Why does Japanese Trelagliptin emphasize taking it after meals?

Trelagliptin (Trelagliptin), as a DPP-4 inhibitor, plays an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Although it can be taken independently of food and meal times, Japanese usage guidelines emphasize taking it on the same day every week to maintain consistent blood concentrations. There are unique pharmacological considerations behind taking this, especially after meals.

The mechanism of action of trolagliptin is by prolonging the half-life ofGLP-1, increasing insulin secretion and reducing hepatic glucose production. The relationship between taking time and food may affect the absorption and bioavailability of the drug. Although trotagliptin is not clinically dependent on the effects of food, in order to optimize the effect of the drug, doctors recommend taking it after meals to minimize gastrointestinal discomfort or potential adverse reactions.

The absorption of DPP-4 inhibitor drugs in the body is affected by gastric emptying time. Taking it after a meal may help slow down the absorption of the drug and avoid rapid fluctuations in blood sugar, especially after a meal. For diabetics, it is important to control blood sugar peaks after meals, and taking it after meals can help keep blood sugar stable and avoid post-meal peaks.

In addition, the long-term effect of trolagliptin makes the blood concentration of the drug relatively stable. By taking it once a week, it can also prevent patients from forgetting to take the medicine to a certain extent. Therefore, taking it after meals can better integrate into patients' daily life to a certain extent, improve drug compliance, and thus optimize treatment effects.

To sum up, although trotagliptin can theoretically be taken without relying on food, the recommendations in Japan and other countries emphasize taking it after meals, mainly to improve the absorption efficiency of the drug, slow down the absorption rate of the drug, and optimize the patient's blood sugar control effect. This medication recommendation not only takes into account the pharmacological effects of the drug, but also takes into account the patient's medication experience, which helps to improve the therapeutic effect.

Reference materials:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trelagliptin