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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 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 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
    •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 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 nose, sore throat, 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
    •Pancreas problems
    •Heart failure
    •Sudden kidney problems
    •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

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    Learn more about Tradjenta

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