# Vildagliptin in Nigeria

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/vildagliptin/
- Drug class: DPP-4 inhibitor (gliptin) (Diabetes)
- Also known as: Galvus, Galvus Met, Galvusmet, Vildagliptin-Metformin, Vildamet, Vilget, Vildishal, Gliptus
- Prescription required: yes
- Last updated: September 2026

## 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.

## 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?

- 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

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- 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: 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 (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

Do not take if: 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.

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 in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Galvus (Novartis, made in Slovenia); Galvus Met 50/500 (Novartis, made in Turkey); Galvus Met 50/850 (Novartis, made in Turkey); Galvus Met 50/1000 (Novartis, made in Turkey); Vilget (Getz Pharma, made in Pakistan); Vilget M 50/1000 (Getz Pharma, made in Pakistan); Vildishal 50 (Shalina Healthcare, made in India); Vildishal M (Shalina Healthcare, made in India); Vildamet (Geneith Pharmaceuticals, made in India); Gliptus (EVA Sciences, made in Egypt); Gliptus Plus 50/850 (EVA Sciences, made in Egypt); Xyvida (Generix Global Investment, made in Bangladesh).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/vildagliptin/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check 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. Buy from a licensed pharmacy with a doctor's prescription
3. Check the expiry date and that the blister foil and carton are sealed and untampered
4. Genuine Novartis blisters are printed with the Galvus Met name, strength, and 'Vildagliptin/Metformin HCl' on the foil
5. For generics (Vildamet, Vilget, Vildishal, Gliptus, Xyvida), confirm the manufacturer name matches the NAFDAC record
6. Be wary of unusually cheap 'Galvus Met' from unverified online sellers — diabetes medicines are a known counterfeit target

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### What is Galvus Met used for?

Galvus Met combines vildagliptin 50mg with metformin (500mg, 850mg, or 1000mg) in one tablet for type-2 diabetes. It is prescribed when metformin alone no longer keeps blood sugar in range — the two medicines work in different ways, and one combined tablet twice daily is easier than taking them separately. The number pair on the pack (like 50mg/1000mg) is the vildagliptin dose followed by the metformin dose.

### How much does Galvus Met cost in Nigeria?

The price varies widely between pharmacies and moves with the exchange rate, so check a current price before buying. The original Novartis brand costs noticeably more than the NAFDAC-registered generics of the same combination — Vildamet, Vilget M, Vildishal M, and others contain the same vildagliptin + metformin pairing and are a legitimate way to cut the monthly cost of long-term treatment. Ask your pharmacist for the registered generic if the branded pack is out of budget.

### Is there a generic for Galvus Met in Nigeria?

Yes. The NAFDAC Greenbook lists several registered vildagliptin + metformin generics, including Vildamet (Geneith), Vilget M (Getz Pharma), Vildishal M (Shalina Healthcare), and Gliptus Plus (EVA Sciences), alongside plain vildagliptin 50mg generics. As with any medicine, verify the pack's NAFDAC number and buy from a licensed pharmacy — a registered generic must meet the same standards as the original brand.

### Does vildagliptin cause low blood sugar or weight gain?

On its own, rarely. Vildagliptin only boosts insulin when blood sugar is high, so by itself it seldom causes hypoglycaemia, and it is weight-neutral — unlike sulfonylureas such as glibenclamide, which can cause both. The risk of low blood sugar appears mainly when vildagliptin is combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin, which is why doctors often reduce those doses when adding it.

### Which is better — Galvus Met or metformin alone?

They are not competitors: Galvus Met contains metformin plus vildagliptin. Metformin alone is still the standard first treatment for type-2 diabetes. Galvus Met is the usual next step when metformin alone stops being enough, adding a second mechanism without weight gain or much hypo risk. Whether that step — or an alternative like an SGLT2 inhibitor (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin) — is right for you depends on your sugar control, heart and kidney health, and budget; that is your doctor's call.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)