Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Januvia vs. Tradjenta

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

Key takeaways

Januvia (sitagliptin) and Tradjenta (linagliptin) are both prescription medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes and belong to the same drug class, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Januvia is typically taken at 100 mg once daily, while Tradjenta is taken at 5 mg once daily. One key difference is that Januvia may require dose adjustments for people with kidney problems, whereas those can take Tradjenta for people with kidney or liver issues without dose changes. Common side effects for Januvia include a runny nose, sore throat, and headache, while Tradjenta may cause runny nose, sneezing, and diarrhea. Both medications can cause severe joint pain and have rare risks of pancreatitis and heart failure. However, Tradjenta has a higher reported rate of common cold symptoms compared to Januvia. Neither medication is known to affect body weight significantly on its own, but weight changes can occur when taken with other diabetes medications.

  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Tradjenta (linagliptin)
  • Januvia (sitagliptin)
    Tradjenta (linagliptin)

  • Summary of Januvia vs. Tradjenta

    Summary for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Januvia (sitagliptin) is a prescription medication that helps lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It works best when you also follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly. It belongs to the drug class called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, or gliptins. Januvia (sitagliptin) comes as a tablet you take by mouth once a day. Side effects include stuffy or runny nose and headache. Januvia (sitagliptin) is a brand-name medication only; the generic version isn't available yet.

    Summary for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Tradjenta (linagliptin) is a prescription medication that's used along with a balanced diet and exercise to manage blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It's a type of diabetes medication called a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. The dose is 5 mg (1 tablet) that's taken by mouth once per day. Tradjenta (linagliptin) doesn't cause many side effects but can sometimes include runny nose, sneezing, and diarrhea. As of 2024, Tradjenta (linagliptin) is available as a brand-name medication only; there's no generic version yet.

  • Indications of Januvia vs. Tradjenta

    Indications for
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults
    Indications for
    •Improve blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes (as an add-on to a nutritious diet and exercise routine)

  • Pros and Cons of Januvia vs. Tradjenta

    Pros and Const for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Taken once a day
    •Not likely to affect your body weight
    Cons
    •Not for people with Type 1 diabetes
    •Possible risk of severe joint pain
    Pros and Const for DDP-4 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Only taken once a day
    •Can take with or without food
    •Has little to no effect on weight
    Cons
    •Not approved for people with Type 1 diabetes
    •Lowers A1C (average blood sugar level over a 3-month period) by less than 1%
    •Not approved for protecting the heart or kidneys

  • Common Side Effects of Januvia vs. Tradjenta

    Common Side Effects for
    •Runny or stuffy nose and other symptoms of the common cold (5%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Common cold symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, coughing; 7%)
    •Diarrhea (3%)
    •Cough (2%)

    Note: Side effects were reported by people who took Tradjenta (linagliptin) by itself or people who took Tradjenta (linagliptin) with other diabetes.

  • Warnings of Januvia vs. Tradjenta

    Common Side Effects for
    •Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
    •Risk of heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •Low blood sugar when taken with other diabetes medications
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Joint pain
    •Severe skin reactions
    Common Side Effects for
    •Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
    •Risk for low blood sugar when taken with certain other diabetes medications
    •Heart failure
    •Severe joint pain
    •Serious allergic reactions
    •Severe skin reaction

  • Prices with our coupons for Januvia vs. Tradjenta

    Learn more about Januvia
    Learn more about Tradjenta

Compare other Diabetes Type 2 drugs

Alogliptin vs JanuviaGlyxambi vs JanuviaJanuvia vs ActosJanuvia vs AfrezzaJanuvia vs AmarylJanuvia vs ByettaJanuvia vs FarxigaJanuvia vs GlipizideJanuvia vs GlucotrolJanuvia vs GlucovanceJanuvia vs InvokanaJanuvia vs JanumetJanuvia vs JardianceJanuvia vs OnglyzaJanuvia vs OzempicJanuvia vs RybelsusJanuvia vs StarlixJanuvia vs TradjentaJanuvia vs VictozaJanuvia vs ZituvioMetaglip vs JanuviaMetformin vs JanuviaNesina vs JanuviaSaxagliptin vs JanuviaToujeo vs JanuviaTrulicity vs JanuviaJardiance vs TrulicityRybelsus vs TrulicityTrulicity vs BydureonTrulicity vs Byetta
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.