Januvia vs. Tradjenta for Diabetes Type 2: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

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)

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Tradjenta

(linagliptin)

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Summary for Januvia

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.

Indications for Januvia

Type 2 diabetes in adults

Pros and Cons for Januvia

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

Common Side Effects for Januvia

Runny or stuffy nose and other symptoms of the common cold (5%)

Warnings for Januvia

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

Summary for Tradjenta

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 for Tradjenta

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

Pros and Cons for Tradjenta

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 for Tradjenta

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.