Key takeaways
Januvia (sitagliptin) and Actos (pioglitazone) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and belong to different drug classes. Januvia is a DPP-4 inhibitor that helps increase insulin levels and reduce sugar production in your body, while Actos is a thiazolidinedione that improves your body's ability to use insulin. Januvia is typically taken once daily and doesn't usually affect body weight, whereas Actos can cause weight gain and may take several weeks to show its full effect. Actos has additional benefits like raising "good" cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart attack or stroke, but it also carries risks such as fluid build-up, bone fractures, and a potential increase in bladder cancer risk. Januvia, on the other hand, can cause severe joint pain and has a rare risk of causing pancreatitis and sudden kidney problems. Both medications can be taken with or without food.
