October 29,2020, Boehringer lngelheim (Canada) Ltd. and Eli Lilly Canada Inc. (Lilly Canada) Alliance informed pharmacies and patients about shortage of blood sugar lowering medications: Synjardy and Jentadueto. What Is Synjardy? Synjardy combines the power of 2 proven diabetes medications - Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Glucophage (metformin), and they work together to lower A1C along with diet and exercise.

• Jardiance(empagliflozin) removes excess glucose from the body and passes it out through the urine.
• Metformin helps to lower the amount of sugar made by your liver and helps to lower the amount of sugar your intestines absorb.

What Is Jentadueto? Jentadueto is a prescription medicine that contains 2 diabetes medicines, Tradjenta (linagliptin) and metformin. Together, these medicines help patients to achieve better blood sugar control.

• Tradjenta (linagliptin) is a member of a class of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors). It helps to improve blood sugar levels when they are high, especially after a meal, and decrease the amount of sugar made by the body.
• Metformin : see above.

The brand name of linagliptin in Canada is Tradjenta. What Is an Alternative Option? If you are in a province that allows pharmacists to switch without a new prescription from a physician:

• If you are temporarily unable to source Synjardy 5 mg/500 mg, switching patients to metformin 500 mgtwice daily and Jardiance 10 mg once daily is an alternative option.

• If you are temporarily unable to source Synjardy 12.5 mg/1000 mg, switching patients to metformin 1000 mg (or metformin 500 mg 2 tablets) twice daily and Jardiance 25 mg once daily is an alternative option. 

• If you are temporarily unable to source Jentadueto 2.5/500 mg, switching patients to Metformin 500 mg twice daily and Tradjenta 5 mg once daily is an alternative option.

• If you are temporarily unable to source Jentadueto 2.5/850 mg, switching patients to Metformin 850 mg twice daily and Tradjenta 5 mg once daily is an alternative option.

• If you are temporarily unable to source Jentadueto 2.5/1000 mg, switching patients to metformin 1000 mg (or metformin 500 mg 2 tablets) twice daily and Tradjenta 5 mg once daily is an alternative option. 

Important message for patients:

• Patients who are affected by the temporary product shortage may receive the individual components that make up their prescription dispensed separately, with instructions about how to take each component.

Above alternative medications, such as metformin, Jardiance and Tradjenta, are available from certified Canadian mail order pharmacies. These prescription products from our Canadian online pharmacy sponsor is much cheaper option compared to the medication from the U.S pharmacy. The cause of the shortage is temporary and due to a production disruption related to COVID-19. It is not related to product quality or safety. It is anticipated to last an additional three to eight weeks, depending on the product and strength. Compare prices with alternative option to Synjardy and Jentadueto and see the cost savings! Reference:

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• Boehringer-ingelheim.ca
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