The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning on Friday, August 28, against a class of type 2 diabetes drugs that can possibly cause severe and debilitating joint pain.
These drugs are collectively known as DPP4 inhibitors. They work by blocking an enzyme known as DPP4, which damages incretin, a hormone that regulates insulin by helping the body produce it only when it's necessary. The medication should be taken alongside healthy lifestyle changes such as exercise and a diet that's low in sugar.
The warning stems from more than 30 reported cases between 2006 and 2013 of joint pains among those who were prescribed with the medications. They usually develop the symptoms at least a day after taking the drugs, although some exhibit them after only many years of intake. Aside from joint pain, they also reported chills, rash, and fever, all of which may indicate a negative immune response.
The symptoms then began to disappear less than a month after their medication was discontinued. Some experienced a relapse as soon as they began to taking the same prescription.
Among the complainants, at least 28 of them were taking Januvia (sitagliptin). Produced by Merck, it's the first drug within the class to be available in the market in 2006. It is also the most widely prescribed, which may explain the high number of cases. Meanwhile, at least 5 patients had Onglyza (saxagliptin) by AstraZeneca while 2 were taking Tradjenta (linagliptin) by Boehringer Ingelheim. These drugs may be combined with other diabetes medications or metformin.
Although the FDA doesn't recommend patients to stop taking these drugs, it also encourages them to immediately report any serious side effects such as severe joint pain. It also invites health care professionals to contact the agency's MedWatch program if they receive any reported side effects.
When pressed for comment, companies Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, and AstraZeneca promise to work closely with the FDA to accommodate any requests, although they stand by the integrity and safety of their drugs.
