Key takeaways
Januvia (sitagliptin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and belong to different drug classes. Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that helps increase insulin levels and reduce sugar production in your body, while Jardiance is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that helps your kidneys remove excess sugar through urine. Januvia is typically taken once daily and doesn't affect body weight, whereas Jardiance can cause some weight loss and is also taken once daily. Jardiance has additional benefits for heart failure and chronic kidney disease, which Januvia does not. However, Jardiance can increase the risk of urinary tract and yeast infections, while Januvia may cause severe joint pain and has a rare risk of pancreatitis. Currently, Januvia is available only as a brand-name medication, but generic versions of Jardiance are expected to be available after 2025.
