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Compare Januvia vs. Actos

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

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.

  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Pioglitazone (Actos)
  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Pioglitazone (Actos)

  • Summary of Januvia vs. Actos

    Summary for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Januvia (sitagliptin) is a prescription medication that helps lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It works best when you also follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly. It belongs to the drug class called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, or gliptins. Januvia (sitagliptin) comes as a tablet you take by mouth once a day. Side effects include stuffy or runny nose and headache. Januvia (sitagliptin) is a brand-name medication only; the generic version isn't available yet.

    Summary for Thiazolidinedione
    Prescription only

    Pioglitazone (Actos) is an oral medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise. It's a thiazolidinedione, which works by helping your body respond better to insulin. This medication is taken by mouth once a day and is available in both brand and generic forms. Side effects include headache, swelling in the body, and weight gain. There's also a serious warning that it can cause or worsen heart failure.

  • Indications of Januvia vs. Actos

    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults
    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise

  • Pros and Cons of Januvia vs. Actos

    Pros and Const for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Taken once a day
    •Not likely to affect your body weight
    Cons
    •Not for people with Type 1 diabetes
    •Possible risk of severe joint pain
    Pros and Const for Thiazolidinedione
    Pros
    •Only taken once a day
    •Rarely causes dangerously low blood sugar when taken by itself
    •Can be taken with or without food
    Cons
    •Can cause fluid buildup in the body
    •Not safe for people with moderate to severe heart failure
    •Not a good choice for people with bladder cancer

  • Common Side Effects of Januvia vs. Actos

    Common Side Effects for
    •Runny or stuffy nose and other symptoms of the common cold (5%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Swelling (27%)
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (13%)
    •Headache (9%)
    •Heart failure (8%)
    •Sinus infection (6%)
    •Pain in the arms and legs (6%)

    Side effects above are for pioglitazone (Actos) taken alone. These might differ if it's taken with other medications.

  • Warnings of Januvia vs. Actos

    Common Side Effects for
    •Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
    •Risk of heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •Low blood sugar when taken with other diabetes medications
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Joint pain
    •Severe skin reactions
    Common Side Effects for
    •Heart failure and swelling
    •Low blood sugar (when used with other medications)
    •Liver problems
    •Bladder cancer
    •Risk of bone fractures
    •Eye problems

  • Prices with our coupons for Januvia vs. Actos

    Learn more about Januvia
    Learn more about Pioglitazone

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