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.
In the NAFDAC register
26 registered products
from 12 registration holders
+2 more countries
What it costs online
about ₦30,700
≈₦1,096 per tablet (tablet/capsule)
7% since July 2026 · like-for-like
Sampled from 3 listings across HealthPlus and MedPlus · September 2026
Full price breakdown →Brands of Vildagliptin in Nigeria
Those 26 products from 12 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
- 50mg/500mg, 50mg/1000mg (vildagliptin + metformin) · Tablet · A4-100676
- 50mg/500mg, 50mg/850mg, 50mg/1000mg (vildagliptin + metformin) · Tablet · A4-100455
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis | 50mg | Tablet | A4-5369 |
| Novartis | 50mg/500mg (vildagliptin + metformin) | Tablet | A4-6077 |
| Galvus Met 50/850 | Novartis | 50mg/850mg (vildagliptin + metformin) | Tablet | A4-6078 |
| Novartis | 50mg/1000mg (vildagliptin + metformin) | Tablet | A4-6079 |
| Getz Pharma | 50mg | Tablet | B4-9698 |
| Getz Pharma | 50mg/1000mg (vildagliptin + metformin) | Tablet | B4-9987 |
| Shalina Healthcare | 50mg | Tablet | A4-100689 |
| Vildishal M | Shalina Healthcare | 50mg/500mg, 50mg/1000mg (vildagliptin + metformin) | Tablet | A4-100676 |
| Vildamet | Geneith Pharmaceuticals | 50mg/500mg, 50mg/850mg, 50mg/1000mg (vildagliptin + metformin) | Tablet | A4-100455 |
| Gliptus | EVA Sciences | 50mg | Tablet | B4-9402 |
Vildagliptin Price in Nigeria
As of September 2026, Vildagliptin tablets sells for about ₦1,096 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦12,750–₦35,490) across HealthPlus and MedPlus. The online price is up 7% since July 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
Same medicine throughout — every listing contains Vildagliptin. The difference is brand and pack size.
median ₦30,700 · 3 listings
CheapestVILGET-M 50/1000MG * 14 TABS (VILDA+MET)(MedPlus)
₦12,750PriciestGalvus (Vildagliptin) 50mg Tablets x 28(HealthPlus)
₦35,4903 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · September 2026.
tablets: about ₦1,096 per tablet (₦911–₦1,268), from the 3 listings that state a pack size.
Up 7% since July 2026.
Vildagliptin price by brand
Each brand's own listings, as its page states them — the range above spans every brand and pack size.
- Galvus price₦30,700–₦35,490· 2 listings
How to Verify Your Vildagliptin is Genuine
- 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
- 2Buy from a licensed pharmacy with a doctor's prescription
- 3Check the expiry date and that the blister foil and carton are sealed and untampered
- 4Genuine Novartis blisters are printed with the Galvus Met name, strength, and 'Vildagliptin/Metformin HCl' on the foil
- 5For generics (Vildamet, Vilget, Vildishal, Gliptus, Xyvida), confirm the manufacturer name matches the NAFDAC record
- 6Be wary of unusually cheap 'Galvus Met' from unverified online sellers — diabetes medicines are a known counterfeit target
Where to Buy
Buying Vildagliptin by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Vildagliptin on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Vildagliptin in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Vildagliptin in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Vildagliptin?
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.
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).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.