.

You can take Galvus with or without food.

The usual dose of Galvus is either:

50 mg daily taken as one dose in the morning if you are taking Galvus with another medicine
called a sulphonylurea, or
100 mg daily taken as 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg in the evening if you are taking Galvus
with another medicine called metformin or a glitazone.

Take this medicine in the morning or in the morning and evening. Swallow the tablets whole with some water.

If you forget to take a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next
dose at the usual time. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed. Do not take a
double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

Precautions

Do not take Galvus, if:

you have type 1 diabetes;
you have diabetic ketoacidosis; or decreased liver function; or severe kidney disease;
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: vildagliptin.