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Vildagliptin

DPP-4 inhibitor (gliptin)

Also known as: Galvus, Galvus Met, Galvusmet, Vildagliptin-Metformin, Vildamet, Vilget, Vildishal, Gliptus

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  • NAFDAC-registered brands
  • Prices sourced from HealthPlus & MedPlus

Vildagliptin

~₦30,250 online

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Key Facts

Drug Class
DPP-4 inhibitor (gliptin)
Prescription
Required
NAFDAC Status
NAFDAC Registered
Forms
Tablet
Online price
~₦30,250see prices

What is Vildagliptin?

Vildagliptin, best known by the Novartis brand Galvus, is a DPP-4 inhibitor (a 'gliptin') used for type-2 diabetes. In Nigeria it is most often taken as Galvus Met — a single tablet that combines vildagliptin 50mg with metformin 500mg, 850mg, or 1000mg — when metformin alone no longer controls blood sugar. Plain vildagliptin 50mg tablets are also available, and several NAFDAC-registered generics (Vildamet, Vilget, Vildishal, Gliptus, Xyvida) now compete with the Novartis brand.

Vildagliptin works by protecting the body's own incretin hormones, which are released after meals. With more of these hormones around, the pancreas releases insulin when blood sugar rises and makes less glucagon, so sugar levels fall mainly around mealtimes. Because the effect is glucose-dependent, vildagliptin on its own rarely causes low blood sugar, and unlike sulfonylureas it does not cause weight gain — two reasons doctors often choose it as the add-on to metformin.

It is generally well tolerated, but vildagliptin has one class-specific caution: rare liver inflammation. Doctors usually check liver function before starting and periodically during treatment, and the drug is avoided in significant liver disease. It is prescription-only. Genuine Galvus, Galvus Met, and their generics all carry NAFDAC registration numbers you can verify on the Greenbook.

What is Vildagliptin used for?

In Nigeria, Vildagliptin is commonly used for:

  • Type-2 diabetes — added to metformin when one medicine is not enough (the most common use)
  • Type-2 diabetes on its own, when metformin is not tolerated or not suitable
  • In combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin, at adjusted doses, under a doctor's care
  • People prone to low blood sugar or weight gain on other diabetes tablets

Dosage

IMPORTANT

Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.

Adults

The usual dose is 50mg twice daily (morning and evening) when used alone or with metformin — Galvus Met combination tablets are simply taken twice daily. When combined with a sulfonylurea, 50mg once daily in the morning is typical. The maximum is 100mg of vildagliptin per day.

Children

Not recommended for children — type-2 diabetes treatment in under-18s is specialist-led.

Elderly

No dose change is needed for age alone, but kidney function is often lower in older adults, and the dose is reduced to 50mg once daily when kidney function is moderately or severely reduced.

Take the combination tablet with or just after food to reduce stomach upset from the metformin part. Your doctor should check liver function before starting and periodically afterwards — do not skip these tests. If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless the next dose is near; never double up. Do not stop a diabetes medicine without medical advice.

Side Effects

Common side effects

  • •Headache and dizziness
  • •Nausea or stomach discomfort (mostly from the metformin part of combination tablets)
  • •Cold-like symptoms (blocked nose, sore throat)
  • •Tremor or shakiness when combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin (low blood sugar)
  • •Swelling of the ankles in some people

Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately

  • Liver inflammation — dark urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, unusual tiredness, upper-right belly pain; stop the drug and see a doctor promptly
  • Severe allergic reactions including angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, or throat), more likely in people also taking ACE inhibitors like lisinopril
  • Pancreatitis — severe, persistent stomach pain spreading to the back, with or without vomiting
  • Serious skin reactions with blistering or peeling (rare)
  • Low blood sugar when combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin

When to see a doctor

Seek care promptly for any sign of liver trouble (yellow eyes, dark urine, persistent tiredness), severe or persistent stomach pain, facial swelling, or blistering skin. See your doctor if blood-sugar readings stay high despite taking it correctly, or if you have repeated low-sugar episodes on combination treatment.

Warnings & Precautions

Do not take Vildagliptin if you have:

  • Do not use in type-1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Avoid in significant liver disease or unexplained raised liver enzymes
  • The metformin-containing combinations follow metformin's kidney rules — they are avoided in severe kidney failure
  • Do not use if you have had angioedema or an allergic reaction to a gliptin
  • Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Drug interactions

  • •Sulfonylureas (glibenclamide, glimepiride) and insulin: higher risk of low blood sugar — doses may need lowering
  • •ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, ramipril): slightly higher risk of angioedema
  • •Steroids, thiazide diuretics, and some other medicines can push blood sugar up and blunt its effect
  • •Few other everyday interactions — but always tell your pharmacist everything you take

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Vildagliptin is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding — there is not enough safety data. Women planning pregnancy are usually switched to insulin (or, on specialist advice, metformin). Discuss contraception and alternatives with your doctor if you could become pregnant.

Brands of Vildagliptin in Nigeria

The NAFDAC registry holds 24 Vildagliptin products from 11 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Of the 6 active registrations whose factory country our Greenbook copy records, none are made in Nigeria. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.

View all 12 brands
See all 24 registered Vildagliptin brands

How to Verify Your Vildagliptin is Genuine

  1. 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app — genuine Galvus 50mg is A4-5369 and Galvus Met 50/1000 is A4-6079
  2. 2Buy from a licensed pharmacy with a doctor's prescription
  3. 3Check the expiry date and that the blister foil and carton are sealed and untampered
  4. 4Genuine Novartis blisters are printed with the Galvus Met name, strength, and 'Vildagliptin/Metformin HCl' on the foil
  5. 5For generics (Vildamet, Vilget, Vildishal, Gliptus, Xyvida), confirm the manufacturer name matches the NAFDAC record
  6. 6Be wary of unusually cheap 'Galvus Met' from unverified online sellers — diabetes medicines are a known counterfeit target
Use our NAFDAC Checker tool

Vildagliptin Price in Nigeria

As of July 2026, Vildagliptin sells for about ₦30,250 online in Nigeria (₦11,900–₦65,010) across HealthPlus and MedPlus. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.

Online retail (sampled)

HealthPlus + MedPlus

₦11,900 – ₦65,010median ₦30,250

From 5 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · updated July 2026.

Same medicine, different price

Every listing below contains Vildagliptin — the spread is brand and pack size, not the medicine inside. Grouped by form so packs compare fairly.

Tablet/Capsule5.5× spread

Cheapest sampled

VILGET-M 50/1000MG * 14 TABS (VILDA+MET)(MedPlus)

₦11,900

Priciest sampled

GalvusMet (Vildagliptin/Metformin) 50mg/1000mg Tabs x60(HealthPlus)

₦65,010

Check the pack size and strength on each listing before comparing — and ask your pharmacist about the generic option.

Price trend

We've tracked Vildagliptin online prices since July 2026 — median ₦30,250 (range ₦11,900–₦65,010, from 5 listings). This updates monthly, and the month-on-month trend will appear here — see the Nigerian Medicine Price Index for prices across all tracked drugs.

Where to Buy

Purchase Vildagliptin only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.

Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.

Buying Vildagliptin in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.

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Related Resources for Vildagliptin

Guides, articles, and tools related to Vildagliptin and other diabetes medicines in Nigeria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

  • •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Vildagliptin on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
  • •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Vildagliptin.
  • •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).

Last updated: 23 July 2026

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