Overview
If you are sorting medications for type 2 diabetes, names get confusing fast. Lists often mix generics, trademarks, and short-hand. This guide breaks down dpp-4 inhibitors brand names and the matching generic names, plus common combination products.
DPP-4 inhibitors (also called “gliptins”) are oral, non-insulin diabetes medicines. You may see them listed alone or paired with other drugs. Knowing the name format helps you avoid duplicates, understand combo pills, and prepare better questions for your clinic or pharmacist.
You can also browse a class hub to see how these medicines are grouped: Dpp-4 Inhibitors. For deeper reading on the class basics, see Januvia Drug Class.
CanadianInsulin functions as a prescription referral service, not a prescriber.
Key Takeaways
- Generic and brand names can both appear on labels.
- Many drugs in this class end in “-gliptin.”
- Combination products include two diabetes medicines in one pill.
- Brand names may vary by country and manufacturer.
- Always confirm the active ingredients, not just the trademark.
Core Concepts
It helps to start with the “why” behind the naming. DPP-4 inhibitors share a mechanism, but their labels and brands vary. The same active ingredient can appear in a standalone tablet or in a combo product. That is where mix-ups happen.
Why it matters: Mistaking a combo product for a single drug can duplicate an ingredient.
What DPP-4 Inhibitors Are (Incretin-Based Therapy)
DPP-4 stands for dipeptidyl peptidase-4, an enzyme that breaks down incretin hormones (gut hormones that signal insulin release after meals). By inhibiting DPP-4, these medicines increase incretin activity. That can support glucose-dependent insulin release and reduce glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar) when glucose is elevated. Because the effect is glucose-dependent, the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is generally low when used alone, but it can rise when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas. Always rely on the specific product label and your clinician’s plan for your situation.
On medication lists, you might see the class written several ways: DPP-4 inhibitors, “DPP4 inhibitors,” or “DPP 4 inhibitors.” These are the same class, just different formatting. The active ingredient names are more reliable than the class label.
Generic Names vs Brand Names vs Trade Names
A generic name is the standardized name of the active ingredient (for example, sitagliptin). A brand name (also called a trade name) is the marketing name used by a manufacturer (for example, Januvia). Pharmacies and clinics often store both names in electronic records, which is why you may see duplicates that look like separate drugs.
When you compare dpp 4 inhibitors brand names, treat the active ingredient as the “truth source.” The safest way to confirm is to read the drug label where the active ingredient is listed near the trademark. If you keep a personal medication list, record both names plus the strength and directions exactly as printed.
When needed, prescriptions are confirmed with your clinician before processing.
Recognizing the “-gliptin” Pattern (And Its Limits)
Many medicines in this class end with the suffix “-gliptin.” That suffix can help you spot class members quickly, especially if your medication list is long. Common examples include sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and alogliptin. You may also encounter vildagliptin, teneligliptin, gemigliptin, or anagliptin in certain markets.
Still, naming patterns are not perfect safety tools. A combo product can hide a second medicine behind a single trademark. Some brand names also look similar across drug classes. If a medication name is unfamiliar, confirm the active ingredients with a pharmacist rather than guessing from the suffix.
Combination Products: One Trademark, Two Active Ingredients
Combination tablets are designed to pair two diabetes medicines in one pill. For DPP-4 inhibitor combinations, the partner drug is often metformin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, or a thiazolidinedione (TZD). These combinations can simplify dosing schedules, but they also make ingredient tracking more important.
Many people first notice this issue when they see two items on a list that “sound different” but share one ingredient. For example, a person might see a DPP-4 inhibitor alone plus a combo product that also contains the same DPP-4 inhibitor. That is why it helps to compare the active ingredients line by line, especially after a hospital visit or a new specialist appointment.
Safety Labels and Monitoring Topics to Recognize
DPP-4 inhibitors have class-wide safety topics that are helpful to recognize, even if you are not making treatment decisions yourself. Product labeling often discusses hypoglycemia risk in combination therapy, pancreatitis warnings, and kidney function considerations (renal impairment). Some labels include specific warnings related to heart failure risk for particular agents. The details can differ by active ingredient and by regulator.
Also look for practical monitoring terms on your paperwork, like “renal function,” “hepatic impairment” (liver function), and “hypersensitivity” (allergic reaction). These terms guide clinician decision-making and help explain why one agent is chosen over another. If a clinician changes your medication list, it is reasonable to ask which active ingredient changed and what monitoring is planned.
DPP-4 Inhibitors Brand Names
Below is a quick-reference list to help you translate between trademarks and active ingredients. It is not a complete global directory, and brand names can differ by country. Use it to double-check what you already have, then confirm against your prescription label or your pharmacist’s record.
