LINAGLIPTIN/METFORMIN SANDOZ 2.5 mg/1000 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet:information for the patient

Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz 2.5 mg/850 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz 2.5 mg/1000 mg film-coated tablets EFG

linagliptin/metformin hydrochloride

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

1. What is Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you take Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz
3. How to take Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz and what is it used for

Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz contains two different active substances: linagliptin and metformin.

• Linagliptin belongs to a class of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors).
• Metformin belongs to a class of medicines called biguanides.

How Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz works

The two active substances work together to control blood sugar levels in adult patients with a form of diabetes called “type 2 diabetes mellitus”. Along with diet and exercise, this medicine helps improve insulin levels and effects after a meal and reduces the amount of sugar produced by your body.

This medicine can be used alone or with certain diabetes medicines such as sulfonylureas or insulin.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body does not produce enough insulin and the insulin your body produces does not work as well as it should. Your body also may produce too much sugar. When this happens, sugar (glucose) builds up in the blood. This can lead to serious medical problems, such as heart, kidney, and vision problems, and nerve damage.

2. What you need to know before you take Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz

Do not take Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz

• if you are allergic to linagliptin or metformin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6),
• if you have severe kidney problems,
• if you have uncontrolled diabetes with, for example, severe hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid weight loss, lactic acidosis (see “Risk of lactic acidosis” below) or ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which substances called “ketone bodies” build up in the blood, which can lead to diabetic pre-coma. The symptoms include stomach pain, rapid and deep breathing, drowsiness, or unusual fruity odor of the breath,
• if you have ever had diabetic pre-coma,
• if you have a severe infection such as an infection affecting the lungs or bronchial system, or kidneys. Severe infections can lead to kidney problems, which can increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see “Warnings and precautions”),
• if you have lost a lot of body water (dehydration), for example, due to severe and prolonged diarrhea or if you have vomited several times in a row. Dehydration can lead to kidney problems, which can increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see “Warnings and precautions”),
• if you are being treated for acute heart failure or have recently had a heart attack, have severe circulatory problems (such as “shock”) or breathing difficulties. This can lead to a lack of oxygen supply to the tissues, which can increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see “Warnings and precautions”),
• if you have liver problems,
• if you drink a lot of alcohol, either every day or only occasionally (see section “Taking Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz with alcohol”).

Do not take linagliptin/metformin if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking linagliptin/metformin

• if you have type 1 diabetes (your body does not produce any insulin). Linagliptin/metformin should not be used to treat this condition.
• if you are taking insulin or a diabetes medicine known as a “sulfonylurea”, your doctor may want to reduce your dose of insulin or sulfonylurea when you take it with linagliptin/metformin to avoid low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
• if you have or have had a disease of the pancreas.

If you have symptoms of acute pancreatitis, such as severe and persistent stomach pain, you should consult your doctor.

If you find blisters on your skin, it could be a sign of a disease called bullous pemphigoid. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking linagliptin/metformin.

If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking this medicine.

Diabetic skin problems are a common complication of diabetes. Follow the skin and foot care recommendations given by your doctor or nurse.

Risk of lactic acidosis

Linagliptin/metformin can cause a very rare but very serious side effect called lactic acidosis, especially if your kidneys are not working properly. The risk of developing lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, severe infections, prolonged fasting, or alcohol intake, dehydration (see below), liver problems, and any medical condition in which a part of the body has a reduced oxygen supply (such as severe and acute heart problems).

If any of the above applies to you, consult your doctor for further instructions.

Consult your doctor immediately if:

• You know you have a hereditary genetic condition that affects the mitochondria (the energy-producing components within cells), such as MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, myopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) or maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD).
• You experience any of the following symptoms after starting treatment with metformin: seizures, cognitive impairment, difficulty with body movements, symptoms indicating nerve damage (e.g., pain or numbness), migraine, and hearing loss.

Stop taking linagliptin/metformin for a short period if you have a condition that may be associated with dehydration(significant loss of body fluids), such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, fever, heat exposure, or if you drink less fluid than usual. Consult your doctor for further instructions.

Stop taking linagliptin/metformin and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you experience any of the symptoms of lactic acidosis, as this condition can lead to coma.

The symptoms of lactic acidosis include:

• vomiting,
• stomach pain (abdominal pain),
• muscle cramps,
• general feeling of illness, with intense fatigue,
• difficulty breathing,
• reduction of body temperature and heart rate.

Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital.

If you need to undergo major surgery, you should stop taking linagliptin/metformin during the procedure and for a period after it. Your doctor will decide when you should stop taking linagliptin/metformin and when you can restart it.

