Key takeaways
Januvia (sitagliptin) and Rybelsus (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 Rybelsus is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Januvia is taken as a 100 mg tablet once daily, whereas Rybelsus starts at 3 mg daily and can be increased to 7 mg or 14 mg daily. Januvia is available as a brand-name and generic medication, but Rybelsus is only available as a brand-name medication. Common side effects of Januvia include a runny nose and headache, while Rybelsus can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rybelsus has a warning for thyroid cancer, and Januvia does not. Both medications can cause low blood sugar, especially when taken with other diabetes medications. However, Rybelsus should be taken on an empty stomach, while Januvia can be taken with or without food.
