Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Januvia vs. Afrezza

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

  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Afrezza (insulin)
  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Afrezza (insulin)

  • Summary of Januvia vs. Afrezza

    Summary for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Januvia (sitagliptin) is a prescription medication used along with a healthy diet and exercise to treat Type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the drug class dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, also known as gliptins. Januvia (sitagliptin) is taken by mouth, typically once daily. Most people don't experience many side effects from this medication, but possible ones include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and headache.

    Summary for Insulin
    Prescription only

    Afrezza is an ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin for adults with diabetes. It helps manage blood sugar levels from meals. You breathe in the medication through the mouth using the Afrezza inhaler usually at the start of meals. Common side effects are low blood sugar and cough. There's also a risk of bronchospasm (sudden narrowing of the airways), which can make it hard to breathe. So Afrezza (insulin) isn't for people with breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

  • Indications of Januvia vs. Afrezza

    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults
    Indications for
    •Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adults
    •Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in adults

  • Pros and Cons of Januvia vs. Afrezza

    Pros and Const for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Only taken once a day
    •Can take with or without food
    •Not known to affect your body weight
    Cons
    •Can cause severe joint pain
    •Not a first choice option for people with Type 2 diabetes and heart problems
    •Might cause sudden kidney injury in people with kidney problems
    Pros and Const for Insulin
    Pros
    •A good choice for people who don't want to use injectable insulin
    •Can help people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar
    •Starts to work in about 12 minutes and lasts between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on your dose
    Cons
    •Might need to use more than one cartridge of insulin for your dose (if you need more than 12 units of insulin)
    •Not for people who smoke or for people with breathing problems (e.g., asthma, COPD)
    •Not approved for children

  • Common Side Effects of Januvia vs. Afrezza

    Common Side Effects for
    •Runny nose, sore throat, and other symptoms of the common cold (5%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Low blood sugar (up to 67%)
    •Cough (up to 29%)
    •Throat pain or irritation (up to 6%)
    •Headache (up to 5%)

  • Warnings of Januvia vs. Afrezza

    Common Side Effects for
    •Pancreas problems
    •Heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Joint pain
    •Severe skin reactions
    Common Side Effects for
    •Breathing problems
    •Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
    •Changes in blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin routine
    •Diabetic ketoacidosis
    •Low potassium levels
    •Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain diabetes medications

  • Prices with our coupons for Januvia vs. Afrezza

    Learn more about Januvia
    Learn more about Afrezza

Compare other Diabetes Type 2 drugs

Alogliptin vs JanuviaJanuvia vs ActosJanuvia vs AfrezzaJanuvia vs AmarylJanuvia vs Byetta
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.