Compare Januvia vs. Byetta

Januvia (sitagliptin) and Byetta (exenatide) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have different forms of administration. Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor taken orally once a day, while Byetta is a Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that you inject under the skin twice a day before meals. Januvia helps control blood sugar by allowing insulin to stay in your body longer and reducing sugar production, whereas Byetta mimics a hormone that triggers insulin release and blocks sugar release from the liver. Byetta also has a long-acting version called Bydureon BCise, which is injected once a week. Januvia is generally weight-neutral, but Byetta might help with weight loss. Both medications can cause pancreatitis, but Byetta has additional risks like thyroid cancer and severe allergic reactions. Januvia is available in a combination form with metformin called Janumet, while Byetta does not have a generic form and can be more expensive.