Why Onglyza?

Onglyza is a once-daily prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes that enhances the body's natural ability to help control blood sugar. Onglyza, along with diet and exercise, may help reduce after-meal blood sugar spikes. Onglyza also may help lower your blood sugar between meals.

Most people taking Onglyza did not experience hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar); however, it may occur, particularly when taken with another diabetes medicine, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Symptoms of low blood sugar include shaking, hunger, sweating, headache, rapid heartbeat, change in mood, and change in vision.

Here's how Onglyza may give you extra help to treat high blood sugar:

  • Onglyza may reduce after-meal blood sugar spikes and may help lower blood sugar between meals.
  • Onglyza may help significantly lower your A1C. A1C is the test done by your doctor every 3 months. Ask your doctor for your A1C score. It's an important step in managing your type 2 diabetes.
  • Onglyza is a once-daily pill that works for 24 hours.
  • Onglyza can be taken with or without food.
  • In clinical trials, Onglyza did not affect most people's weight.

Serious side effects can happen to people taking Onglyza, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which may be severe and lead to death. Before taking Onglyza, tell your doctor if you have ever had pancreatitis, gallstones, history of alcoholism, or high triglyceride levels. Stop taking Onglyza and contact your doctor right away if you have pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe and will not go away. The pain may be felt going from your abdomen through to your back. The pain may happen with or without vomiting. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis.

Easy and Instant Saving for eligible patients

Get Info

Need help talking with your doctor about diabetes?

Get The Conversation Started
Get Extra Control

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for ONGLYZA (saxagliptin)

Do not take ONGLYZA if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Serious allergic reactions can occur with ONGLYZA and may include swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling of the skin, hives, rash, itching, flaking, or peeling. If you have these symptoms, stop taking ONGLYZA and contact your doctor right away.

Serious side effects can happen to people taking ONGLYZA, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which may be severe and lead to death. Before taking ONGLYZA, tell your doctor if you ever had pancreatitis, gallstones, history of alcoholism, or high triglyceride levels. Stop taking ONGLYZA and contact your doctor right away if you have pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe and will not go away. The pain may be felt going from your abdomen through to your back. The pain may happen with or without vomiting. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis.

When ONGLYZA is used with certain other diabetes medicines to treat high blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is higher. Symptoms of low blood sugar include shaking, hunger, sweating, headache, rapid heartbeat, change in mood, and change in vision. Follow your doctor’s instructions for treating low blood sugar.

When ONGLYZA is used with a thiazolidinedione (TZD), such as pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, to treat high blood sugar, peripheral edema (fluid retention) may become worse. If you have symptoms of peripheral edema, such as swelling of hands, feet, or ankles, call your doctor.

The most common side effects with ONGLYZA include upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, and headache.

Your doctor should test your blood to measure how well your kidneys are working before and during treatment with ONGLYZA. You may need a lower dose if your kidneys are not working well.

Tell your doctor if you start or stop taking other medications, including antibiotics, antifungals or HIV/AIDS medications, as your doctor may need to change your dose of ONGLYZA.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or plan to become pregnant or breast-feed.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please click here for Medication Guide, and click here for US Full Prescribing Information for ONGLYZA (saxagliptin).