During treatment with linagliptin/metformin, your doctor will check your kidney function at least once a year or more frequently if you are an elderly patient and/or if your kidney function is worsening.

Children and adolescents

This medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. It is not effective in children and adolescents between 10 and 17 years of age. It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective when used in children under 10 years of age.

Other medicines and Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz

If you need to be given an injection of a contrast medium that contains iodine into your bloodstream, for example, for an X-ray or other imaging procedure, you should stop taking linagliptin/metformin before or at the time of the injection. Your doctor will decide when you should stop taking linagliptin/metformin and when you can restart it.

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. You may need more frequent blood glucose and kidney function tests, or your doctor may need to adjust your dose of linagliptin/metformin. It is especially important to mention the following:

• medicines that increase urine production (diuretics),
• medicines used to treat pain and inflammation (NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors, such as ibuprofen and celecoxib),
• certain medicines for treating high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists),
• medicines that may change the levels of metformin in your blood, especially if you have reduced kidney function (such as verapamil, rifampicin, cimetidine, dolutegravir, ranolazine, trimethoprim, vandetanib, isavuconazole, crizotinib, olaparib),
• carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin. These are used to control seizures (convulsions) or chronic pain,
• rifampicin. This is an antibiotic used to treat infections such as tuberculosis.
• medicines used to treat diseases that involve inflammation, such as asthma and arthritis (corticosteroids),
• bronchodilators (beta-2 sympathomimetics) for the treatment of bronchial asthma,
• medicines that contain alcohol.

Taking Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz with alcohol

Avoid excessive alcohol intake while taking linagliptin/metformin, as this can increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see section “Warnings and precautions”).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

You should not take linagliptin/metformin if you are pregnant. It is not known if this medicine is harmful to the unborn baby.

Metformin passes into breast milk in small amounts. It is not known if linagliptin passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor if you want to breastfeed while taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

The effect of linagliptin/metformin on the ability to drive and use machines is negligible.

However, taking linagliptin/metformin in combination with sulfonylureas or insulin may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can affect your ability to drive and use machines or work without a safe support.

Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per film-coated tablet; this is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How much to take

The amount of linagliptin/metformin you take will depend on your situation and the doses of metformin and/or individual tablets of linagliptin and metformin you are currently taking. Your doctor will tell you exactly what dose of this medicine to take.

How to take this medicine

• one tablet twice a day by mouth at the dose prescribed by your doctor.
• with food to reduce the chance of stomach upset.

Do not exceed the maximum recommended daily dose of 5 mg of linagliptin and 2000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.

Keep taking linagliptin/metformin as long as your doctor prescribes it to help control your blood sugar levels. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine along with other diabetes medicines or insulin. Remember to take all your medicines as directed by your doctor to get the best results for your health.

During treatment with linagliptin/metformin, you should continue with your diet and be careful to distribute your carbohydrate intake evenly throughout the day. If you are overweight, continue with your low-calorie diet as advised. It is unlikely that this medicine alone will cause abnormally low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). When linagliptin/metformin is used with a sulfonylurea or insulin, low blood sugar can occur, and your doctor may reduce your dose of sulfonylurea or insulin.

The score line is only there to help you break the tablet if you have difficulty swallowing it whole.

If you take more Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz than you should

If you take more tablets of linagliptin/metformin than you should, you may experience lactic acidosis. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are non-specific, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain with muscle cramps, a general feeling of illness with intense fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Other symptoms are reduced body temperature and heart rate. If this happens, you may need immediate hospital treatment, as lactic acidosis can lead to coma. Stop taking this medicine immediately and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately (see section 2). Bring the medicine pack with you.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.

If you forget to take Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. Never take two doses at the same time (morning or evening).

If you stop taking Linagliptin/Metformin Sandoz

Keep taking linagliptin/metformin until your doctor tells you to stop. This will help you keep your blood sugar under control.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

4. Possible Adverse Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.

Some symptoms require immediate medical attention

Stop taking linagliptin/metformin and go to your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia): tremors, sweating, anxiety, blurred vision, tingling in the lips, paleness, mood changes, or confusion. Hypoglycemia (frequency: very frequent [may affect more than 1 in 10 people]) is an adverse effect identified for the combination of linagliptin/metformin and sulfonylurea and for the combination linagliptin/metformin and insulin.

Linagliptin/metformin may cause a very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people) but very serious adverse effect called lactic acidosis (see section "Warnings and Precautions"). If this happens to you, you must stop taking linagliptin/metformin and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately, as lactic acidosis can lead to coma.

Some patients have experienced pancreatitis (frequency rare, may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people).

