Komboglyze (Saxagliptin/Metformin) Tablets

Komboglyze is a prescription oral combination medicine used in adults with type 2 diabetes. It contains saxagliptin and metformin to help manage blood glucose alongside lifestyle measures. For US shipping from Canada, this page summarizes how the medication works, how it is commonly used, and what to review for safety, storage, and access, including cash-pay options for people without insurance.

Information here is not individualized dosing advice. Use it to understand typical labeling concepts, recognize important warnings, and prepare details needed when requesting a refill or a new dispense through a referral platform.

What Komboglyze Is and How It Works

This therapy combines two established drug classes in one tablet: saxagliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor, which raises incretin hormones that signal insulin release after meals) and metformin (a biguanide, which lowers liver glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity). The goal is steadier day-to-day glucose control without adding injections. It is intended for type 2 diabetes and is not used to treat type 1 diabetes.

CanadianInsulin coordinates prescription referrals; dispensing is completed by licensed Canadian pharmacies. The combination works best when taken consistently, because both components act over time rather than as quick “rescue” treatment for high readings. In routine care, clinicians may adjust other glucose-lowering medicines when starting a combination product to reduce overlap and side effects.

Who It’s For

Saxagliptin/metformin tablets are generally prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes when one medicine alone does not meet treatment goals or when a clinician wants a simplified regimen. Condition resources and product hubs can help people understand where this option fits among oral therapies; see Type 2 Diabetes and the broader Diabetes hub for related topics.

Contraindications and “do not use” situations are driven largely by metformin safety. The combination is typically avoided in people with severe kidney impairment, metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood) including diabetic ketoacidosis, or a known hypersensitivity to ingredients. Extra caution is often needed for older adults, those with liver disease, heavy alcohol use, a history of pancreatitis, or conditions associated with low oxygen states. These factors can change monitoring plans and may affect whether a fixed-dose combination is appropriate.

Dosage and Usage

Label directions vary by formulation and strength, so prescribers choose a dose based on prior therapy, kidney function, and tolerability. Many immediate-release saxagliptin/metformin products are taken with meals, often split across the day, while extended-release versions are commonly taken once daily with an evening meal. Tablets are taken by mouth and are not interchangeable across formulations unless the prescriber specifies a switch.

If a dose is missed, product labeling often advises taking the next dose at the usual time rather than doubling up. Side effects, especially stomach upset, are more likely when doses are taken inconsistently or increased too quickly. For background on how oral options are commonly scheduled and combined, see Oral Diabetes Medication.

Why it matters: Taking metformin-containing medicines with food may reduce nausea and diarrhea.

Strengths and Forms

This medicine is supplied as fixed-dose combination tablets containing saxagliptin plus metformin. Some markets also offer an extended-release option referred to as Komboglyze XR, which changes how metformin is released over time and can affect how the tablet is taken. Because fixed-dose combinations have set ratios, the available strengths can limit fine-tuning compared with separate tablets.

Availability may vary by country, pharmacy supply, and prescriber preference. For browsing similar non-injectable combinations, the Combination Tablets category is a practical starting point, and the broader Non Insulin Medications category shows related options.

Storage and Travel Basics

Most oral tablets in this class are stored at controlled room temperature in their original container, protected from excess heat and moisture. Keep the cap tightly closed and store the medicine out of reach of children and pets. Avoid leaving tablets in a car, near a stove, or in other places with large temperature swings.

For travel, carry tablets in hand luggage with the pharmacy label visible, and keep a current medication list available in case of an emergency. If a prescriber instructs temporary holds for procedures or illness, document the plan before leaving home so the regimen can be resumed correctly. If tablets appear discolored, crumbling, or exposed to water, the safest step is to consult the dispensing pharmacy about replacement rather than continuing to use compromised medication.

Side Effects and Safety

Common side effects reflect both ingredients. Metformin frequently causes gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal discomfort, especially early in therapy. Saxagliptin can be associated with headache, upper respiratory symptoms, or mild swelling. Some people taking metformin long term may develop low vitamin B12 levels, which can contribute to fatigue or neuropathy-like symptoms.

Serious risks are uncommon but important. Lactic acidosis (a rare buildup of lactic acid) is a key metformin warning and is more likely with kidney problems, heavy alcohol intake, dehydration, or severe infection. DPP-4 inhibitors have warnings for pancreatitis and severe hypersensitivity reactions, and saxagliptin labeling also includes heart failure caution in susceptible patients. Seek urgent care for chest pain, severe abdominal pain, fainting, rapid breathing, or facial swelling. For a focused review of metformin-related effects, see Metformin Side Effects.

When required, we confirm prescription details with the prescriber before processing. As a practical safety step, clinicians often review kidney function and other labs before and during treatment, because changes in health status can shift the risk profile for Komboglyze.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Interactions can involve either component. Other glucose-lowering medicines (such as insulin or sulfonylureas) may increase the chance of hypoglycemia when combined, even if this combination alone is less likely to cause low blood sugar. Alcohol can raise the risk of lactic acidosis and may worsen glucose variability, so many labels advise limiting heavy intake. Some medications may alter saxagliptin exposure through CYP3A4/5 inhibition or induction, and others can affect metformin levels or kidney clearance.

Iodinated contrast imaging procedures are a common planning point with metformin-containing products; temporary holding and lab checks may be recommended depending on kidney function and clinical context. A prescriber may also reassess therapy during acute illness with vomiting, severe diarrhea, or dehydration. For background on how saxagliptin compares with related agents, see Sitagliptin Vs Saxagliptin.

Quick tip: Keep an updated medication list in your account notes for verification steps.

Compare With Alternatives

Clinicians often compare fixed-dose combinations based on kidney considerations, dosing schedule, and tolerability. Options may include metformin alone, a different DPP-4 inhibitor combined with metformin, or a switch to another class such as SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1 receptor agonists. The most appropriate alternative depends on comorbidities (such as cardiovascular or kidney disease), the need to avoid hypoglycemia, and how well gastrointestinal effects are controlled.

For example, Metformin Tablets can be used as monotherapy or as the backbone of combination therapy, while Janumet XR is another combination option that pairs metformin with a different DPP-4 inhibitor. Formulation differences can matter for day-to-day use; the overview in Metformin Vs Metformin ER explains how immediate-release and extended-release metformin can differ in tolerability and scheduling. Decisions about switching are made by the prescriber to match clinical goals and safety constraints.

Pricing and Access

Out-of-pocket costs for combination tablets vary by formulation, strength, and quantity. A prescription is needed, and Komboglyze prescription required policies apply because it is not an over-the-counter medicine. If a prescriber changes therapy, the fixed-dose nature of combination products can affect which tablet strengths are appropriate for a refill.

Orders are cash-pay, supporting access when insurance coverage is unavailable. For referral-platform workflows, accurate information helps reduce delays: current medication list, allergy history, prescriber contact details, and the exact product/formulation requested. Refills typically require an active prescription on file, and some jurisdictions require periodic renewal from the prescriber. If side effects or health status changes occur, clinicians may request updated labs before authorizing a continued dispense.

Authoritative Sources

For the most reliable and current safety details, consult official labeling and regulator databases. These sources summarize contraindications, warnings, interaction considerations, and formulation-specific instructions that can differ by country and product version.

For Canadian listings, use the Health Canada Drug Product Database.

For U.S. labeling and approvals, consult the FDA Drugs@FDA database.

For treatment standards context, see the American Diabetes Association type 2 resources.

To request dispensing, submit prescription details and select prompt, express, cold-chain shipping during checkout when available.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.