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Compare Januvia vs. Janumet

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

Key takeaways

Januvia (sitagliptin) and Janumet (sitagliptin/metformin) are both prescription medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they have some key differences. Januvia contains only sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, and is typically taken once daily. It works by blocking the DPP-4 protein, allowing insulin to stay in your body longer to lower blood sugar levels. On the other hand, Janumet combines sitagliptin with metformin, a biguanide, and is available in both immediate-release (taken twice daily) and extended-release (taken once daily) forms. Metformin helps lower the amount of sugar your liver releases and improves your body's response to insulin. While Januvia is not known to affect body weight, Janumet might cause some weight loss due to the metformin component. Additionally, Janumet has a higher risk of side effects like diarrhea and lactic acidosis, especially in older adults or those with kidney problems. Both Januvia and Janumet are only available as brand-name medications.

  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin)
  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin)

  • Summary of Januvia vs. Janumet

    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 DPP-4 inhibitor / Biguanide
    Prescription only

    Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin) is a combination prescription medication that helps improve blood sugar control in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It contains two diabetes medications from different drug classes: sitagliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor) and metformin (a biguanide). Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin) is used as an add-on to diet and exercise. Immediate-release tablets (Janumet) are taken by mouth twice daily, and extended-release tablets (Janumet XR) are taken just once daily. Side effects include diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache.

  • Indications of Januvia vs. Janumet

    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults
    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes

  • Pros and Cons of Januvia vs. Janumet

    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 DPP-4 inhibitor / Biguanide
    Pros
    •Combines the effects of two medications into one tablet
    •Lowered A1C by up to 2% in a 6-month clinical study
    •Might be a good option for additional blood sugar control for people who don't like injections (such as with insulin)
    •Less likely to cause weight gain and low blood sugar compared to other diabetes medications
    Cons
    •Not yet available as a lower-cost generic
    •Must take with meals
    •Only available as a fixed dose, so can be hard to make dose adjustments
    •Side effects more likely if you're 65 years or older
    •Not a good option for people with severe kidney problems

  • Common Side Effects of Januvia vs. Janumet

    Common Side Effects for
    •Runny nose, sore throat, and other symptoms of the common cold (5%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Diarrhea (8%)
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (6%)
    •Headache (6%)

  • Warnings of Januvia vs. Janumet

    Common Side Effects for
    •Pancreas problems
    •Heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Joint pain
    •Severe skin reactions
    Common Side Effects for
    •Lactic acidosis
    •Pancreas problems
    •Heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •Low vitamin B12 levels
    •Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
    •Joint pain
    •Severe skin reaction
    •Severe allergic reaction

  • Prices with our coupons for Januvia vs. Janumet

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    Learn more about Janumet

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