| Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Onglyza vs Welchol
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent.Deep comparison between: Onglyza vs Welchol with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsWelchol has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Onglyza based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Welchol but not Onglyza, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Onglyza
Welchol
At A Glance
Oral
Daily
DPP-4 inhibitor
Oral
Daily
Bile acid sequestrant
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
- Familial hyperlipidemia
- Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 2.5 mg or 5 mg orally once daily taken regardless of meals; reduce to 2.5 mg once daily for eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 or when coadministered with strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors.
Familial hyperlipidemia, Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Contraindications
- History of serious hypersensitivity reaction to saxagliptin or any ingredient in ONGLYZA (anaphylaxis, angioedema, or exfoliative skin conditions)
- Serum TG concentrations >500 mg/dL
- History of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis
- History of bowel obstruction
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, headache
Serious Pancreatitis, heart failure, hypoglycemia with insulin or insulin secretagogues, hypersensitivity reactions, severe and disabling arthralgia, bullous pemphigoid
Postmarketing Pancreatitis, anaphylaxis, angioedema, exfoliative skin conditions, rhabdomyolysis, severe and disabling arthralgia, bullous pemphigoid
Most common (>=2%) Constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, asthenia, pharyngitis, myalgia (primary hyperlipidemia); constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, hypertension, back pain (type 2 diabetes)
Serious Hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, vitamin K and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies
Postmarketing Bowel obstruction, dysphagia, esophageal obstruction, fecal impaction, pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, increased transaminases
Pharmacology
Saxagliptin is a competitive DPP-4 inhibitor that slows the inactivation of incretin hormones (GLP-1 and GIP), increasing their bloodstream concentrations and reducing fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations in a glucose-dependent manner in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Colesevelam hydrochloride is a non-absorbed bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, depletes the bile acid pool, upregulates hepatic cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase, increases LDL receptor expression, and thereby lowers serum LDL-C; the mechanism by which it improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes is unknown.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Onglyza
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (9/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Welchol
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Onglyza
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (7/8)
Welchol
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Onglyza
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Welchol
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Onglyza.
No savings programs available for Welchol.
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OnglyzaView full Onglyza profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.