The list includes several “gliptins” and common combination trademarks. If you are using a combo product, verify both components and keep them on your personal medication list. That reduces confusion during referrals, emergency visits, or medication reconciliation.
| Generic (Active Ingredient) | Example Brand Name |
|---|---|
| sitagliptin | Januvia |
| saxagliptin | Onglyza |
| linagliptin | Tradjenta |
| alogliptin | Nesina |
| vildagliptin | Galvus |
| teneligliptin | Tenelia |
| gemigliptin | Zemiglo |
| anagliptin | Suiny |
Combination trademarks add another layer. Here are common examples and their components. If you want a walk-through of one well-known combo, see Januvia Vs Janumet.
| Combination Brand | Brand Components (Active Ingredients) |
|---|---|
| Janumet | Janumet brand components: sitagliptin + metformin |
| Kombiglyze XR | Kombiglyze XR brand components: saxagliptin + metformin |
| Jentadueto | Jentadueto brand components: linagliptin + metformin |
| Kazano | Kazano brand components: alogliptin + metformin |
| Oseni | Oseni brand components: alogliptin + pioglitazone |
| Qtern | Qtern brand components: saxagliptin + dapagliflozin |
| Steglujan | Steglujan brand components: sitagliptin + ertugliflozin |
| Galvus Met | Galvus met brand components: vildagliptin + metformin |
If metformin appears as a component, you may also see it as a separate prescription. One example of a metformin brand on some formularies is Glumetza. Do not assume these are interchangeable. Formulation details can matter, so confirm what you are actually taking.
Dispensing is handled by licensed Canadian pharmacies for eligible prescriptions.
Practical Guidance
The most useful step is to build a “translation-ready” medication list. This means you capture what matters for safety and continuity of care. It also reduces back-and-forth when a clinic asks, “Which exact one are you on?”
Start by copying the active ingredients from the label. Then add the brand name in parentheses. If you are reviewing dpp-4 inhibitors brand names for a new prescription, focus on three checks: the active ingredient, whether it is a combination product, and whether you are already taking one of the components separately.
- Read the active ingredient line: Write down what is in the tablet.
- Identify combos: Look for two ingredients listed together.
- Check duplicates: Compare against your full medication list.
- Note key conditions: Kidney disease, liver disease, heart failure history.
- Record allergies: Include prior rash, swelling, or severe reactions.
- Bring the bottles: Packaging often answers name questions.
Quick tip: Keep a photo of each label in your phone.
If you are preparing for a procedure requiring sedation or anesthesia, bring your current medication list and ask what to do beforehand. This is especially important when you are fasting, sick, or dehydrated. For related background topics, you can review General Anesthesia as a starting point.
Some people also need a plan for access when paying cash without insurance. CanadianInsulin can facilitate US delivery from Canada for prescription medications, with prescription documentation required.
Compare & Related Topics
It is easier to understand this class when you place it beside other common options. DPP-4 inhibitors are one group within non-insulin therapies. Other groups include SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, each with different benefits and label warnings. If you want to browse another class for context, see Sglt2 Inhibitors.
Combination products are also where comparisons become practical. For example, Qtern includes a DPP-4 inhibitor plus an SGLT2 inhibitor. Another diabetes combo product you may encounter is Invokamet, which pairs different non-insulin agents (not a DPP-4 inhibitor). These naming differences are why “combo” does not tell you enough by itself.
If your list includes both a DPP-4 inhibitor and an SGLT2 inhibitor, you may be comparing options across classes. Two related reads are Jardiance Vs Januvia and Rybelsus Vs Dpp4 Inhibitors. These articles can help you frame questions without trying to self-prescribe.
In some care plans, injectable insulin is also part of therapy. That adds another naming layer, because insulin products have their own brand and device terms. If insulin shows up on your list, you may see items like NovoRapid Cartridge, which is unrelated to “gliptin” naming but still important for reconciliation.
CanadianInsulin may offer cash-pay access for people without insurance.
Authoritative Sources
For the most reliable, up-to-date safety and labeling details, start with regulators and major clinical organizations. These references can help you confirm warnings, approved uses, and ingredient listings for specific products and combinations. They are also the best place to verify whether a specific agent or trademark is authorized where you live.
These sources are a good baseline when you are checking dpp-4 inhibitors brand names against a medication list:
- FDA notice on severe joint pain with DPP-4 inhibitors
- FDA warning update on heart failure risk for specific agents
- Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines
Further reading can also help if you are comparing two specific drugs in the same class. For focused comparisons, see Linagliptin Vs Sitagliptin and Sitagliptin Vs Saxagliptin. Keep your active ingredient list updated, and bring it to every appointment.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
