Key takeaways
Januvia (sitagliptin) and Victoza (liraglutide) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have different forms of administration. Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor taken orally once a day, while Victoza is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that you inject under the skin daily. Januvia helps lower blood sugar by blocking the DPP-4 protein, which allows insulin to stay in your body longer. On the other hand, Victoza works by telling your body to release more insulin, stopping the release of more sugar, and slowing down digestion. Victoza can also help reduce the risk of heart-related problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, a benefit not mentioned for Januvia. Common side effects of Januvia include runny nose and sore throat, whereas Victoza often causes nausea and diarrhea. Additionally, Januvia does not typically affect body weight, while Victoza may help with weight loss.
