Tradjenta® 5 mg Tablets for Type 2 Diabetes Care

What Tradjenta® Is and How It Works

Tradjenta is the brand name for linagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor used to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. The usual strength is Tradjenta 5 mg, taken by mouth once daily. It works with diet and exercise, and can be used alone or with other diabetes medicines.

CanadianInsulin is a prescription referral service. Prescriptions are verified with your clinic, and orders are filled by licensed Canadian pharmacies.

DPP-4 inhibitors help increase incretin hormones, which raise insulin release after meals and decrease glucagon. This helps lower post‑meal and fasting glucose. Tradjenta tablets are taken by mouth and can be used with metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin, or sulfonylureas when appropriate. It is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Linagliptin has minimal kidney clearance, so no dose adjustment is typically required in renal impairment. It is generally weight‑neutral and has a low risk of hypoglycemia when not used with insulin or a sulfonylurea. If you need a quick overview of the condition it treats, see our Type 2 Diabetes page.

Dosage and Usage

• Standard dose: 5 mg once daily.
• Take at the same time each day, with or without food.
• Swallow tablets whole with water; do not crush, split, or chew.
• May be used as monotherapy or with agents such as metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin, sulfonylureas, or TZDs.
• No dosage adjustment is typically needed for kidney impairment; discuss hepatic impairment with the prescriber.
• Missed dose: take as soon as remembered the same day; skip if near the next dose. Do not double doses.
• Not studied in pediatric patients. Use in pregnancy or breastfeeding only under medical guidance.
• When combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea, a lower dose of the background agent may be needed to reduce hypoglycemia risk.

• Store at 20–25°C (68–77°F); brief excursions 15–30°C (59–86°F).
• Keep tablets in the original container with the desiccant to protect from moisture.
• For travel, keep your pills in carry‑on luggage and avoid extreme heat or freezing.
• Carry your prescription label when traveling for security checks.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets; check your expiration date before use.

Benefits and Savings

Tradjenta helps reduce A1C and post‑meal glucose with once‑daily convenience. It is weight‑neutral for most people and has a low risk of hypoglycemia unless combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea. No kidney dose adjustment is generally required, which simplifies therapy in chronic kidney disease.

Many customers save 60–80% vs typical U.S. prices. If you compare the tradjenta price with local options, CanadianInsulin offers value‑focused pricing on authentic brand medications.

See our promotions page for current offers, including any tradjenta coupon if available.

People often search for tradjenta discount, tradjenta cost, or tradjenta 5 mg price. Pricing varies by supply length, and availability may differ across pharmacies. CanadianInsulin works with licensed, vetted partner pharmacies to source a broad selection of authentic brand medications.

Side Effects and Safety

• Common: stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache.
• Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, mild nausea.
• Musculoskeletal: back pain, joint pain.
• Metabolic: hypoglycemia mainly when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
• Skin: mild rash or itching.

Serious but less common risks include pancreatitis (severe abdominal pain with or without vomiting), severe joint pain, bullous pemphigoid (blistering skin), and hypersensitivity or angioedema. Stop the medicine and seek urgent care if severe reactions occur. The risk of low blood sugar increases when used with insulin or sulfonylureas; dose adjustments of those agents may be required.

Onset Time

Glucose‑lowering can begin after the first doses, especially for post‑meal readings. A1C improvements usually appear within 4–8 weeks as daily dosing stabilizes. Full effects often emerge by 12 weeks. Weight changes are typically minimal, as DPP‑4 inhibitors are considered weight‑neutral.

Compare With Alternatives

Tradjenta is an oral DPP‑4 inhibitor. Alternatives include GLP‑1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP‑1 agents that can deliver larger A1C and weight effects but are injections for most products.

Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide) is a daily pill from the GLP‑1 class. It may reduce A1C more and promote weight loss, but GI effects (nausea) are more common and dosing requires fasting instructions. Trulicity® (dulaglutide) is a weekly injection with strong efficacy and similar GI considerations. Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) is a weekly dual‑incretin injection with robust A1C and weight reduction in studies.

For a broader overview of oral options beyond DPP‑4 inhibitors, see our article on Oral Diabetes Medications. Therapy choice depends on clinical goals, tolerability, route preference, and the prescriber’s guidance.

Combination Therapy

• Metformin: common first‑line partner; complementary mechanisms.
• SGLT2 inhibitors: combine for further A1C reduction and cardio‑renal benefits per guideline direction.
• Basal insulin: consider reducing insulin dose to lower hypoglycemia risk when adding linagliptin.
• Sulfonylureas: dose reductions may be needed to prevent low glucose.
• TZDs (e.g., pioglitazone): can be combined; monitor edema and weight.
• Cardio‑renal care: lipid management with Lipitor (atorvastatin) and kidney protection with Kerendia (finerenone) may be part of comprehensive plans as advised by clinicians.

Patient Suitability and Cost‑Saving Tips

Adults with type 2 diabetes who need an oral add‑on with low hypoglycemia risk may be candidates. It is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Use caution if there is a history of pancreatitis, serious hypersensitivity reactions, or bullous pemphigoid. Limited data exist for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use.

Renal impairment typically does not require dose adjustment with linagliptin. Liver impairment should be reviewed with the prescriber. When used with insulin or a sulfonylurea, careful monitoring and possible dose changes of those background drugs can reduce low blood sugar.

Cost‑saving tips: consider a multi‑month supply, set simple reorder reminders, and watch for site promotions. There is no widely available tradjenta generic in Canada or the U.S. at this time, so tradjenta generic price comparisons may not apply. Some shoppers compare with services like tradjenta goodrx; always confirm the total delivered cost and supply length.

For condition education and self‑care topics, see Diabetes and Teeth and our other resources. For detailed prescribing details, consult official tradjenta prescribing information.

Authoritative Sources

Official Tradjenta patient site (Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly)

FDA Prescribing Information and Medication Guide

Health Canada Drug Product Database: linagliptin

Order Tradjenta® from CanadianInsulin: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express, cold‑chain handling.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional. Always follow your prescriber’s directions and the dispensing pharmacist’s guidance.