STOPtaking linagliptin/metformin and consult a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following serious adverse effects:

• Severe and persistent abdominal pain (stomach area), which may radiate to the back, as well as nausea and vomiting, as this could be a sign of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis).

Other adverse effects of linagliptin/metformin include:

Some patients have presented allergic reactions (frequency rare), which can be severe, including wheezing ("whistling" when breathing) and difficulty breathing (bronchial hyperreactivity; frequency infrequent [may affect up to 1 in 100 people]). Some patients presented with skin rash (frequency infrequent), hives (urticaria; frequency rare), and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that can cause difficulty breathing or swallowing (angioedema; frequency rare). If you experience any of the aforementioned disease signs, stop taking linagliptin/metformin and call your doctor immediately. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to treat your allergic reaction and a different medication for your diabetes.

Some patients have experienced the following adverse effects while taking linagliptin/metformin:

• Frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): diarrhea, increased blood enzymes (increased lipase), feeling unwell (nausea).
• Infrequent: inflammation of the nose or throat (nasopharyngitis), cough, loss of appetite (decreased appetite), feeling unwell (vomiting), increased blood enzymes (increased amylase), itching (pruritus).
• Rare: blisters on the skin (bullous pemphigoid).

Some patients have experienced the following adverse effects while taking linagliptin/metformin with insulin:

• Infrequent: liver function disorders, constipation.

Adverse effects when metformin is taken alone, which were not described for linagliptin/metformin:

• Very frequent: abdominal pain.
• Frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): metallic taste (taste alteration), decreased or low vitamin B12 levels in the blood (symptoms may include extreme fatigue, inflamed and reddened tongue [glossitis], tingling sensation [paresthesia], or pale or yellowish skin). Your doctor may request certain tests to identify the cause of your symptoms, as some of them may also be caused by diabetes or other unrelated health problems.
• Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): hepatitis (a liver problem), skin reactions such as skin redness (erythema).

Reporting of Adverse Effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect that does not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Conservation of Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz

Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the blister, bottle, and box after CAD/EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

This medicine does not require special storage conditions.

Medicines should not be thrown down the drain or into the trash. Deposit the containers and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE point in the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the containers and medicines you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition ofLinagliptina/Metformina Sandoz

• The active ingredients are linagliptin and metformin hydrochloride.

Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz 2.5 mg/850 mg film-coated tablets EFG: contains 2.5 mg of linagliptin and 850 mg of metformin hydrochloride.

Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz 2.5mg/1,000mg film-coated tablets EFG: contains 2.5 mg of linagliptin and 1,000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.

• The other components are:

• Tablet core: copovidone, cornstarch, sodium carbonate anhydrous (E500), crospovidone type A (E1202), magnesium stearate (E470b), colloidal anhydrous silica (E551).
• Film coating: hypromellose 2910, 5mPas (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), talc (E553b), propylene glycol (E1520), red iron oxide (E172). Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz 2.5 mg/850 mg tablets also contain yellow iron oxide (E172).

Appearanceof the productand package contents

Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz 2.5 mg/850 mg are film-coated tablets of beige color, oval shape, and biconvex, with a score line on one side and the engraving "2.5/850" on the other.

The score line is only for breaking the tablet if you find it difficult to swallow it whole.

Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz 2.5 mg/1,000 mg are film-coated tablets of pink color, oval shape, and biconvex, with a score line on one side and the engraving "2.5/1000" on the other.

The score line is only for breaking the tablet if you find it difficult to swallow it whole.

Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz is available in packages containing blisters of 10, 30, 56, 60, and 90 film-coated tablets and in multi-packages containing 180 (2 packages of 90) and 180 (3 packages of 60) film-coated tablets.

Linagliptina/Metformina Sandoz is available in packages containing pre-cut unit-dose blisters of 10 × 1, 30 × 1, 56 × 1, 60 × 1, 90 × 1 film-coated tablets in multi-packages containing 180 × 1 (2 packages of 90 × 1) and 180 × 1 (3 packages of 60 × 1) film-coated tablets.

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Sandoz Farmacéutica, S.A.

Centro Empresarial Parque Norte

Edificio Roble

C/ Serrano Galvache, 56

28033 Madrid

Spain

Manufacturer

PharOS MT Ltd

HF62X, Hal Far Industrial Estate,

Birzebbugia BBG3000,

Malta

or

Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d.

Verovškova, 57

1526 Ljubljana

Slovenia

or

PharOS Pharmaceutical Oriented Services Ltd.

Lesvou Street End, Thesi Loggos

Industrial Zone, Metamorfossi,

144 52, Greece

Date of the last revision of this prospectus:June 2025.

Detailed information about this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS): http://www.aemps.gob.es/

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