Key takeaways
Januvia (sitagliptin) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they belong to different drug classes. Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, while Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Januvia is taken orally once a day, whereas Ozempic is injected under the skin once a week. Januvia is available in a generic form, but Ozempic only available as a brand-name medication. Common side effects of Januvia include a runny nose and headache, while Ozempic often causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Both medications can cause low blood sugar when taken with other diabetes medications. Ozempic also has additional FDA-approved indications for lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, while Januvia does not.
